The novels Points Fall Apart simply by Chinua Achebe and Moby Dick by simply Herman Melville feature two uniquely distinct characters whom similarly strive for fulfillment amongst uncertainty and danger, entirely devoid of meaningful qualms regarding extremities taken in pursuit of this. At face-value, the two seem to be paving unique paths since tribal innovator Okonkwo of Things Break apart craves prominence and value among his people although Captain Ahab of Moby Dick needs revenge to get his dropped leg, yet , upon evaluating their qualification, behaviors, and thoughts that ultimately play a role in their results, they surprisingly share more commonalities than not. As their stories happen, Okonkwo and Ahab develop destruction from their own turmoils and obsessions, eventually succumbing to the overwhelming nature of their own traits as they welcome its dominance above their lives.
Although Okonkwo and Ahab’s actual intentions change, parallels are noticed when comparing the development of their heroes. Growing up, Okonkwo was denied an effective father-figure by simply his tribe’s standards, previously being raised with a “failure” (Achebe 9) of your father instead” a shameless beggar, although one who cherished his son. This sincerity, contradicted by his dad’s inability to show off it in wealth, electricity, and physical strength, “[had tried] Okonkwo’s patience over and above words” (Achebe 27), and from that point on, his resentment begins to manifest, at some point resulting in his embodiment of hypermasculinity since means of overcompensation. Evidence of this mentality as well as the cruel patterns that it includes is seen when he personally gets rid of his beloved, adoptive child, Ikemefuna, mainly because “affection [is] a sign of weakness” (Achebe 30) and he “[fears] being believed weak” (Achebe 59). Okonkwo’s decision the following is, paradoxically, much more reflection of his desolation to charm to the circumstances of his society than genuine masculinity itself. Obierika, one of the most effective men in his tribe, concurs with this, exemplifying how one can maintain power although remaining positive by praying that he would “neither dispute [the killing of his son] neither be the one to do it” (Achebe 65). With him as image of values within their tribe, Okonkwo’s obscured vision of masculinity is definitely reinforced, fantastic fear of inability is launched as he is observed resorting to this kind of extremes basically to avoid emulating any effiminity typical of his father. His “fear of himself” (Achebe 17), and any regression via power to lower income, controls Okonkwo’s life, very much like Ahab’s obsession with revenge handles his personal.
Captain Ahab of Moby Dick had misplaced his calf to a whale that is frequently perceived to be immortal, mythological, and untouchable” Moby Dick. For this sole action, Chief Ahab abandons his responsibilities as a business whaler and instead conducts a whale hunt, scouring every oceans in frantic search of a whale that can only be identified by its whiteness, an “all-color of atheism” (Melville 212) that is especially symbolic of eeriness while the pureness of the color disguises the evil of whale. The two this situation and this belief contribute to Ahab’s monomania, a type of insanity that he is too aware of. Essentially, Captain Ahab recognizes that he’s “in the irony of earth” (Melville 575), yet he continually caters to his madness because he believes that it is even more beneficial as being a driving force than it is a detriment to his mental health, openly acknowledging that it is his “most wanted health” (Melville 580). Such consciousness is exemplified simply by Ahab’s disposition to mother or father the unusual, depersonalized Pip. In his efforts to surface himself to monomania, Ahab not only deprives himself of reality, yet consequently immerses himself in detachment. Very careful to manipulate his influences, even though, Ahab ensures that nobody can distract him from his quest, even concluding that Pip can be “too curing [for his] malady” (Melville 580) at times. Okonkwo is much less self-aware with this behavior, yet like Ahab, he desires for the virility and stoicism of his fatherland, Umuofia, during his exile at his motherland. He trusts that such attributes will safeguarded his “great passion” in life” “to become among the lords of [Umuofia]” (Achebe 121), so Okonkwo ignores his uncle’s advice to “find retreat in the motherland” and protect himself from sorrow and bitterness (Achebe 124), a great act comparable to Ahab’s antipatia from Pip’s sensibility. Without a doubt, both character types seek comfort in their things to do, as observed in Okonkwo’s recently elaborated needs and Ahab’s decision to “quietly decide on ship” than to “throw himself after a sword” like Ancient greek language legend Cato (Melville 3). These traits, however , aren’t the only thing they may have in common. Corresponding to Okonkwo’s overcompensatory doings in the effort to satisfy others’ expectations, Ahab shows hubris coming from a desire for satisfaction as well, attempting to achieve his self-perception of any determined, expert captain over his pursue. The hot “triumph” in Ahab’s eyes are validated by his in-born sense of direction, but also in reality, this effort is merely a subconscious way toward “fatal pride” (Melville 564). At this point, it is crystal clear how this sort of arrogance impacts Ahab’s finishing, and for Okonkwo, the countless omens and messages he disregards imply similar to well” death.
Throughout Moby Dick, narrator Ishmael maintains the belief that the water is secret and aweing, observing its “devilish brilliance and beauty” as he thinks the “subtleness” on the outside juxtaposed by the “dreaded creatures” gliding beneath that (Melville 299). These vibrant descriptions just convey a portion of Ahab’s view, as he finds all four seas” the harborer of Moby Dick” to be even more confounding, and far more unfathomable, than what can be described. With this staying said, Ahab’s death is definitely dignified in the very fact that he perished at marine. He ends his idea fissa at the incredibly place it got developed, inch[spitting his] last breath by Moby Dick” before getting killed by simply his individual harpoon, a manifestation Ahab’s utter hate. Though this individual never slain the whale, there is a sort of satisfaction in the fact that the hatred and madness, the driving force of his purpose plus the cause of his end, is definitely swallowed by the merciful ocean. Alas, his “fatal pride” (Melville 564) ends their torment, and Ishmael stresses Ahab’s pride by transporting the heritage of The Pequod.
Conversely, Okonkwo’s destiny had not been in the hands from the universe, however in his individual hands rather. Umuofia’s culture of fight, fortitude, and tenacity have been the epitome of masculinity, and this gave him purpose” “those were the times when men were men” (Achebe 184). His passion with dominance and control would be his downfall, so that as Okonkwo retains his take great pride in, he dismisses the cowardice of pacifists, believing that it “moves [] men to impotence” (Achebe 184), and predictably eyelashes out with the first white colored man to order serenity in spite of Okonkwo’s demand for warfare, murdering him. “[Discerning] terror in [the] tumult” he had caused (Achebe 188) terror, the most shameful, yet the majority of motivating component of his being” Okonkwo decides that he is will no longer useful in a culture while vapid as this, and displays his spite by simply hanging him self, tarnishing his once sacred land with death. Essentially, Okonkwo would not receive the dignified death that gave cause to his being. Without room intended for his masculinity and pleasure, he not anymore felt cause for his presence. He could not live without being himself.
In both Items Fall Apart and Moby Dick, both Okonkwo and Ahab, subconsciously and consciously, pander to their urges as they allow indignation, satisfaction, and wrath to control all their actions with out concern. Ultimately, both characters’ traits enjoy parts inside their shared narratives of self-destruction, and by the final of their reports, societal impacts and personal grievances continue to confirm their brilliance over free-will, with both character types failing to perform their prime achievements because things broken.
