The tragic hero of Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness A tragic hero might be considered a "noble person with a fatal flaw" or "an adversary of society who is willing to act so that "sensible people" can applaud but never perform". In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrads, two characters, Okonkwo and Kurtz, have some qualities that could classify them as tragic heroes. However, only the reader's interpretation of the characters' actions will determine whether they are tragic heroes or not. In his Ibo society, Okonkwo would certainly be considered a "noble person". Not only did he rise from poverty to become one of the most prominent men in Umuofia, but he was also considered one of the country's greatest warriors and wrestlers. "Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements," (Achebe 3). Through exemplary actions, Okonkwo earned the respect of his fellow tribesmen. Okonkwo also holds two titles in his clan and is a member of the egwugwu, which demonstrates his leadership skills, power and the "nobility" he holds in Umuofia. Despite his skills in those areas, Okonkwo has a "fatal flaw". “His whole life was dominated by fear, fear of failure and weakness” (Achebe 13). Unoka, Okonkwo's father, was considered an "agbala", or woman, because he was soft and not masculine enough. Okonkwo also hated his father because he embarrassed him, so his life's passion is to be the exact opposite of him. Because of this fear, Okonkwo held back his emotions and acted harshly, which ultimately made him weak, because a s...... middle of paper ......o seems to have more qualities than a tragic hero by Kurtz. Achebe had created Okonkwo with a certain nobility, and he certainly had a fatal flaw; his fear of weakness ultimately culminated in his death. Furthermore, Okonkwo had opposed white society and some of his fellow tribesmen. However, his clan did not approve of his final action: suicide. Because of this fact, Okonkwo can never be a true tragic hero. Now, Kurtz was never considered a noble man by society's standards and didn't really have a flaw; instead, he had the ability to persuade and manipulate people to his advantage, which would not have been a flaw for his own good. Kurtz was a mixed man of society; he opposed some parts while accepting others. Despite this, both characters showed some characteristics of the tragic hero and only the reader's response can determine their roles..