How is identity defined in Things Fall Apart?

When we discuss identity, usually it is to discuss the character and context of an individual, although institutions, cultures, and societies also have collective identities. To succinctly answer this question, we will focus on individual identities. When uncovering the identity of a person, one might inquire about whom the person is, where they are from, what family they belong to, and what sort of choices they are likely to make. You might notice from all of these parameters that identity is somewhat complicated. A lot of elements go into understanding a person's identity.

Another element of identity is what some call identity politics. One's identity is always subject to judgments about the groups they fit into. A person can identify as male or female, transgender or cisgender. They might be of one or multiple races. Class is another identifying factor, with one's socioeconomic status offering an important piece of context.

Still more elements go into identity: age, education, ability, intelligence, nationality, and marital status.

One the most important elements to keep in mind when discussing identity is self conception. How does the individual in question think about their own identity?

Another important element to keep in mind is that the identity of characters in literature usually corresponds to larger aspects of the themes and motifs in a given text. For example, an important theme in Things Fall Apart is tradition versus modernity, and the character of Okonkwo adheres to traditional Igbo standards. In other words, he embodies one of the principles that the novel interrogates.