Priorities

Due to Okonkwo's desire to never be like his father, Unoka, and become a respected man in the village, he often loses sight of what is truly important in life. When Okonkwo returns to his motherland during his seven years of exile, he learns from his wise uncle, Uchendu, that his problems are nothing compared to other tragedies that many villagers experience. He teaches Okonkwo that even though life can have problems, you should never let sorrow weigh you down, since Okonkwo has a duty to care for his wives and his children. Uchendu has buried twenty-two children and has lost all of his wives, but he still continues on in his life. Lastly, he asks Okonkwo to seek comfort in his motherland and care for his family and ancestors rather than worry about his sorrows of life.