In the story, Okonkwo is Ezekiel's brother; after Ezekiel's death, he takes Ezekiel's widow, Ma Blackie, as his fourth wife. Even in post-colonial Nigeria, the traditions are such that a woman's fate is still decided by the men in her family.
As the patriarch of his family, Okonkwo is used to obedience and homage. He is orthodox in his outlook, unyielding in his support for patriarchal agency, and ambitious in his quest for self-aggrandizement. Additionally, he has Ibuza tradition on his side. When Iloba, Okonkwo's eldest son, complains about Aku-nna's schooling (Aku-nna is Ma Blackie's daughter from her first marriage to Ezekiel), Okonkwo tells him to see beyond his own narrow interests.
Accordingly, both Aku-nna and Ogugua (Aku-nna's girl cousin) will command hefty bride prices when they marry. Okonkwo thinks to appropriate the bride prices for himself in order to become an Obi and to receive the prestigious "Eze" title. Since an expensive and lavish celebration is expected of a man who aspires to be an Obi, Okonkwo looks at both his daughter and step-daughter as commodities to be exchanged for monetary reward.
Okonkwo isn't unduly concerned about the girls' happiness; his personal ambition and desire for supremacy drives all his actions. This is why he isn't especially concerned about Aku-nna receiving an education; the more educated a girl is, the higher the bride price she can command. As long as she does not shame him by going to college, Okonkwo will permit her some autonomy.
Okonkwo's character and actions contribute to the plot by being the antagonist to Aku-nna's character. The explosive conflict between step-father and step-daughter largely decides the course of the novel. Concerned about his place and image in society, Okonkwo demands that Aku-nna break off her friendship with Chike, her handsome teacher.
For her part, Aku-nna is already in love with Chike, and she rebels furiously; when she is kidnapped by Okoboshi, an arrogant young man who presumes to "save" Aku-nna from the attentions of Chike, Aku-nna becomes even more resolute in her rebellion. She elopes with Chike and decides to make a new life with her beloved. Meanwhile, Okonkwo refuses to accept a bride price for Aku-nna from Mr. Ofulue, Chike's father. Despite Mr. Ofulue's offer of fifty pounds (double the amount that Ibuza custom originally demands), Okonkwo remains stubborn.
To Okonkwo, his masculine pride has been marred by Aku-nna's rebellion, and he means to make both Ma Blackie and Aku-nna pay for their insolence. He resorts to the Ibuza tradition of making a voodoo-type doll resembling Aku-nna, a doll he can symbolically stab with pins and burn to death. He also divorces Ma Blackie as a means of shaming her for cherishing such a rebellious daughter. Okonkwo's refusal of a bride price for Aku-nna is also intended to be a curse of sorts. In Ibuza tradition, it is said that any woman whose bride price is not paid will die in childbirth. Sadly, this is exactly what happens to Aku-nna. She dies in childbirth after birthing a beautiful daughter named Joy.
As for Chike, the irony of his situation stems from his position as the supposed descendant of slaves. Although he is an "Oshu" (slave) and an outcast, Chike's forebears were the first Nigerians the English missionaries accepted into their schools. As a consequence, the Oshu became the first teachers, headmasters, doctors, and lawyers of many Ibo towns. Many of them became very prosperous; yet, they were equally rejected and despised by the typical Ibo citizen. Despite his wealth and education, Chike is rejected from consideration as Aku-nna's suitor.
Ironically, Chike's wealth would have sustained Okonkwo's ambitions; yet, because of tradition and societal ecpectations, Okonkwo finds himself rejecting Chike's suit, an irony indeed.
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