Ikemefuna's last words are “My father, they have killed me!” He yells them as the clan he’s been given to in exchange for peace is about to kill him. He’s not saying this to his biological father. Rather, he’s screaming this at Okonkwo, who has become a father figure to him because Ikemefuna has been living in Okonkwo’s house for three years.

On reading Ikemefuna’s last words, readers might get the feeling that Ikemefuna wants Okonkwo to do something. Perhaps Ikemefuna thinks Okonkwo will interfere or try to save him. After all, the two have become close, and Okonkwo treats Ikemefuna like his own son. It makes sense that Ikemefuna would think Okonkwo would care about him after the two have lived together for as long as they have.

Yet it is clear that Okonkwo is not the kind of character to rescue someone even if he loves that person. Okonkwo has many insecurities. His lack of confidence stems from his father, Unoka, who was rather indolent and not exactly brave. Okonkwo doesn’t rescue Ikemefuna because he doesn’t want to seem soft or weak like his father. To demonstrate his strength and toughness, Okonkwo instead kills Ikemefuna, his foster son, with a machete.