Okonkwo's is compensating for his father Unoka. He had died when Okonkwo was very young, and he was a failure. Shame for Unoka drives Okonkwo to work tirelessly. Unoka died in debt and humiliation; the memory of him gives Okonkwo a terrible fear of failure. Okonkwo tries to compensate for this by looking hyper-masculine and successful. He blocks off any natural emotion that he considers weak.