why did okonkwo kill himself

Okonkwo killed himself in Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" due to a combination of personal despair, cultural disintegration, and historical context. Personally, Okonkwo feared becoming weak and dishonored like his father, and suicide was his way to avoid the shame of capture by the colonial authorities. Culturally, his suicide symbolized the collapse of traditional Igbo society under the pressure of European colonization and Christian influence. Historically, Okonkwo was overwhelmed by the rapid changes brought by colonial rule, feeling isolated in his defiance against the new order. His suicide was both a desperate act of despair and a tragic symbol of the disintegration of his world. However, within Igbo culture, suicide was considered a shameful, "feminine" act, which meant his death left him an outcast without honor or a proper burial. This layered act reflects Okonkwo's profound struggle with his identity, his society's changes, and his ultimate alienation.