People grapple with fear at some point in their lives. It’s that constant worry about a certain something. It is like that inner conscience that won’t stop contradicting what one is thinking, or like a constant itch that won’t go away. Fear can get in the way of accomplishments, and in the novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, fear is what keeps Okonkwo from his good fortune, which is his tragic flaw. The choices he makes are out of fear of being perceived as a failure and weak. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, sprouts the seeds of fear for Okonkwo. Unoka is looked down upon in his tribe for his laziness and Okonkwo feels ashamed, and he really wants respect from the clan. This motivates him to strive for success, wealth and respect, unlike his father. Events such as Okonkwo beating his wives, killing Ikemefuna and the white messenger conclude with Okonkwo committing suicide. These events are driven by fear. Unoka is the major influence on how Okonkwo developed in his childhood. The growing fear of being looked down upon is a struggle for Okonkwo to deal with. “Okonkwo did not have the start in life that many young men usually have . But in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father’s lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future.” (16-18). Okonkwo does not have what all the other men started off with and is being laughed at as a result. He blames his father for his fear of failure at the beginning of his life. The first time Okonkwo makes a bad decision is when he doesn’t take an elder’s advice and kills Ikemefuna. He does it out of fear of what the other men in the group and in his clan will think if he doesn’t kill him. When Ikemefuna joins Okonkwo’s family, Okonkwo never thinks that he will start to love Ikemefuna like one of his own children. “Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son’s development and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man