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unwanted, do not feel despised and looked down upon, and do not feel deeply unworthy, nor do they have crippling feelings or inferiority or
worthlessness. This theory of motivation of basic needs is needed in order to help the writer in
analyzing Okonkwos reasons to commit a suicide since there are some of his basic needs that are not fulfilled.
2. 1. 5 Theory of Suicide
It is shocking to know Okonkwo commits suicide although nowadays that action is not a new thing anymore. Many people do that action as the way out of their
problems. Therefore, suicide is considered as one of the easiest ways to get out of problem.
Redestam as quoted by Sue 1986: 403 states that suicide is the taking of ones own life, with repugnance, and there are strong religious sanctions against it as
well. Suicide is both a sin in canonical law and an illegal act according to the laws of most countries. However, Smith 1982: 129 defines suicide as the act of intentionally
destroying oneself, a violent self-inflicted destructive action resulting in death. Based on the findings of modern psychology, Baumeister 1990 as quoted in Baron 1995:
558 suggests that suicide is the result of efforts by individuals to escape themselves, to escape from awareness their own faults and shortcomings.
Suicide has many categories, according to Durkheim 1897 as quoted in Sue 1986: 408 there are three categories of suicide. The first is egoistic suicide, which
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results from an inability to integrate oneself with society. A failure to keep close ties with the community deprives the individual of the support systems that are necessary
for adaptive functioning. Without such support, and unable to function adaptively, the individual becomes isolated and alienated from other people. The second is altruistic
suicide which motivated by the need to further group goals or to achieve some greater good. Ones life is given up for a higher cause for example in religious sacrifice or
the ultimate political protest. The third is anomic suicide, it is happen when a persons relationship to society is unbalanced in some dramatic fashion. When an
individuals horizons are suddenly broadened or constricted by unstable conditions, he or she may not be able to handle the change or cope with the new status and may
choose suicide as an out. The suicides of individuals who lost their personal wealth during the Great Depression are of this type. Similarly, a person who suddenly and
unexpectedly acquires great wealth may be prone to suicide. According to Geo Stone in his book, Suicide and Attempted Suicide, there are
three ways used to study suicide. They are Sociology, Psychology and Psychiatry, and also Biology 1999: 23. The writer will only use the psychological and
psychiatrically approach since it is closely relate to the study. Psychological and psychiatrically approach emphasizes and examines the individual, and the conflict
within a particular mind that may lead to self-destructive behavior. It is stated in Stones book that while people with diagnoses of depression, schizophrenia, or
psychosis have suicide rates five to fifteen times that of general population whereas hopelessness about the future seems to be a better predictor for suicide 1999: 24-25.
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There are always causes in doing something, even in commit suicide. Generally, the causes in doing suicide are about family, job, money, self-esteem, job
or carrier. Coleman 1976: 606-607, categorized the causes of suicide into four factors. The first is interpersonal crises. Interpersonal conflicts and disruptions-
associated with marital conflict, separation, divorce, or the loss of loved ones through death-may result in severe stress and suicidal behavior. The second cause is failure
and self-devaluation. Many suicides are associated with feeling of having failed in some important enterprise with resulting feeling of self-devaluation. The third is
inner conflict. Here the stress situation is characterized by an inner conflict and debate in the person’s own mind. The last is loss of meaning and hope. By losing
hope and meaning, an individual may feel that life is useless. As a result, he may give up trying and take his own life. As quoted in Coleman 1976: 607, Melges and
Bowlby 1969 find that of all the symptoms correlated with suicide, hopelessness predominated. As long as they see meaning in their lives, most people continue to
work toward valued goals. By losing hope and meaning, an individual may feel that life is useless. As a result, he may give up trying and take his own life.
2. 2. Theoretical Framework
The theories that are explained in the previous section are useful to solve the two problems formulated in the problem formulation, and to help the writer
understand the whole story in the novel and to answer the problem. To answer the first problem, the writer uses the theory character and characterization. Those theories
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are used to find how the characteristics of Okonkwo revealed in the story. The writer uses certain dialogues and statements in the novel that explain the characteristic of
Okonkwo. By studying the characteristics of the character will support the writer to analyze the second problem.
Theory of motivation is used to analyze the reasons of the Okonkwo when he committed suicide. This theory helps the writer in observing and finding reasons
behind Okonkwos action in committing suicide. While the theory of suicide is used in analyzing the suicide that Okonkwo committed. Those theories also help the writer
to explain and understand the personalities of Okonkwo, furthermore his motivations to commit suicide.
