The Archetypal Fall from Grace: Figures of Hubris and Decline in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus

Abstract

This paper examines the archetypal fall from grace of two central characters—Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Eugene Achike from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus—through the lens of Archetypal Literary Theory and Joseph Campbell’s concept of the Hero’s Journey. While both characters initially occupy positions of power and respect within their respective cultural spheres, their rigid ideals, authoritarianism, and unchecked hubris catalyze their eventual decline. This study argues that Okonkwo and Eugene are archetypal tragic heroes whose inability to evolve with their changing environments leads to personal and symbolic ruin. By positioning their narratives within Campbell’s monomyth and classical archetypes, this paper reveals how these figures reflect broader cultural, moral, and psychological collapses in postcolonial African contexts.