Chinua Achebe introduces the protagonist Okonkwo using both indirect and direct characterization throughout the novel things fall apart. Okonkwo is introduced into the story as a powerful man, with a strong personality, and as a professional fighter. Due to his strong personality he is capable of leading a group or a tribe. He is a fearless character who values many things in his life and is loyal to his tribe, family, village, and religion. There is some evidence in the beginning of the story that Okonkwo is a loving person, when he really loved his daughter Enzima, however he hid the love of his daughter so he doesn't look so feminine and so he could still look like a strong person and character.
As the story continues, Okonkwo makes many major mistakes which turned his life around for the worse, from a fairly decent life to a poor one. He accidentally shoots his wife, as well as killing his own son ikemefuna, and killing ezudu's son. His life turns around, and he ends up killing himself due to his careless actions.
Chinua Achebe, the writer chose to have a tragic hero (Okonkwo) in the play, in order to show the life of an african society and community, and they're daily struggles they face to solve the problem of colonization.
The character of Okonkwo is also used to show the audience that western colonization at the time was a horrible thing for Africa, since he hung himself in the end of the novel. Okonkwo's fall wasn't the only in the story, as there were many other characters that faced the same issues over western colonization, however his was the one that stood out most considering the fact he decided to hang himself.
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