Okonkwo's actions can be very hard to understand. He is a man whose fear of weakness dominates his life. Okonkwo's wives and children experience this first-hand. Okonkwo's strange actions define him as a person.
Okonkwo is quick to call Osugoa woman for contradicting him. When everyone takes sides with Osugo, he apologizes to the man with no titles. Okonkwo is so concerned about looking weak to the other men present that he tries to insult a man in the worst manner. Many people do not understand Okonkwo's "brusqueness in dealing with less successful men." (Pg 26).
Another example of Okonkwo's fear of weakness is when he breaks the peace during the Week of Peace. After his youngest wife lies and misses a meal, he beats "her very heavily" (Pg 29) forgetting it is the Week of Peace. Okonkwo cannot appear to be weak by letting Ojiugo, his youngest wife, do these things without being reprimanded.
Arguably Okonkwo's greatest display of his fear of weakness came when he was informed that the tribe had decided to kill Ikemefuna. The tribe suggested that Okonkwo stay home because everyone knew that he had became emotionally attached to Ikemefuna. Okonkwo believed that showing emotions is a sign of weakness so he decides to walk with the tribe to kill his “son”. After a member of the tribe struck Ikemefuna with his machete and Ikemefuna calls for Okonkwo, “Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.” (Pg 61). Okonkwo’s fear of being weak causes his eldest son Nwoye, his eldest son, to alienate himself from the Ibo tribe.
Okonkwo's fear of weakness is proving to be a negative impact in his choices. At first, this characteristic gave him the discipline needed to become wealthy and successful. Now it's starting to destroy his life, as you mentioned, with him breaking the week of peace, alienating his son, and killing Ikemefuna.
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