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 blow with his machete, even as the boy is calling to him "My father, they have killed me!"(61) Ezeudu, the oldest man in the village, asks Okonkwo not to participate in the killing of the boy as he calls him his father. By killing the boy himself Okonkwo commits his second offense against the tribal laws. Okonkwo does not see his pride as a fault; he only sees it as what motivates him to be successful and not to follow after his father. The recognition of the hero and the reversal of his situation are usually brought about by some kind of calamity. Oedipus is so adamant about finding the killer of Laius that he offers a reward to anyone who will give information concerning the identity of the killer. For those who remain silent he places a curse within which he includes himself. Once he finds out for sure that he is the cause of the pollution, he does not try to find a way out and save himself. He does what he thinks is best for Thebes. Oedipus upon seeing Jocasta dead gouges his own eyes and then asks to be banished. Oedipus’ life turns into a downward spiral that doesn’t seem to end. Oedipus now realizes what he has done and this realization causes his life to make a change for the worse. It is because of Oedipus’ reversal and the misfortunes that he went through that cause the audience to react in the way that Aristotle said marks a good tragedy. At the end of Things Fall Apart, when Okonkwo cannot take anymore of the vile behavior of the District Commissioner, it is his pride and his unwillingness to change that pushes him to behead one of the messengers. This was a very brave act. In his mind he knew what was right. These missionaries were trying to destroy the sacred ways of old. Then Okonkwo rea...
