the family. Ikemefuna is basically a hostage, turned over to Okonkwo's tribe after losing a battle to Umuofia. The boy lives with Okonkwo's family for three years, so naturally, he becomes like a son to Okonkwo and a brother to Nwoye. Both grow fond of their young hostage. The narrator says that "Ikemefuna called [Okonkwo] father" (28) and "he and Nwoye had become so deeply attached to each other" that Nwoye's inherent sadness begins to fade (34). Okonkwo actually begins to approve of Nwoye, a son with whom he has had a fraught relationship:

Okonwko was inwardly pleased at his son's development, and he know it was due to Ikemefuna. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father's household... (52)

Tragically, however, the Oracle eventually reveals that Ikemefuna must be killed. Ezeudu tells Okonkwo not to participate in this sacrifice because of his close relationship with the boy. To prove how unemotional and masculine he is, however, Okonkwo is the one to bring the machete down on his foster son.

This is the point where Nwoye and Okonkwo grow further apart. Nwoye's positive influence is gone, and there is now no buffer between him and his father's expectations. Nwoye is a quiet, sensitive boy, and Okonkwo is the quintessential manly man. Later in the novel, once the Christian missionaries come to Umuofia, Nwoye ends up converting, sealing once and for all his separation from his father. Nwoye is open to this new belief system and finds it appealing. Okonkwo, on the other hand, reveres tradition above all and rails against this development, even though he is too late (after returning from a seven-year exile) to do anything to stop it.

Ultimately, though they become closer due to their respective relationships with Ikemefuna, Nwoye and Okonkwo are polar opposites.

Okonkwo is Nwoye's father and has little in common with his son. Okonkwo is a masculine, aggressive person, who is callous and has an affinity for violence. He is respected throughout his tribe and holds several revered titles. Okonkwo is also a hard worker with an authoritative personality. He is known for his short temper and commands respect throughout the village. Okonkwo's aggressive and intense personality stems from his fear of becoming a debtor like his lazy father. In contrast to his father, Nwoye is an apathetic child who is rather sensitive. Nwoye is not athletic and has an affinity for stories and music similar to his grandfather. Nwoye does not share his father's affinity for violence and is depicted as a sympathetic individual. Okonkwo views Nwoye with contempt and wishes Nwoye acted more like his daughter, Ezinma. Eventually, Nwoye joins the Christian church and Okonkwo disowns him.

From the start of the novel, Okonkwo, the protagonist, is described as very prideful and someone who adheres very closely to the customs and the traditions of his people, the Igbo. He is someone who “ruled his household with a heavy hand” (Achebe 13) and causes fear in his children and wives. Okonkwo thinks any kind of emotional weakness is womanly and measures his own worth by the success of his crops and the number of wives and children he has. His son, Nwoye, on the other hand, desires to break away from the traditions of the Igbo, including those that say manliness is the most important trait.

When the Christians come to bring their religion to the Igbo people, Okonkwo is very resistant and wants to convince the other tribal members to fight back (this resistance is part of what leads to his downfall). Nwoye, however, sees something in the message of the Christians and decides to convert. Because Nwoye questions certain traditions of the Igbo, such as the custom to kill twins because they are seen as an abomination, he is drawn to Christianity as an answer to some of his questions. Achebe writes that when Nwoye encounters the Christian missionaries, he was “captivated” by the “poetry of the new religion” (147). While the arrival of the Christians was a way for Nwoye to escape his father, for Okonkwo, it was the beginning of the end.

Perhaps the only similarity between the two is their fondness for Ikemefuna, who is forced to leave his own village and stay at Okonwko’s compound as compensation for a wrong done to the Igbo people by a man of another village. Ikemefuna’s fate is sealed from the beginning, but Okonwko cannot help become attached to him, regardless. Nwoye, too, “became quite inseparable” from Ikemefuna. This, again, might be the only similarity between Okonkwo and Nwoye.

Okonkwo is identified always in masculine terms, often connected with violence and strength. Nwoye is described in more musical terms, & Achebe often uses figurative language such as similes and metaphors to characterize Nwoye. Okonkwo likes stories of bloodshed and war, while Nowye prefers his mother's myths and fables. When seen through Okonkwo's eyes, he is described as "weak", "womanly", and "lazy". Conversely, Nwoye is terrified of his father while growing up. When Ikemefuna comes to stay, Nwoye transforms, eager to please his father and emulate his new brother.

In a way, Ikemefuna's death is a turning point for both father and son. Okonkwo is haunted by his act, & suffers moments of doubt. Nwoye is forever turned away from the tribe, & is more susceptible to the missionaries when they arrive. He responds to their message of love and acceptance, which is something he cannot find with his family or the tribe. The rituals, such as throwing twins in the forest to die, are heartbreaking to him, and he is unable to see the purpose behind it. He sees only inhuman cruelty. Thus, the missionaries offer an alternative to what he's always known.

Okonkwo, however, sees the missionaries as intruders, slowly destroying the tribe. He holds the rituals and culture of the tribe in the utmost regard; hence his overwhelming desire for Nwoye to prove a man. He responds to the missionaries' actions with violence, but receives little to no support from the tribe. He feels as though his world is being replaced by one of womanliness and weakness, which is the greatest crime he could imagine.

Ikemefuna is a fifteen-year-old boy from Mbaino, who is given as a sacrifice to Umuofia. Okonkwo becomes Ikemefuna's guardian, and the boy becomes part of Okonkwo's family. Achebe writes that Ikemefuna is a likable, enthusiastic young boy, who gets along well with Okonkwo's family. Ikemefuna is skilled in making traps, identifying wildlife, and engaging in masculine activities. Okonkwo comes to favor Ikemefuna over his own son and hopes that Ikemefuna will be a positive influence on Nwoye. Okonkwo appreciates Ikemefuna's active nature and secretly admires the boy because he is afraid to show affection.

Unlike Ikemefuna, Nwoye is a sensitive boy who does not excel in physical activities. Nwoye enjoys hearing his mother tell stories and reminds Okonkwo of his father, Unoka. Okonkwo wishes that Nwoye was more aggressive, physically talented, and competitive. Following Ikemefuna's death, Nwoye ends up joining the Christian church and Okonkwo essentially disowns his son.

Ikemefuna becomes the son Okwonko wants Nwoye to be. He comes to live with Okwonko from another tribe as a peace offering, and Ikemefuna quickly adjusts to his new surroundings. He participates in all of the village's activities and knows so much about so many things. He's well-liked, and Okwonko hopes Nwoye will learn how to be a good son by watching Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna enjoys doing all of the things Okwonko and the other men do, and he gives great joy to Okwonko.

Nwoye is nothing like Ikemefuna, and he enjoys his mother's company much more than his father's. Nwoye isn't into all the male traditions and activities of the village, and Okwonko is afraid he's going to be like Okwonko's father and embarrass him. Okwonko had to work very hard to undo the damage his father had caused to the family's reputation. His father was considered lazy, and Okwonko wanted to be sure that no one  felt Okwonko was like his father. Nwoye even questions some of the ways of the tribe, and this is not acceptable at all. He's beaten by Okwonko for his "laziness", and this makes Nwoye pull even further away from the males of the village, especially his father. When Ikemefuna does come, he is good for Nwoye because Nwoye respects him. Because of this, Nwoye does try to spend more time with the men and participate in the male activities. After Ikemefuna's death, Nwoye is devastated.

From the very beginning of his life, Nwoye was not at all the manly type of son that Okonkwo wished he would be.  He was not as interested in wrestling, or as good at it.  He does not want to grow up to get titles and be the type of man that Okonkwo wishes he would be.  In some ways he reminds Okonkwo of his father, which is terribly disappointing.

As Ikemefuna and Nwoye get closer as time goes on, Nwoye actually tries to get more into the things that Okonkwo wants him to because he is so fond of Ikemefuna.

After Ikemefuna's death, Nwoye is angrier and angrier with his father and starts to push farther and farther away, eventually joining the Christians and basically putting an end to the relationship with his father.