Things Fall Apart Question 3

11/7/13

Was Okonkwo justified in killing Ikemefuna?

I think that Okonkwo was NOT justified in killing Ikemefuna because he did it just to not look weak. "He [Okonkwo] heard the blow. The pot fell and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cry, 'My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought of weak" (61). This means that Okonkwo killed him just because he did not want to be thought of as being weak, even though I do not think anyone would blame him for not killing Ikemefuna. As Okonkwo's friend said "'... if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it'" (67). Most people would not have looked at him weirdly, or blamed him for not killing. Even the wise old man said "'That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death'" (57). Even the elders said that he should not. Therefore I do not feel that Okonkwo had any reason- that was a real problem- to kill Ikemefuna. I think that they would not have actually though of him as weak... as people even told him to not do it.