Okonkwo-chapters 1-4

I think that Okonkwo is genuinely a good guy. Despite him beating his wife and children, I think that he actually cares about them. Beating his family was a way to discipline and teach in that culture, not a bad thing like it is in our culture. Okonkwo hated his father's lifestyle. His father, Unoka, was very lazy and he had trouble taking care of his wife and feeding his children. I believe that Okonkwo's hate for that life and the way he was raised (with scarce food and his father having no title) is why he took such extreme measures when he was older. Okonkwo proved that no matter what background you come from, you can change and become an honorable man. Okonkwo became a tough fighter, the opposite from what his soft, affectionate father had done. Unoka hated war, so Okonkwa loved it. I think that since Okonkwa wanted to be the opposite of what his father was, that this is why he is so harsh and doesn't seem to care. I think that inside, Okonkwa cares because of the way that he was sorry for beating his wife on the Week of Peace. Yet, since Okonkwa is supposed to be so hard and manly, he won't let anyone know how caring he is on the inside. I think that this will become more evident as we read on into the story, as well.