What conflicts are present in chapter 1 of Things Fall Apart?

There are two major conflicts that are introduced in the first chapter. The first major conflict, is the conflict that drives Okonkwo throughout the whole novel, namely the fear of being like his father. Unoka is seen by the tribe, and particularly by his son, as feminine, weak and lazy. Okonkwo is desperate to escape the same fate as his father. Unoka owes huge amounts of cowries to men all over town and seems unconcerned about it, he is happy just to play his flute and enjoy what he can. This drives Okonkwo to fight for titles, become a great wrestler and to fight against weakness and laziness his entire life.

The second conflict is between the feminine and the masculine in Igbo culture. Okoye is seen as a man who has achieved the balance between masculine and feminine. He has titles and is greatly respected in the tribe, but he also knows when to have mercy and when to enjoy the fruits of his labors. Throughout the novel, it will become apparent that Okonkwo is unable to find this balance as he is so bent on appearing and acting masculine that he is unable to ever compromise or heed advice or even enjoy the great prosperity he builds for himself and his family.

What is the theme of conflict in chapter 1 of Things Fall Apart?

In the first chapter of Things Fall Apart, the reader is introduced to Okonkwo and Okonkwo's father Unoka. Okonkwo is known as a great wrestler and a very successful man by all the traditional Igbo measures, he has three wives, barns full of yams, and has been a noted warrior in two conflicts between clans.

This is in stark contrast to his father, Unoka, who loves only to play his flute and live well whenever he can borrow money from someone else. While Okonkwo is seen as manly and successful, Unoka is labeled feminine and a complete failure. This sets up one of the central conflicts in the story, which involves Okonkwo fighting against the legacy of his father and trying desperately to prove that he is nothing like him.

There is a second related conflict that is also revealed with the introduction and description of Okoye. He also plays a musical instrument, but has been successful in a material way and manages to build an appropriate balance of the masculine and feminine values of Igbo culture. This is something that Okonkwo will never be able to do, something that will also lead to his failure and death at the end of the story.