An Analysis of Character Foils and Their Purpose in Things Fall Apart

THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN October 3rd 2007

A foil is a literary mechanism which uses a secondary to contrast with a major character, serving a variety of purposes. Various types of foils include character foils, situation foils, and setting foils. In his masterpiece, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe employs character foils. The character foils in this novel expemplify the varying personalities created by the Igbo (Nigerian tribal) culture and the past. Character foils are usually between two closely tied characters with nearly opposite personalities with a distinct, culturally important connection or common ground. Thematically, this contrast helps to develop Things Fall Apart as a tragedy through pointing out the flaws and weakness in the characters that are foiled. Two primary character foils, that between Obierka and Okonkwo, and that between Ikemefuma and Nwoye, serve to contrast and illuminate the differences between each other, as well as reveal each other’s weaknesses in a way not seen by just examining the person’s actions alone.

Ikemefuma becomes a foil of Nwoye and the same vise versa. They share a common cultural ground of trying to fit in and qualify as men, under their father’s expectations. In this effect, Achebe brings out the cultural flaws and impractical elements of Okonkwo’s perception of men. The foil between Ikemefuma, as adroit, mature, learned, and pre-paternal, and that Nwoye, as childish, dependent, unknowledgeable, and yet yearning for guidance, is one that brings out the father’s interpretation of Nwoye’s flaws which are overall categorized by Okonkwo as lazy. Ikemefuma’s exemplary masculine qualities and admiration of Okonkwo inspire Nwoye’s desire to be masculine and detach from his childish and feminine weaknesses. However, in the death of Ikemefuma, all of Nwoye’s weaknesses are revealed as the most significant part of the character foil is unveiled in that Nwoye’s masculinity and confidence was solely dependent on Ikemefuma, and never a true part of his own personality. Achebe, at this point, makes it highly evident that the purpose of the foil between Ikemefuma and Nwoye was to expose the tragedy of Okonkwo and his dependency on the masculine cult which causes the tragedy of Nwoye, a boy unrealistically expected to be a man, not become, but be.

More importantly, Obierka is a foil of Okonkwo, and the contrast between them helps to show Okonkwo’s weaknesses and lack of words and ignorant use of brutal force, while it shows at the same time Obierka’s ability or compelling need to question the Igbo Culture. Okonkwo is a man of action not words; Obierka is a man of words and little action. Okonkwo fears of showing any sense of emotion as a sign of femininity, while Obierka’s character exemplifies the disadvantages in this by showing Okonkwo’s inability to socially connect and ultimately turn the closest against him. Obierka’s ability to remain calm and cool when things conflict with his personal preference or request something of him that disagrees with his personal ideas. Okonkwo cannot remain calm, and is often rash and foolish in this sense, eager to show off or demonstrate masculinity, which in Obierka’s reflections upon Okonkwo’s actions; we realize this is the tragic flaw that leads to Okonkwo’s climatic banishment from the tribe.

In a general sense, Things Fall apart can be viewed as the tragedy of Okonkwo’s actions. However, the character foils demonstrate that not only are Okonkwo’s actions tragic, but also the Igbo culture, radicalized by Okonkwo’s interpretation which reflects only his fears. The foils between Obierka and Okonkwo, as well as Ikemefuma and Nwoye, help to expose the tragic flaws of Okonkwo and his self-interpreted culture that cause things to fall apart.