Okonkwo
Okonkwo is and proud member in Umuofia. Since his childhood, Okonkwo was embarrassed by his lazy, irresponsible , and effeminate father, Unoka. Seeing his father like this makes Okonkwo want to be better then him. Okonkwo’s hard work and prowess in war has earned him an high position in the clan of Ibo. He attains alot of wealth big enough to support his three wives and their children. Okonkwo has an lots of flaws, mainly that he is terrified of looking weak like his father. As a result, he behaves rashly bringing a great deal of trouble and pain upon himself and his family.
Nwoye
The eldest son of Okonkwo and his first wife. Nwoye shows characteristics similar to his grandfather Unoka. Because of that, Okonkwo continually beats Nwoye, hoping to correct his sons failures. During the time Ikemefuna is there,Nwoye begins to exhibit more masculine behavior, which pleases Okonkwo. However, after a while, he begins to starts doubts about some of the laws and rules of his tribe and eventually converts to Christianity, an act that Okonkwo does not approve of.
Ezinma
The daughter of Okonkwo’s second wife, Ekwefi. Ezinma is the only child of ten of the children her norther gave birth to survive infancy. Ezinma is the center of her mother’s world. Their relationship is not like any other mother/daughter relationship —Ezinma calls Ekwefi by her name and is treated by her as an equal. Ezinma is also Okonkwo’s favorite child, for she understands him better than any of his other children and reminds him of Ekwefi when Ekwefi was the village beauty. Okonkwo rarely demonstrates his affection because he is afraid of being seen weak, so he keeps his thoughts of Ezinma to himself. Furthermore, he wishes that Ezinma were a boy because she would have been the perfect son for him.
Ikemefuma
A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village because of the murder the village comitted. Ikemefuna lives in the hut of Okonkwo’s first wife and quickly becomes popular with Okonkwo’s children. He develops an very close relationship with Nwoye, who looks up to him a lot. Okonkwo too becomes very fond of Ikemefuna, who calls him “father” and is a perfect clansman, but Okonkwo does not demonstrate his affection because he fears that doing so would make him look weak. After 3 years of living with Okonkwo's family, he feels right at home. Then one day the village decides that he has to be killed. Ikemfuna is killed by the person he looked up to the most, Okonkwo.
Ekwefi
Okonkwo’s second wife, once the village beauty. Ekwefi ran away from her first husband to live with Okonkwo. Ekwefi has had deep sorrow in her life. Losing 9 out of 10 of her children during their infancy which keeps her in fear that she will lose her only survivng child; Ezinma . Ekwefi is good friends with Chielo, the priestess of the goddess Agbala.
Obierika
Okonkwo’s close friend, whose daughter’s wedding provides cause for festivity early in the novel. Obierika looks out for his friend, selling Okonkwo’s yams to ensure that Okonkwo won’t suffer financial ruin while in exile and comforting Okonkwo when he is depressed. Like Nwoye, Obierika questions some of the tribe’s traditional strictures.
The District Commissioner
An authority figure in the white colonial government in Nigeria. The prototypical racist colonialist, the District Commissioner thinks that he understands everything about native African customs and cultures and he has no respect for them. He plans to work his experiences into an ethnographic study on local African tribes, the idea of which embodies his dehumanizing and reductive attitude toward race relations.
Unoka
Okonkwo’s father, of whom Okonkwo has been ashamed since childhood. He is described as a lazy and irresponsible man. He never took a title in his life, he borrowed money from his clansmen, and he rarely repaid his debts. He never became a warrior because he hated the sight of blood. He died of an abominable illness. On the positive side, Unoka appears to have been a talented musician and gentle, if idle. The novel opens ten years after his death.
Oijugo
The third wife of Okonkwo and the mother of Nkechi. Duringlthe week of peace, Okonkwo beats her for leaving the hut.
Obiageli
The daughter of Okonkwo and his first wife. Ezinma has a lot of influence over her even though they are about the same age.
Maduka
The son of Obierka, he won the wrestling match of the mid-teens. Seeing this makes Okonkwo wish he had sons like Maduka.
Uchendu
The Uncle of Okonkwo, his village is the one Okonkwo goes to when him and his family is exiled for 7 years. Uchendu is the youngest brother of Okonkwo mother, who is buried in Uchendu village of Mbanta. Uchendu has suffered a lot in his life. Losing five of his six wives and burring twenty-two of his children. Uchendu is an peaceful man which helps Okonkwo act calm as well.
Reverend James Smith
The successor of Mr. Brown, Reverend James Smith takes a whole new approach to bringing Christianity to the clan. He is more aggressive and harsh with enforcing the views of god on the people. He entices anger on his clan that has serious consequences on the people of Umuofia.
Mr. Brown
One of the first white missionary to travel to Umuofia. Mr. Brown shows empathy, compassion, and non- aggressiveness between him and the clan. He even becomes friends with prominent clansmen and builds a school and a hospital in Umuofia. Unlike his successor Reverend Smith, he attempts to appeal respectfully to the tribe’s value system rather than harshly impose his religion on it. He listens to there views and shows them his views.
Okonkwo is and proud member in Umuofia. Since his childhood, Okonkwo was embarrassed by his lazy, irresponsible , and effeminate father, Unoka. Seeing his father like this makes Okonkwo want to be better then him. Okonkwo’s hard work and prowess in war has earned him an high position in the clan of Ibo. He attains alot of wealth big enough to support his three wives and their children. Okonkwo has an lots of flaws, mainly that he is terrified of looking weak like his father. As a result, he behaves rashly bringing a great deal of trouble and pain upon himself and his family.
Nwoye
The eldest son of Okonkwo and his first wife. Nwoye shows characteristics similar to his grandfather Unoka. Because of that, Okonkwo continually beats Nwoye, hoping to correct his sons failures. During the time Ikemefuna is there,Nwoye begins to exhibit more masculine behavior, which pleases Okonkwo. However, after a while, he begins to starts doubts about some of the laws and rules of his tribe and eventually converts to Christianity, an act that Okonkwo does not approve of.
Ezinma
The daughter of Okonkwo’s second wife, Ekwefi. Ezinma is the only child of ten of the children her norther gave birth to survive infancy. Ezinma is the center of her mother’s world. Their relationship is not like any other mother/daughter relationship —Ezinma calls Ekwefi by her name and is treated by her as an equal. Ezinma is also Okonkwo’s favorite child, for she understands him better than any of his other children and reminds him of Ekwefi when Ekwefi was the village beauty. Okonkwo rarely demonstrates his affection because he is afraid of being seen weak, so he keeps his thoughts of Ezinma to himself. Furthermore, he wishes that Ezinma were a boy because she would have been the perfect son for him.
Ikemefuma
A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village because of the murder the village comitted. Ikemefuna lives in the hut of Okonkwo’s first wife and quickly becomes popular with Okonkwo’s children. He develops an very close relationship with Nwoye, who looks up to him a lot. Okonkwo too becomes very fond of Ikemefuna, who calls him “father” and is a perfect clansman, but Okonkwo does not demonstrate his affection because he fears that doing so would make him look weak. After 3 years of living with Okonkwo's family, he feels right at home. Then one day the village decides that he has to be killed. Ikemfuna is killed by the person he looked up to the most, Okonkwo.
Ekwefi
Okonkwo’s second wife, once the village beauty. Ekwefi ran away from her first husband to live with Okonkwo. Ekwefi has had deep sorrow in her life. Losing 9 out of 10 of her children during their infancy which keeps her in fear that she will lose her only survivng child; Ezinma . Ekwefi is good friends with Chielo, the priestess of the goddess Agbala.
Obierika
Okonkwo’s close friend, whose daughter’s wedding provides cause for festivity early in the novel. Obierika looks out for his friend, selling Okonkwo’s yams to ensure that Okonkwo won’t suffer financial ruin while in exile and comforting Okonkwo when he is depressed. Like Nwoye, Obierika questions some of the tribe’s traditional strictures.
The District Commissioner
An authority figure in the white colonial government in Nigeria. The prototypical racist colonialist, the District Commissioner thinks that he understands everything about native African customs and cultures and he has no respect for them. He plans to work his experiences into an ethnographic study on local African tribes, the idea of which embodies his dehumanizing and reductive attitude toward race relations.
Unoka
Okonkwo’s father, of whom Okonkwo has been ashamed since childhood. He is described as a lazy and irresponsible man. He never took a title in his life, he borrowed money from his clansmen, and he rarely repaid his debts. He never became a warrior because he hated the sight of blood. He died of an abominable illness. On the positive side, Unoka appears to have been a talented musician and gentle, if idle. The novel opens ten years after his death.
Oijugo
The third wife of Okonkwo and the mother of Nkechi. Duringlthe week of peace, Okonkwo beats her for leaving the hut.
Obiageli
The daughter of Okonkwo and his first wife. Ezinma has a lot of influence over her even though they are about the same age.
Maduka
The son of Obierka, he won the wrestling match of the mid-teens. Seeing this makes Okonkwo wish he had sons like Maduka.
Uchendu
The Uncle of Okonkwo, his village is the one Okonkwo goes to when him and his family is exiled for 7 years. Uchendu is the youngest brother of Okonkwo mother, who is buried in Uchendu village of Mbanta. Uchendu has suffered a lot in his life. Losing five of his six wives and burring twenty-two of his children. Uchendu is an peaceful man which helps Okonkwo act calm as well.
Reverend James Smith
The successor of Mr. Brown, Reverend James Smith takes a whole new approach to bringing Christianity to the clan. He is more aggressive and harsh with enforcing the views of god on the people. He entices anger on his clan that has serious consequences on the people of Umuofia.
Mr. Brown
One of the first white missionary to travel to Umuofia. Mr. Brown shows empathy, compassion, and non- aggressiveness between him and the clan. He even becomes friends with prominent clansmen and builds a school and a hospital in Umuofia. Unlike his successor Reverend Smith, he attempts to appeal respectfully to the tribe’s value system rather than harshly impose his religion on it. He listens to there views and shows them his views.