Okonkwo Vs. Samad

Growing up in well off homes, one would think children are raised to be the best they can be and strive for their dreams and goals. One would think all parents or guardians want for their children what their children want for themselves. In reality this is not the case. Reading Things That Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and White Teeth by Zadie Smith confirmed that some parents want their children to be just like them. We see this is Okonkwo and Samad who are two main characters in each book. Both are not only demanding and have an iron fist on their families, but they also expect their children to follow their footsteps and pursue their heritage.

Okonkwo is a very dominant character and is seen as a manly, wealthy, leader in Things Fall Apart. He shows drive to become a lord of his clan because of his father's, Unoka, affect on the community. Unoka was lazy and cowardly to the tribe. His values and vision of things were imperious by music and conversation, rather war and social statues. This caused him to become an outcast. Okonkwo trained himself to be nothing like this; instead becoming a warrior to his tribe and his family. This dominancy is showcased through-out the book effortlessly. His status with the tribe is very important to him and he will kill before showing any sign of weakness. He literally does kill his adopted son Ikemefuna because the Oracles believe he is bad blood being he was taken from another tribe for revenge. He does not hesitate to result to violence to be understood and that one part of this novel shows this.

Next we have Samad who shows a demanding personality to the readers also. Samad is Archie's, another main character, best friend in the book, White Teeth. He is a World War II veteran and other than working at a restaurant, hangs with Archie at a local bar. Samad is married to Alsana and they have twin sons, Magid and Millat. With their marriage being arrange, the two have a rocky setting; both torn between Islam and their English lifestyle. Samad generally shows his dominancy when it comes to his sons. His marriage causes quite a few funny scenes in the novel. Alsana having a temper, they have these physically altercations. Alsana winning most of the time cause Samad to have a more overbearing attitude toward his twin sons.

Not only is Okonkwo dominant but this causes him to rule his family with an iron fist. He expects them all to follow his rules and obey the laws set by him and of the tribe. We mainly see this authority when it comes to Okonkwo and how he treats his wives. Him having three, with many children, you would think he would be somewhat loose about there where about and actions in the novel. The reader is proven wrong in chapter four. Okonkwo asks his second wife about his youngest wife, Ojiugo. When she tells him that she has left her children with her and has gone to get her hair plaited, he is furious. He waits for her back at his obi and when she returns, he beats her "heavily" as described in the book. "His first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with him that it was the sacred week. But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody half-way through, not even for the fear of a goddess.", this excerpt from the novel exhibits that Okonkwo cared more about ruling over his family than disturbing the tribes religion week.

Different than Okonkwo's violence, Samad rules his family with an iron fist as well. This trait is displayed when Samad ignores his wife's plea and kidnaps Magid sending him to Bangladesh. Samad wanting both sons to be Islamic men, he forces this religion upon both. Magid being Samad favorite, through his actions in the book, thinks Magid is more worthy of being sent