The Destructiveness of Power and Pride

At first glance, Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart and Kurtz in Heart of Darkness may seem to live in two different worlds; yet, both of them are men of power and pride. They reveal their charismatic qualities and have great significance on the lives of the Africans. Their strong aspirations, however, are the cause of their downfalls. Both Okonkwo's and Kurtz’s “pride goeth before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18); their own ambitions have made their world fall apart.
Okonkwo and Kurtz are men of power and pride. They both seek power. Okonkwo is very successful in the clan. His “fear” is his motivation and he doesn't want to turn out like his father. He becomes “well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond”(TFA, 3). He has titles, he participates in clan meetings and people in the clan respect him. Kurtz is very proud and influential as well. He desires power and has built himself a “kingdom”. He is very wealthy and has many pieces of ivories. He has “the tribe t...