What makes this story so tragic is the loss of identity (both of the village and of the characters). What was treasured greatly in Umuofia and Okonkwo being gone
Tragic/negative events:
When Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, dies, Okonkwo does not appear to mourn his loss. Okonkwo’s desire for success is driven by his loss of respect for his father and his wish to be the polar opposite of him.
The death of Ikemefuna through murder has a profound effect on Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye, who becomes alienated from his father and traditional beliefs
Okonkwo is determined to be different from his irresponsible father. By earning his way, he gains respect. However, this is all lost by Part 3, marking a significant tragedy in the book.
Loss of father-son relationship through Ikemefuna's death
Okonkwo loses all of his achievements in exile - in the years he has lost, he lost the opportunity to get the highest titles in the clan
Through Okonkwo's exile, he "lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion". Umuofia turns to Christianity
Achebe sheds light on the realities of colonization: loss of culture, language, religion, traditions, their ways of understanding the world (e.g. Seasons -> Calendar days)
Death of many children - Ekwefi loses children which makes her not be able to fulfil. the roles of a woman
women barely have rights. Mgbafo's trial highlights the male belief that they are property once married due to the bride price. Her husband's punishment is light and the village elders do not understand why this is a case brought to the egwugwu
the death of Ezeudu is significant. His death is greatly mourned by the clan and it is at the funeral ceremony that Okonkwo accidentally shoots and kills Ezeudu’s sixteen-year-old son, resulting in Okonkwo’s exile
Obierika is upset over the loss of Okonkwo when he is exiled. After his exile, Okonkwo loses the respect of his fellow clansmen and ultimately he loses his power in the community (e.g. reaction of his clan when he beheads the messenger)
Okonkwo feels lost when he is exiled. During his exile, when he learns of Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity, he is inwardly upset but convinces himself that the loss of Nwoye is ‘not worth fighting’
Okonkwo mourns the loss of the past and the loss of traditional Igbo ways. He cannot come to terms with colonisation and the only way he can deal with his loss is by taking his own life.
Igbo cultures/people are rendered insignificant by the DC - Okonkwo's achievements are reduced to a mere paragraph. The loss of humanity is inherent to colonization
Enoch unmasking an egwugwu throws Umuofia into a state of confusion
Mr Brown is replaced by Rev Smith, who imposes even stricter measures to clamp down on the Umuofian clan
Okonkwo beats his wife during the Week of Peace, revealing the prevalence and acceptance of domestic abuse in their culture
The villagers see that their traditional beliefs are outdated and powerless through the increasing power of the Christians
Weakening of the clan through Christianity gaining converts
Okonkwo's shame of being sent to his motherland, as he feels that he has lost his reputatoin
Invasion of Abame, ruthless violence
Change of Umofia beyond recognition; worthy man had joined Christianity, prisons built
Corruption of Umuofia - previously they valued communal harmony, the arrival of the white man diminished this sense of togetherness