ABSTRACT
This work has critically accessed and explored the idea on the effect of Heroism on individual self and the society, using Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Everyday is for the ThiefbyTeju Cole as examples.
In both novels, the idea of heroism is multi-dimensional and complex as we witness how heroism is heavily influenced by people and society in it.
Okonkwo, a main character in Things Fall Apart is a typical example of a hero whose actions have a lasting repercussion on himself and his community. As he grows alone and alienates himself his community, the battle to preserve his cultural identity and heritage in the face of colonisation eventually resulting in his end. But his valiant deeds also encourage others to defend their rights and oppose colonial oppressive system.
In the same manner, in Everyday is for the Thief, the narrator is a self aware person who actions affects his society and himself. His heroic actions inspires others to consider their values. He struggles to find meaning and purpose in a city that seems to value material wealth over human concerns and connections, he tries to navigate the complexities of modern day Lagos leading to a deeper understanding of his place in the society.
Moreover, the two primary protagonists illustrate how bravery can be a source of strength and also a weakness. The narrator's heroic actions results in his greater understanding of his society and himself whilst Okonkwo's action brings about his ultimate downfall. This contradiction highlights how complicated heroism is and how important it is to have a sophisticated grasp of how it affects both the individual and society.
Furthermore, both novel emphasis depictions of heroism as the conflict between recognition and a need for a recognised form of identity in their respective societies. Okonkwo's ambition to uphold his cultural heritage and establish himself as an outstanding personality is packaged as the fear of the unknown which motivates his deeds and actions throughout the plot narration and which creates a significant consequences to himself, family and his society.
