A critic named David Carroll criticizes Okonkwo from the novel entitled Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, of being heartless, and too critical of implementing laws. Carroll also states that the death of Ikemefuna is the turning point of the novel. Okonkwo's decision on participating in the execution of Ikemefuna is not wise, and it is definitely not what a man with a high rank would do. The death of Ikemefuna launches the rise to the climax, but is not the turning point of the novel. The turning point actually comes midway into the novel.

Taking care of Ikemefuna is the key to Okonkwo's hard-won status and the highest point of his rise to power. Ikemefuna is not Okonkwo's flesh and blood, but he still takes the boy in and considers him as his own. Based on his analysis of the novel, Carroll pronounces that the death of...