How does Chinua Achebe use flashbacks to reveal different aspects of Okonkwo's life in Things Fall Apart?

In
literature, flashbacks are usually used to learn about the past of a character, andis no
exception. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Okonkwo is famous throughout the region
for his accomplishments, but it wasn't always that way. Through flashbacks, we learn that
Okonkwo's father was lazy, skinny, in massive debt, and an overall failure in the eyes of
society, which gives us a glimpse into Okonkwo's past.

There is also a
flashback to Okonkwo's famous wrestling victory, which proved him as a true "man"
because he was able to defeat a powerful opponent. There's also a flashback to Okonkwo when he
first started his crop business. It shows that Okonkwo wants to make money, so he won't be in
debt and have to live in poverty like his dad.

His father's failures in life
help the reader understand why Okonkwo works so hard in life and is afraid of failing. He
doesn't want to repeat the mistakes his father did and pushes his family to work hard. Through
flashbacks, we are able...