Why did Okonkwo hate his father in Things Fall Apart?

In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo resents his father for being a poor, unmanly, unsuccessful debtor. Okonkwo was ashamed of his father and embarrassed by his behavior, which motivated him to develop a callous attitude and an indefatigable work ethic. Unoka was an idle man who preferred to play his flute and dance rather than work the land or fight in battle like the other respected men of Umuofia.

Although Unoka was a relatively pleasant individual, he was notorious for not paying back his debts, and his family suffered because he refused to work. Okonkwo and his siblings would often go hungry and rely on the charity of others for help. Achebe also writes that Unoka was an ill-fated man with a bad chi. Unoka died of swelling of the stomach, which was an abomination to the earth goddess, and he was left in the Evil Forest to die alone.

Okonkwo's hatred toward his father influences him to become the complete opposite of Unoka. He develops into a resolute, aggressive man, becoming a successful farmer and valiant warrior. He also becomes a champion wrestler and attains two titles in Umuofia. Despite Okonkwo's many successes, his fear of being perceived as weak, which stems from his negative perception of Unoka, leads to his demise. Okonkwo's fear of weakness and failure leads him to behave rashly, and his inability to control his anger and violent outbursts creates significant issues in his life.