Unoka and Okonkwo represent reactions to the traditional ways of life. Unoka did not meet the village's expectations of what a man should be, as he was considered weak. He disliked fighting and lost money. Okonkwo, his son, makes progress with regard to the esteem of the village of Umofia, as he is a prized wrestler and succeeds at making his own money. Ikemefuna, Okonkwo's adopted son, embodies many of the qualities that Okonkwo and the society prize, as he is diligent and loves his adopted father. However, Okonkwo must kill him when his death is decreed by the oracle in the village. When Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, there is a real and symbolic disruption in the progress that Okonkwo has made. This progress has come at the expense of his humanity, as he has to kill the boy he loves.
Okonkwo's biological son, Nwoye, represents a kind of adaptation to the white Christian society that has taken over the village by the time Okonkwo is older. Nwoye rejects Okonkwo's brand of traditional masculinity, as he embraces Christianity and its message of love. Okonkwo detests this new order, but there is no doubt that in some ways, Nwoye is better suited to the changes that have come to the village than Okonkwo is. In this way, Nwoye represents progress with regard to adapting to the changes that have come to the village.
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