Both Okonkwo and Kurtz display characteristics of tragic heroes. Okonkwo is a respected leader in his village who fears weakness, while Kurtz rises to power and status as an ivory trader but succumbs to the wilderness. Their flaws, Okonkwo's fear and Kurtz's greed, lead to their downfalls as defined by Aristotle - a dramatic reversal, moment of recognition, and hubris. Both end tragically, with Okonkwo committing suicide and Kurtz's last words expressing horror.

1. z
Okonkwo and
Kurtz as Tragic
Heroes
Rudrika Gohel
Batch- 2017-2019
Submitted to, Smt. S.B. Gardi Department
of English MKBU
Paper no. 14

2. z
Tragic hero
The term hero is derived from a Greek word that means a person
who faces adversity, or demonstrates courage, in the face of
danger. However, sometimes he faces downfall as well. When a
hero confronts downfall, he is recognized as a tragic hero
or protagonist.

3. z
 Aristotle’s Poetics defines,
"tragic hero" as a good man of high status who displays a tragic
flaw (hamartia) and experiences a dramatic reversal “peripeteia”, as
well as an intense moment of recognition “anagnorisis” and
“hubris”.

4. z
About the Characters
 Both were faced tragic ending
 Started with respect and a sense of nobility
 leaders of a similar tribe
 In both the text there is a mention of white people
 Not only did the white missionaries bring religion but
they also brought new type of laws equipped with a
courthouse

5. z
Okonkwo as a tragic Hero
 “A man of action, a man of war”
 holds the prominent position of village
 Okonkwo is a leader and hardworking member of the
Igbo community of Umuofia whose tragic flaw is his
great fear of weakness and failure
 ‘wealthy farmer”, and a renowned individual amongst
the nine villages
 But he has a fear of weakness and failure
 His fear of being weak leads him to treat members of
his family harshly.

6. z…
 Kills Ezeudu’s son and exile for seven years
 Okonkwo wrestles with his fear that any sign of weakness will
cause him to lose control of his family,
 position in the village, and even himself.
 The classic fall of “hubris” plays role in Okonkwo’s downfall
 "anagnorisis", he surrender to his character flaws when he killed the
court messenger
 He displays the characteristics of tragic hero
 At the end, he commits suicide.

7. z
Kurtz as a Tragic Hero
 Kurtz also belongs on one of the high status in his community
 A trader of ivory in Africa and commander of a trading post,
 So, no one could deny that whatever he was, and whatever he did
 "a universal genius“
 But wilder personality changes completely
 Kurtz's rise from poverty after arriving at jungle further
demonstrates his heroic virtues
 Kurtz has come to assume an almost mythicalstatus in colonial
literature.

8. z
…
 Elbarbary, writes that "Kurtz is seen in a double focus; genius
and nobility of personality find themselves in easy partnership
with insanity and monstrosity“
 Again, term of "anagnorisis", Kurtz succumbs to his character
flaws in sickness
 And last words, “the horror, the horror”

9. z
Conclusion
 Okonkwo a man of action and Kurtz universal genius both were
high virtues of tragic heroes. Okonkwo’s tragic flaw, fear and
Kurtz’s greed over ivory, wilderness, arrogence cause of fall
down.