what did okonkwo do whenever he thought of his father's weakness and failure?
Okonkwo was a very angry man during the entire book. You need to go back to each mention of his father and then watch his actions to get the whole picture.
To understand what Okonkwo did whenever he thought of his father's weakness and failure, we must refer to the literary work "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, as Okonkwo is a fictional character in this novel.
In the novel, Okonkwo is a prominent figure in his village and is driven by a deep fear of becoming like his father, who he perceives as weak and unsuccessful. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was considered lazy and unsuccessful, which Okonkwo resented deeply.
When Okonkwo thinks about his father's weakness and failure, he makes a conscious effort to distance himself from those qualities. He turns to his own personal strengths, such as his physical prowess and determination, to prove himself as a strong and successful individual. Okonkwo is determined never to exhibit any signs of weakness, and he channels his resentment and frustration towards his father into a drive for success and power.
Specifically, Okonkwo becomes a highly respected warrior, a wealthy farmer, and attains high status within the Umuofia community. He constantly strives to prove himself and ensures that he adheres strictly to the societal expectations of masculinity and success in his community. Okonkwo's actions can be seen as a direct reaction to his father's weakness, as he goes to great lengths to avoid any behavior that he believes would align him with his father's perceived failings.
Overall, Okonkwo's response to the thought of his father's weakness and failure is to channel his energy into becoming the complete opposite, a strong and successful individual in the eyes of his community.