The Power of Fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, that it will cause pain or a threat. The power of fear can lead to destruction. In Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart, he uses fear to demonstrate the evolution of the protagonist, Okonkwo. Achebe uses conflict and irony to demonstrate the influential aspect of fear in his famous novel which is examined by Robert Bennett in a literary criticism. Achebe uses his protagonist's internal conflict to demonstrate the power of fear. Okonkwo's fear of becoming like his apathetic father is an internal conflict between Okonkwo. “Okonkwo's fear was greater than these. It was not outward, but lay deep within him, so that he would not seem to resemble his father. (Achebe 13). Okonkwo tries to live his life the polar opposite of his father. Unlike his father, Okonkwo is a hard worker with little debt and a driven personality. His inner fear leads him to decide to beat his wife during the peace week and take part in the obligatory action of killing his beautiful....