These two elements of the first chapter explain the extent to which Okonkwo suffered, perhaps to the point of traumatization, from the shame brought about by his father's careless ways. His life is dominated by fear. Okonkwo is a proud and strong man who considers himself better than others. He wants to be respected and feared, but his fear of his father's weakness often leads him to resort to violence against others. Expert answers. From the first chapter of the novel, the reader learns that Okonkwo hates his father Unoka. The worst qualities a man could have in Okonkwo's mind were weakness and laziness. The best loves come from literature. 1. “He is more myself than I am.” Whatever the composition of our soul, his and mine are identical. 2. “I am nothing special, just an ordinary man with common thoughts and I have led a common life. No monument is dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten.Answers from experts. Okonkwo is the protagonist of Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart. The question is often asked whether Okonkwo, a member of the Igbo tribe, is a tragic hero.