o be his father. He kills his father for no other reason than because they could not decide who should step aside for the other one to pass. Oedipus, when he arrives in Thebes, tells no one of the incident on his way into the city. He does not contemplate the death of the four men. Oedipus does not think about what the repercussions of murdering four people might be. His quick temper causes him to murder four people and not realize the possibility for consequences. Oedipus is unaware that one of the men he had slain was his father. Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy that he had tried to escape. Okonkwo in all his greatness has his faults, which ultimately lead to his downfall. His greatest fault is his pride. His own successes as a self-made man makes him impatient of others who are not as successful. For example, at a meeting of the tribe's elders he calls another man a woman and says, "This meeting is for men"(26). This man who has contradicted him has no titles, and so Okonkwo feels that the man is not worthy enough. However, Okonkwo has to apologize to him. It is Okonkwo's inner fear that he too would be a failure like his father that makes him proud and hard. Okonkwo is hard and stern with his family, particularly his son, Nwoye, who does not take after him. He is strict with his wives too and never shows his inner emotions. It is his firmness that drives him to break the rules of the Week of Peace, by beating his wife when she does not send him his food as required. Breaking the rules of the week of peace is a sin against the Goddess of the soil, Ani. At the New Yam festival, Okonkwo almost shoots his second wife, Ekwefi, with a gun as he thinks that she has cut down his banana tree when she has only cut a few leaves. This again shows his impulsive nature and volatile temper. When the Oracle of the Hills and Caves orders the death of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo, in order to show his fearlessness and impartiality, strikes the final...
