Okonkwo continuously strives to achieve success and condemns laziness. He displays hyper-masculinity as well as extreme inflexibility. He has solely one vision of what it means to be a man. Okonkwo's character is significant in that he is a tragic hero archetype, displaying hubris, peripeteia, hamartia, and anagorisis.
Also, some of his values are reflective of Ibo values. For example, his obsession with titles and recognition is reflective of the hierarchal nature of the Ibo society.
He represents the old. He is the one holding on to the old values, as evidenced by how he tries to get the tribesmen to drive away the Western influences. Therefore, he is symbolic of the old ways of Ibo life.
His life falling apart is emblematic of how the Ibo society fell apart, town by town, while the Ibo people themselves weren't fully realizing.
As a tragic hero archetype, he meets his tragic end. The last hold-on to the old is gone, and so is the old way of life, and the new reality called Nigeria emerges.
2. What is the purpose of Okonkwo’s character within the text?
One would be to contribute to the themes as mentioned in the answer to the next question.
Another is already discussed in the first question, which is to work as a symbol.
3. How does Okonkwo’s character contribute to themes or meaning
Okonkwo's character contributes to the theme of gender. His inflexible nature exposes the social structure of the Ibo society based on gender to an exaggerated and extreme extent. He calls out on men without titles for being a woman, and is pained by the fact that Enzima is a daughter. It is arguable that this is reflective on the Ibo society as it did have some gender roles. Even in agriculture, there were female crops and male crops. There were female sins, and male sins. Okonkwo's character further highlights this theme of gender already prevalent in the novel.
Also, his tenacious and inflexible nature leads to adding to the theme of the clash between old and new.
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