Date: July 31, 2007
Entery Number: 20
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 76-85
Poor Ekwefi. She had ten children and all of them died except Ezinma, who in this part of the story is sick with fever and may die. Ekwefi has suffered so much and if Ezinma where to die, I think it would kill Ekwefi. I know what already happens because I've finished the book already, but still. By the time Okonkwo's and Ekwefi's third child had died she was very bitter. Her third child's name actually was a plead,Onwumbiko- "Death, I implore you." He still died and so did every other child she had up to Ezinma. Okonkwo went to a medicine man and found out the the child was an ogbanje which is a child who refuses to die so it reenters its mother's womb to be reborn. Ogbanje children never live very long unless their iyi-uwa is found and destroyed. An iyi-uwa is a stone that connects the ogbanje to the spirit world. There were different methods to try and get the ogbanje to leave like mutilation but most of the time it didn't work and you had to find that iyi-uwa. But Ekwefi went through so much and now Ezinma was going to die, possibly. That's just crazy. Okonkwo and a medicine man even found Ezinma's iyi-uwa and destroyed it which took a while to find because of Ezinma's reluctancey to give it up and then they had to dig for it. Ezinma is the only one that Ekwefi has really got. Ya there is Okonkwo and the other women and their children but Okonkwo isn't the nicest guy and Okonkwo's other wifes have their own children and own problems. But that must have been terrible to have all those children and then not get to enjoy them and also if I were Ekwefi I would be feeling pretty worthless not being able to bare any children that are actually going to live. I would hate to be in her place.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 29, 2007
Entery Number: 19
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 73-74
I find it really interesting how at the end of chapter eight it starts forshadowing, a little bit, what is going to happen in the future. The Obierika and his family and his daughter's new family and Okonkwo were talking about Abame and Aninta and how titled men climb their trees and pound foo-foo for their wives instead of the other way around. They had backwards customs and where fools in a way which is what leads to their destruction later on; because of their foolishness. Obierika's oldest brother was talking about the customes of Abame and Aninta and said, "That is very bad...But what is good in one place is bad in another place." This kind of forshadows the white man and some of the misunderstandings. The white man did not understand the ways of the Igbo and thought it was bad and thought their ways were good. While the Igbo thought their ways were good and the white man's ways bad. They just came for two different places and cultures, that's all. And then they go on to talk about white men who were said to have no toes. None of the men had ever seen a white man before. That again forshadows the white man who were to come in the future. It's really quite interesting.
Entery Number: 19
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 73-74
I find it really interesting how at the end of chapter eight it starts forshadowing, a little bit, what is going to happen in the future. The Obierika and his family and his daughter's new family and Okonkwo were talking about Abame and Aninta and how titled men climb their trees and pound foo-foo for their wives instead of the other way around. They had backwards customs and where fools in a way which is what leads to their destruction later on; because of their foolishness. Obierika's oldest brother was talking about the customes of Abame and Aninta and said, "That is very bad...But what is good in one place is bad in another place." This kind of forshadows the white man and some of the misunderstandings. The white man did not understand the ways of the Igbo and thought it was bad and thought their ways were good. While the Igbo thought their ways were good and the white man's ways bad. They just came for two different places and cultures, that's all. And then they go on to talk about white men who were said to have no toes. None of the men had ever seen a white man before. That again forshadows the white man who were to come in the future. It's really quite interesting.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 28, 2007
Entery Number: 18
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 72-73
I don't like the way they handle marriages. The suitor comes with some of his family over to the girl's father's obi who would have invited some of his family. They would first have kola nuts, alligator pepper, drink palm wine, and talk about other things besides what their purpose was. After drinking the wine that the suitor brought they would talk about the bride price but they did it with sticks as figures. Sometimes the suitor would want more than was offered and sometimes they would accept less. So they would debate over it and eventually they would settle on a price and it would be paid in bags of coweries. After the price was agreed on, they would then have a feast and talk some more. Some of the girls were married at age sixteen. That's crazy! I know that back then in the olden days people did get married at really young ages, well at least the girls anyway. But anyway, you could have a really old guy who wants to marry you and he already has like three other wives and you might have to marry him. I wonder if the girls actually have a say so in who they would like to marry. Also, I don't like how they bargain off their daughters. That's just wrong. But I do find it interesting how they use the sticks as figures for money. It's actually pretty smart. But I don't like how they deal with all the marriage stuff.
Entery Number: 18
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 72-73
I don't like the way they handle marriages. The suitor comes with some of his family over to the girl's father's obi who would have invited some of his family. They would first have kola nuts, alligator pepper, drink palm wine, and talk about other things besides what their purpose was. After drinking the wine that the suitor brought they would talk about the bride price but they did it with sticks as figures. Sometimes the suitor would want more than was offered and sometimes they would accept less. So they would debate over it and eventually they would settle on a price and it would be paid in bags of coweries. After the price was agreed on, they would then have a feast and talk some more. Some of the girls were married at age sixteen. That's crazy! I know that back then in the olden days people did get married at really young ages, well at least the girls anyway. But anyway, you could have a really old guy who wants to marry you and he already has like three other wives and you might have to marry him. I wonder if the girls actually have a say so in who they would like to marry. Also, I don't like how they bargain off their daughters. That's just wrong. But I do find it interesting how they use the sticks as figures for money. It's actually pretty smart. But I don't like how they deal with all the marriage stuff.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 25, 2007
Entery Number: 17
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pg.69
I find the law that says men who has taken a title can not climb the tall palm trees to tap them but can only tap the short ones so they are still on the ground. It doesn't really make sense. Why can't they tap their own tall palm trees? These other young men that are highered to tap the tall trees kill the palm trees because they don't know how to tap them right or something. Obierika gives an analogy with the story about this guy who wouldn't lend his knife to cut up dogmeat because the dog was a taboo to him, but he would offer to tear up the dogmeat with his teeth. This is a very nasty analogy but it still makes no sense, just as the other. They should get rid of that law. I can understand that they might not want their men of title climbing up in the palm trees because they might fall and die, but still. It doesn't make that much sense. But it is good that they hold the position of ozo in high esteem.
Entery Number: 17
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pg.69
I find the law that says men who has taken a title can not climb the tall palm trees to tap them but can only tap the short ones so they are still on the ground. It doesn't really make sense. Why can't they tap their own tall palm trees? These other young men that are highered to tap the tall trees kill the palm trees because they don't know how to tap them right or something. Obierika gives an analogy with the story about this guy who wouldn't lend his knife to cut up dogmeat because the dog was a taboo to him, but he would offer to tear up the dogmeat with his teeth. This is a very nasty analogy but it still makes no sense, just as the other. They should get rid of that law. I can understand that they might not want their men of title climbing up in the palm trees because they might fall and die, but still. It doesn't make that much sense. But it is good that they hold the position of ozo in high esteem.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 21, 2007
Entery Number: 16
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 67-68
I found the story about Ogbuefi Ndulue's death and the death of his first wife very interesting. He was one of the oldest men in the Ire village. When he died his first wife went to him and called him three times but he didn't stir. She went back to her own hut and when it was time to wash the body one of Ndulue's younger wives went in to get Ozoemena and she found her dead. Because she died Ndulue's funeral would have to wait. I found that part especially interesting. Was that just their way of showing good manners or was it because it would look bad in some way or what? Why did they do that? He died first. Also, Umuofia wasn't told that he had died because she died and his funeral would be pushed back. I don't quite get that either. It was said that they had one mind and that he could not do anything without telling her. That means that they must have had a really strong bond. Why couldn't they be buried together? I don't get it. It's an interesting story and I kind of like it but it's confusing to me. It shows more of their society and cultural ways which are confusing sometimes.
Entery Number: 16
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 67-68
I found the story about Ogbuefi Ndulue's death and the death of his first wife very interesting. He was one of the oldest men in the Ire village. When he died his first wife went to him and called him three times but he didn't stir. She went back to her own hut and when it was time to wash the body one of Ndulue's younger wives went in to get Ozoemena and she found her dead. Because she died Ndulue's funeral would have to wait. I found that part especially interesting. Was that just their way of showing good manners or was it because it would look bad in some way or what? Why did they do that? He died first. Also, Umuofia wasn't told that he had died because she died and his funeral would be pushed back. I don't quite get that either. It was said that they had one mind and that he could not do anything without telling her. That means that they must have had a really strong bond. Why couldn't they be buried together? I don't get it. It's an interesting story and I kind of like it but it's confusing to me. It shows more of their society and cultural ways which are confusing sometimes.
Part Three Chps. 20-25
A1. Chinua Achebe chose not to bring the European colonial presence in until the last third of the novel so he could show us what a difference they made and how they tried to change the ways of the Igbo after setting up the Igbo life and society in the other two parts.
A2. While Okonkwo was in exile for those seven long years, Umuofia changed from a place of warriors to a place run over with womanish men, a new religion, and brothers who had turned their backs on their family and joined this new religion. Low born men and outcasts were not the only ones who joined this new religion, but also men of higher class who held titles. The white man brought in a new religion, a new government, a school, a hospital, and a trading store which brought money flowing through and into Umuofia. The white man changed and disregarded the ways of the Igbo.
A3. The kotma, or court messengers, brought men to the District Commissioner for trial and they guarded the prison. The white man’s law and system of justice compared to that of the traditional Umuofia society was very different. The District Commissioner judged in ignorance, according to what he thought was right and what was wrong or who was right and who was wrong. The traditional Umuofia way of judging was to go before the nine egwugwu, who were really men from the village who represented one of the nine villages in Umuofia, who would decide the fate of the person and administer justice. The whole village would show up but the women would stay on the outskirts of the crowd since it really was for the men, but once the egwugwu showed up they would take off.
A4. It was already too late to drive the white man out because they had already given power to some of the new converts and if they did drive the white men out, which would be easy to do considering there were only two of them, then the men that were given power would go to Umura and bring soldiers back and it would be another Abame all over again. The white man has been very clever in turning brothers against brothers; converting people who then leave their families and turned their backs on them. Those who have stayed true to the ways of the old life cannot do anything about this new religion. If they were to go against the new religion and start a fight, they would be going up against their own brothers and relatives, killing them. Killing clans men on purpose still had sever consequences and therefore they could not fight. I think Obierika might be considering a transitional figure between the old and the new Igbo societies, in which it would be made just if you killed a clansman in war if they had gone against the ways of his father.
A5. Mr. Brown was a nice gentle man whom the clan could befriend but not be totally converted by. He was firm in his belief and was firm in not wanting his flock to provoke the wrath of the clan. Mr. Smith, who took over the church when Mr. Brown became ill, was hasher than Mr. Brown, he saw things in black and white, black as being evil, he taught more, it seems, from the Bible, he wasn’t as patient as Mr. Brown was, he didn’t care if his flock provoked the clan which ended up causing a lot of trouble, he was somewhat stubborn, was very ignorant, and didn’t have the same friendly relationship with the clan as Mr. Brown did. From Mr. Brown’s and Akunna’s discussion, we learn that both the religions are really not that different. The only real difference is in how and who represents the different things and the Igbo do not know God’s, or Chukwu’s, will because it is to great to be known, so they fear Chukwu unlike the white missionaries and the new religion because they claim to know God’s will. Enoch, who was an over zealous member of the Christian faith, set off the great conflict between the church and the clan after Mr. Brown left and Mr. Smith had taken his place. Enoch had started boasting that an egwugwu wouldn’t dare touch a Christian. The egwugwu, who were retiring, heard this comment and came back and hit him with his cane. Enoch fell on the egwugwu and tore off his mask which was one of the greatest crimes a man could commit. Enoch had killed an egwugwu, an ancestral spirit. A lot of the misunderstandings that arise between the Europeans and the Africans are mainly because the Europeans don’t understand the African’s religion, society, or language. They come from two totally different worlds and neither understands the other. So it’s hard not to come across problems.
A6. Many people in Umuofia didn’t feel as strongly as Okonkwo did about these new people because they did bring benefits to Umuofia and its people. They brought a trading store so money was flowing into Umuofia; they brought a school for learning, and a hospital. Religion and education go hand in hand because if you have an education then you can read and if you can read then you can read the bible or what ever scriptures that you have and you can form an opinion and join what ever religion you want. Mr. Brown set up a school and told the people that they should send their children because if no one in Umuofia had an education people from other places would come and take over. This school produced court messengers, court clerks, and sometimes teachers. From going to the school, they gained knowledge, jobs, and they could join this new religion if they wanted to and be able to understand it better. In this way you can see that religion and education go hand in hand and proved true from what Mr. Brown said would happen and produced quick results for educated people.
A7. The District Commissioner tricked the six leaders into jail by inviting them over to his quarters and asked them to tell the story of what happened while he was gone. He had other men come in so that they could hear the story too. As one of the men started telling them about how Enoch killed an egwugwu, all of a sudden the other men sprang on the six leaders and hand cuffed them. Okonkwo was furious. The District Commissioner said they would not ill treat them, but they did. Okonkwo was ready for war. Okonkwo killed the messenger because of all the hate and anger and long suffering that he had already endured was bottled up and when that messenger came to tell them to break up the meeting, he just exploded. Okonkwo commits suicide because he knows Umuofia will not go to war now. Umuofia will become over run completely with these white men and their religion. Everything will change and Umuofia will never be as it once was. Okonkwo is isolated in the end because his body was considered evil because he took his own life which is an offense against the earth. I would consider Okonkwo a tragic hero because to his people, he was a hero. He was a mighty warrior. He did have his flaws but so does everyone else. I would consider him a tragic hero.
A8. I think the District Commissioner would write Okonkwo’s story really badly. He would probably make him out to be an uncivilized savage warrior of an uncivilized savage village who could not take the changes that were happening so he hung himself. The District Commissioner would make Okonkwo sound really bad but might give him a few good traits. Okonkwo’s story was made the subject of the whole novel so that we could see how life was in an Igbo society. Because Okonkwo was a man of rank and title and had many things that went on in his life time, he had many things to share on different points in his society. And because of Okonkwo’s character you saw more than what he saw. Okonkwo was not the nicest person all the time and sometimes you would back up the person he was going against and you would learn more form it. Sometimes you learned more about Okonkwo and other times about the society.
A9. Things fell apart in the end when the white man came and broke up families, traditions, and the way of life for the Igbo. He did this with his Christian faith that he brought with him which turned the new converts against their old beliefs, their brothers, and their families. I would say that some major themes in Things Fall Apart would be religion, tradition, heritage, and change. Some good messages that I get out of this book are stand up for your beliefs, don’t wait for problems to become major and damaging before you take care of them, and don’t let bad past experiences determine your future or who you will become. That’s just a few of them.
A10. The cross cultural combination of western literary forms and Igbo/African creative expression produces interesting reading. It gives us western English people a peek at how life is for Igbo/Africans but it is put in a more understandable way for us. We see the “savageness” of the Igbo/Africans but then we see the presence of some great, worth will qualities. Even though this book is not among my favorites, it is still a really good book that shows culture and the ways of life for some people.
If this offended anyone in anyway I am truly sorry. That was not my purpose.
A2. While Okonkwo was in exile for those seven long years, Umuofia changed from a place of warriors to a place run over with womanish men, a new religion, and brothers who had turned their backs on their family and joined this new religion. Low born men and outcasts were not the only ones who joined this new religion, but also men of higher class who held titles. The white man brought in a new religion, a new government, a school, a hospital, and a trading store which brought money flowing through and into Umuofia. The white man changed and disregarded the ways of the Igbo.
A3. The kotma, or court messengers, brought men to the District Commissioner for trial and they guarded the prison. The white man’s law and system of justice compared to that of the traditional Umuofia society was very different. The District Commissioner judged in ignorance, according to what he thought was right and what was wrong or who was right and who was wrong. The traditional Umuofia way of judging was to go before the nine egwugwu, who were really men from the village who represented one of the nine villages in Umuofia, who would decide the fate of the person and administer justice. The whole village would show up but the women would stay on the outskirts of the crowd since it really was for the men, but once the egwugwu showed up they would take off.
A4. It was already too late to drive the white man out because they had already given power to some of the new converts and if they did drive the white men out, which would be easy to do considering there were only two of them, then the men that were given power would go to Umura and bring soldiers back and it would be another Abame all over again. The white man has been very clever in turning brothers against brothers; converting people who then leave their families and turned their backs on them. Those who have stayed true to the ways of the old life cannot do anything about this new religion. If they were to go against the new religion and start a fight, they would be going up against their own brothers and relatives, killing them. Killing clans men on purpose still had sever consequences and therefore they could not fight. I think Obierika might be considering a transitional figure between the old and the new Igbo societies, in which it would be made just if you killed a clansman in war if they had gone against the ways of his father.
A5. Mr. Brown was a nice gentle man whom the clan could befriend but not be totally converted by. He was firm in his belief and was firm in not wanting his flock to provoke the wrath of the clan. Mr. Smith, who took over the church when Mr. Brown became ill, was hasher than Mr. Brown, he saw things in black and white, black as being evil, he taught more, it seems, from the Bible, he wasn’t as patient as Mr. Brown was, he didn’t care if his flock provoked the clan which ended up causing a lot of trouble, he was somewhat stubborn, was very ignorant, and didn’t have the same friendly relationship with the clan as Mr. Brown did. From Mr. Brown’s and Akunna’s discussion, we learn that both the religions are really not that different. The only real difference is in how and who represents the different things and the Igbo do not know God’s, or Chukwu’s, will because it is to great to be known, so they fear Chukwu unlike the white missionaries and the new religion because they claim to know God’s will. Enoch, who was an over zealous member of the Christian faith, set off the great conflict between the church and the clan after Mr. Brown left and Mr. Smith had taken his place. Enoch had started boasting that an egwugwu wouldn’t dare touch a Christian. The egwugwu, who were retiring, heard this comment and came back and hit him with his cane. Enoch fell on the egwugwu and tore off his mask which was one of the greatest crimes a man could commit. Enoch had killed an egwugwu, an ancestral spirit. A lot of the misunderstandings that arise between the Europeans and the Africans are mainly because the Europeans don’t understand the African’s religion, society, or language. They come from two totally different worlds and neither understands the other. So it’s hard not to come across problems.
A6. Many people in Umuofia didn’t feel as strongly as Okonkwo did about these new people because they did bring benefits to Umuofia and its people. They brought a trading store so money was flowing into Umuofia; they brought a school for learning, and a hospital. Religion and education go hand in hand because if you have an education then you can read and if you can read then you can read the bible or what ever scriptures that you have and you can form an opinion and join what ever religion you want. Mr. Brown set up a school and told the people that they should send their children because if no one in Umuofia had an education people from other places would come and take over. This school produced court messengers, court clerks, and sometimes teachers. From going to the school, they gained knowledge, jobs, and they could join this new religion if they wanted to and be able to understand it better. In this way you can see that religion and education go hand in hand and proved true from what Mr. Brown said would happen and produced quick results for educated people.
A7. The District Commissioner tricked the six leaders into jail by inviting them over to his quarters and asked them to tell the story of what happened while he was gone. He had other men come in so that they could hear the story too. As one of the men started telling them about how Enoch killed an egwugwu, all of a sudden the other men sprang on the six leaders and hand cuffed them. Okonkwo was furious. The District Commissioner said they would not ill treat them, but they did. Okonkwo was ready for war. Okonkwo killed the messenger because of all the hate and anger and long suffering that he had already endured was bottled up and when that messenger came to tell them to break up the meeting, he just exploded. Okonkwo commits suicide because he knows Umuofia will not go to war now. Umuofia will become over run completely with these white men and their religion. Everything will change and Umuofia will never be as it once was. Okonkwo is isolated in the end because his body was considered evil because he took his own life which is an offense against the earth. I would consider Okonkwo a tragic hero because to his people, he was a hero. He was a mighty warrior. He did have his flaws but so does everyone else. I would consider him a tragic hero.
A8. I think the District Commissioner would write Okonkwo’s story really badly. He would probably make him out to be an uncivilized savage warrior of an uncivilized savage village who could not take the changes that were happening so he hung himself. The District Commissioner would make Okonkwo sound really bad but might give him a few good traits. Okonkwo’s story was made the subject of the whole novel so that we could see how life was in an Igbo society. Because Okonkwo was a man of rank and title and had many things that went on in his life time, he had many things to share on different points in his society. And because of Okonkwo’s character you saw more than what he saw. Okonkwo was not the nicest person all the time and sometimes you would back up the person he was going against and you would learn more form it. Sometimes you learned more about Okonkwo and other times about the society.
A9. Things fell apart in the end when the white man came and broke up families, traditions, and the way of life for the Igbo. He did this with his Christian faith that he brought with him which turned the new converts against their old beliefs, their brothers, and their families. I would say that some major themes in Things Fall Apart would be religion, tradition, heritage, and change. Some good messages that I get out of this book are stand up for your beliefs, don’t wait for problems to become major and damaging before you take care of them, and don’t let bad past experiences determine your future or who you will become. That’s just a few of them.
A10. The cross cultural combination of western literary forms and Igbo/African creative expression produces interesting reading. It gives us western English people a peek at how life is for Igbo/Africans but it is put in a more understandable way for us. We see the “savageness” of the Igbo/Africans but then we see the presence of some great, worth will qualities. Even though this book is not among my favorites, it is still a really good book that shows culture and the ways of life for some people.
If this offended anyone in anyway I am truly sorry. That was not my purpose.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 19, 2007
Entery Number: 15
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 63-65
It's so sad and amazing. Okonkwo actually feels. It's sad though because he's grieving over Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna must have ment a lot more than he actually let on. He drank palm wine for two days and didn't eat anything else for those two days. When he wanted Nwoye to sit with him he would but he was afraid of Okonkwo now and would slip out when Okonkwo fell asleep. He tried not to think about Ikemefuna and occupy his mind with something else, but the harder he tried the more he thought about him. Finally on the third day after Ikemefuna's death, Okonkwo had his second wife prepare food and Ezinma took it in to him. After he ate his food, absent mindedly, he then proceeded to do his little snuff drugs. Okonkwo was just totally out of it and a major reck. He tried to justify it a little with the season of rest because if it wasn't that season he would be working and he would be able to forget about it easilier. That in turn brought up a memory of Ikemefuna. He tries to shake himself out of it by calling himself a woman and remebering how he had killed many in war and never had a problem before and then he decided to get out of the house and go visit Obierika. Poor Okonkwo. He's never really had that problem before. I wonder what would happen if Ezinma got sick and died. He shouldn't have gone with to kill him. The other men wouldn't have thought him weak. He worries way to much of what others might think. Okonkwo actually kind of brought that grief upon himself. If he hadn't gone to kill Ikemefuna with the other men then he wouldn't be in that state. He might be sad still but not like how he is. But it is nice to now that he really does feel and more than just anger and fear and wanting to be better than his father. That must have been a site for his family to behold. Okonkwo really cared about Ikemefuna. He really loved him as a son. He should not have worried about looking weak and just stayed home. He had done so much already for Umuofia that no one would have thought him as weak if he had stayed home. It was a sad tragedy that could not have be prevented by anyone living by Igbo law.
Entery Number: 15
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 63-65
It's so sad and amazing. Okonkwo actually feels. It's sad though because he's grieving over Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna must have ment a lot more than he actually let on. He drank palm wine for two days and didn't eat anything else for those two days. When he wanted Nwoye to sit with him he would but he was afraid of Okonkwo now and would slip out when Okonkwo fell asleep. He tried not to think about Ikemefuna and occupy his mind with something else, but the harder he tried the more he thought about him. Finally on the third day after Ikemefuna's death, Okonkwo had his second wife prepare food and Ezinma took it in to him. After he ate his food, absent mindedly, he then proceeded to do his little snuff drugs. Okonkwo was just totally out of it and a major reck. He tried to justify it a little with the season of rest because if it wasn't that season he would be working and he would be able to forget about it easilier. That in turn brought up a memory of Ikemefuna. He tries to shake himself out of it by calling himself a woman and remebering how he had killed many in war and never had a problem before and then he decided to get out of the house and go visit Obierika. Poor Okonkwo. He's never really had that problem before. I wonder what would happen if Ezinma got sick and died. He shouldn't have gone with to kill him. The other men wouldn't have thought him weak. He worries way to much of what others might think. Okonkwo actually kind of brought that grief upon himself. If he hadn't gone to kill Ikemefuna with the other men then he wouldn't be in that state. He might be sad still but not like how he is. But it is nice to now that he really does feel and more than just anger and fear and wanting to be better than his father. That must have been a site for his family to behold. Okonkwo really cared about Ikemefuna. He really loved him as a son. He should not have worried about looking weak and just stayed home. He had done so much already for Umuofia that no one would have thought him as weak if he had stayed home. It was a sad tragedy that could not have be prevented by anyone living by Igbo law.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 18, 2007
Entery Number: 14
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 57-62
They can't kill Ikemefuna. That's just sad. I liked Ikemefuna. He's like one of the best characters. Even though with him being Nwoye's idol and Nwoye wanting to grow up all at once, it seemed, he was a good influence on Nwoye. And he did teach Nwoye not to be so childish which in turn made it so Okonkwo didn't beat him anymore and treated him with some respect. HOW could they just up and kill Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna was like a son to Okonkwo. Ikemefuna wasn't like a bother to anyone. They killed him because the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves pronounced that he should die and they have to obey their wishes and commands. That's dumb. Ikemefuna was so cool though and a great help. I wonder how Ikemefuna kind of knew he wasn't going to see his family again and why did he change his thought. Later as a group of men were taking Ikemefuna outside of Umuofia, Ikemefuna started think about his family and it sounded like he was getting his hopes up but before he had that feeling like he wasn't going to be seeing them again. He should have been on his guard and ready to run. Once Nwoye had found out he was "going home" he burst into tears and then got beat for it. When Nwoye told his mother that Ikemefuna was going home she said, "Poor child." It sounds like this lie has been told before and that that type of thing had happened many times before. When the men and Ikemefuna were leaving, everyone in Okonkwo's compound seemed to know they would never see him again nor anyone else. Okonkwo shouldn't have gone with to kill Ikemefuna. That old man, Ezeudu, told him not to bear a hand in his death but he did anyway. Okonkwo was the one who finished Ikemefuna off and Ikemefuna thought of Okonkwo as a father. He was never really fond of his real father but he really liked Okonkwo but Okonkwo turned his back on Ikemefuna and finished him off because he didn't want to be thought of as weak. Ikemefuna's last words were "My father, they have killed me!" and then Okonkwo came up and killed him. Ikemefuna was Nwoye's idol and when Okonkwo came home he knew that Ikemefuna had been killed and he just snapped. Not literally or like how most people snap and go crazy. But he just snapped and hung limp. He didn't even cry. Ikemefuna was one of the best characters but there is always some one who has to die. And usually it's the characters that you like the best and have some really good qualities. I just wish it wasn't Ikemefuna. But that was the whole reason for introducing him into the story.
Entery Number: 14
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 57-62
They can't kill Ikemefuna. That's just sad. I liked Ikemefuna. He's like one of the best characters. Even though with him being Nwoye's idol and Nwoye wanting to grow up all at once, it seemed, he was a good influence on Nwoye. And he did teach Nwoye not to be so childish which in turn made it so Okonkwo didn't beat him anymore and treated him with some respect. HOW could they just up and kill Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna was like a son to Okonkwo. Ikemefuna wasn't like a bother to anyone. They killed him because the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves pronounced that he should die and they have to obey their wishes and commands. That's dumb. Ikemefuna was so cool though and a great help. I wonder how Ikemefuna kind of knew he wasn't going to see his family again and why did he change his thought. Later as a group of men were taking Ikemefuna outside of Umuofia, Ikemefuna started think about his family and it sounded like he was getting his hopes up but before he had that feeling like he wasn't going to be seeing them again. He should have been on his guard and ready to run. Once Nwoye had found out he was "going home" he burst into tears and then got beat for it. When Nwoye told his mother that Ikemefuna was going home she said, "Poor child." It sounds like this lie has been told before and that that type of thing had happened many times before. When the men and Ikemefuna were leaving, everyone in Okonkwo's compound seemed to know they would never see him again nor anyone else. Okonkwo shouldn't have gone with to kill Ikemefuna. That old man, Ezeudu, told him not to bear a hand in his death but he did anyway. Okonkwo was the one who finished Ikemefuna off and Ikemefuna thought of Okonkwo as a father. He was never really fond of his real father but he really liked Okonkwo but Okonkwo turned his back on Ikemefuna and finished him off because he didn't want to be thought of as weak. Ikemefuna's last words were "My father, they have killed me!" and then Okonkwo came up and killed him. Ikemefuna was Nwoye's idol and when Okonkwo came home he knew that Ikemefuna had been killed and he just snapped. Not literally or like how most people snap and go crazy. But he just snapped and hung limp. He didn't even cry. Ikemefuna was one of the best characters but there is always some one who has to die. And usually it's the characters that you like the best and have some really good qualities. I just wish it wasn't Ikemefuna. But that was the whole reason for introducing him into the story.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 15, 2007
Entery Number: 13
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 55-56
At a point in time in Things Fall Apart a plague of locust came and settled in Umuofia. All the people were very happy because locust only came once in a generation. They were very happy because I geuss they are very good to eat, or at least to them. That would be so nasty to me. I would never eat locust unless I was on the brink of starvation or something. That would just be gross. No offense to anyone who regularly eats locust or that's the only thing for them to eat and I really can't or shouldn't be talking because I have never eaten locust nor do I plan to but you never know, I geuss it could be good. But to me, at this point in time of my life, I would never eat locust. That would just be disgusting for me. I can understand how that might be good for them considering there main food is yams and that's what they eat every day. So locust would be exciting and good to them, to eat. Now we live in times were, in most countries, you have a choice of what you want to eat and you don't necessarily have to eat the same thing everyday. But any way, I hope I never have to eat locust because I don't think I would like it very much. But if it sustained my life and kept me alive, I geuss it wouldn't be to bad.
Entery Number: 13
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 55-56
At a point in time in Things Fall Apart a plague of locust came and settled in Umuofia. All the people were very happy because locust only came once in a generation. They were very happy because I geuss they are very good to eat, or at least to them. That would be so nasty to me. I would never eat locust unless I was on the brink of starvation or something. That would just be gross. No offense to anyone who regularly eats locust or that's the only thing for them to eat and I really can't or shouldn't be talking because I have never eaten locust nor do I plan to but you never know, I geuss it could be good. But to me, at this point in time of my life, I would never eat locust. That would just be disgusting for me. I can understand how that might be good for them considering there main food is yams and that's what they eat every day. So locust would be exciting and good to them, to eat. Now we live in times were, in most countries, you have a choice of what you want to eat and you don't necessarily have to eat the same thing everyday. But any way, I hope I never have to eat locust because I don't think I would like it very much. But if it sustained my life and kept me alive, I geuss it wouldn't be to bad.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 14, 2007
Entery Number: 12
Page/Quote reflecting on: 52-54
I think Nwoye is trying to grow up to fast. I don't know how old he is but he can't be that old. Because of Ikemefuna and Okonkwo's influences and especially Okonkwo's expectations, Nwoye seems like he is having to pretend to really want and hate some of the things he actually likes. He is growing up but it seems like he is having to grow up a little fast. He likes that because he is growing up, and hanging out with Ikemefuna and being in his father's presence more, that now the women are sending for him to do different manly jobs but he feigns annoyance and grumbles about women. I think that he does that partly because of Okonkwo. Okonkwo wants him to be manly and be the ruler over the women that he will some day be husband to and he is proud to see him grumbling. I also think that Nwoye does it partially because it is some what funny. Also Nwoye likes the stories that his mother tells but he doesn't want to appear weak or little kiddish so he stays in his father's obi and listens to him tell stories of war and blood shed. Ikemefuna makes him feel more grown up and with Okonkwo's high expectations, I think Nwoye is trying to grow up to fast. He should enjoy the time he has. He would have to grow up sooner or later but it would have been later, probably, if it wasn't for Okonkwo and Ikemefuna.
Entery Number: 12
Page/Quote reflecting on: 52-54
I think Nwoye is trying to grow up to fast. I don't know how old he is but he can't be that old. Because of Ikemefuna and Okonkwo's influences and especially Okonkwo's expectations, Nwoye seems like he is having to pretend to really want and hate some of the things he actually likes. He is growing up but it seems like he is having to grow up a little fast. He likes that because he is growing up, and hanging out with Ikemefuna and being in his father's presence more, that now the women are sending for him to do different manly jobs but he feigns annoyance and grumbles about women. I think that he does that partly because of Okonkwo. Okonkwo wants him to be manly and be the ruler over the women that he will some day be husband to and he is proud to see him grumbling. I also think that Nwoye does it partially because it is some what funny. Also Nwoye likes the stories that his mother tells but he doesn't want to appear weak or little kiddish so he stays in his father's obi and listens to him tell stories of war and blood shed. Ikemefuna makes him feel more grown up and with Okonkwo's high expectations, I think Nwoye is trying to grow up to fast. He should enjoy the time he has. He would have to grow up sooner or later but it would have been later, probably, if it wasn't for Okonkwo and Ikemefuna.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 12, 2007
Entery Number: 11
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 48-49
As I was reading in Chapter six I found it interesting when another lady, who was Ekwefi's friend, called Ekwefi's daughter my daughter. At the time I found it very interesting and quite odd. Why would you call someone elses child my daughter unless you adopted them? It was unusual for me to hear that. About a week ago my oldest sister had her baby girl and now I'm an aunt. After spending a day with them I've found it not so odd after all. My brother in-law's family is crazy about the new baby and it's funny, when they came over they all asked something like where's my daughter, how is my daughter. His family is really close nit and from spending a day with my sister, my brother in-law, and the new baby and having all of his family come over to see her, it's not all that weird to me now. It's just something that you would say to show you cared about that person and that you are really close to them. It's actually pretty cool.
Entery Number: 11
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 48-49
As I was reading in Chapter six I found it interesting when another lady, who was Ekwefi's friend, called Ekwefi's daughter my daughter. At the time I found it very interesting and quite odd. Why would you call someone elses child my daughter unless you adopted them? It was unusual for me to hear that. About a week ago my oldest sister had her baby girl and now I'm an aunt. After spending a day with them I've found it not so odd after all. My brother in-law's family is crazy about the new baby and it's funny, when they came over they all asked something like where's my daughter, how is my daughter. His family is really close nit and from spending a day with my sister, my brother in-law, and the new baby and having all of his family come over to see her, it's not all that weird to me now. It's just something that you would say to show you cared about that person and that you are really close to them. It's actually pretty cool.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 11, 2007
Entery Number: 10
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 44-45
I find it really interesting how bold Ezinma is and how she is one of the only people in Okonkwo's compound that actually speaks her mind, most of the time. She's not as afraid of Okonkwo as the others are and she is like Okonkwo's favorite child. Once when Ezinma was sitting in Okonkwo's obi after giving him his share of his second wife's pottage, he yells at her to sit like a women. So she does and then waits a while and asks if he will be going to see the wrestling. He answers yes and then asks her the question back and she replys with a yes. She waits a little and then asks if she can bring his chair for him. Okonkwo tells her no, that is a boy's job. Then she procedes to tell him that Obiageli broke her pot. (Obiageli was sitting in Okonkwo's hut also, waiting for Okonkwo to finish her mother's pottage.) Okonkwo then tells Ezinma he was already aware of that. In reply to Ezinma's talk and tattle telling, Obiageli tells Okonkwo that he should not talk when he is eating or the pepper may go down the wrong way. Okonkwo's reply was, "That is very true. Do you hear that Ezinma? You are older that Obiageli but she has more sense." I just find it hilarious the way Obiageli sort of gets back at Ezinma for trying to tattle tell. She does it in a little subtle way by stopping the conversing. That's not really getting back but it is in a way. I find it hilarious though. Just the whole conversation between Ezinma and Okonkwo and then Obiageli too. But I like Ezinma better than Obiageli just because she is nicer, it seems, she isn't afraid really of Okonkwo, and isn't afraid to speak what's on her mind. But then she has a not so innocent side too but it only shows once and a while which makes her even a better character.
Entery Number: 10
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs. 44-45
I find it really interesting how bold Ezinma is and how she is one of the only people in Okonkwo's compound that actually speaks her mind, most of the time. She's not as afraid of Okonkwo as the others are and she is like Okonkwo's favorite child. Once when Ezinma was sitting in Okonkwo's obi after giving him his share of his second wife's pottage, he yells at her to sit like a women. So she does and then waits a while and asks if he will be going to see the wrestling. He answers yes and then asks her the question back and she replys with a yes. She waits a little and then asks if she can bring his chair for him. Okonkwo tells her no, that is a boy's job. Then she procedes to tell him that Obiageli broke her pot. (Obiageli was sitting in Okonkwo's hut also, waiting for Okonkwo to finish her mother's pottage.) Okonkwo then tells Ezinma he was already aware of that. In reply to Ezinma's talk and tattle telling, Obiageli tells Okonkwo that he should not talk when he is eating or the pepper may go down the wrong way. Okonkwo's reply was, "That is very true. Do you hear that Ezinma? You are older that Obiageli but she has more sense." I just find it hilarious the way Obiageli sort of gets back at Ezinma for trying to tattle tell. She does it in a little subtle way by stopping the conversing. That's not really getting back but it is in a way. I find it hilarious though. Just the whole conversation between Ezinma and Okonkwo and then Obiageli too. But I like Ezinma better than Obiageli just because she is nicer, it seems, she isn't afraid really of Okonkwo, and isn't afraid to speak what's on her mind. But then she has a not so innocent side too but it only shows once and a while which makes her even a better character.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 8, 2007
Entery Number: 9
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pg. 43-44
Obiageli had been playing around while she was carrying her waterpot on her head and it accidentally fell off and broke into pieces. She thought it was funny and started to laugh. It was not until she got closer to the compound that she started to "cry". She then told her mother a totally made up story just so as she wouldn't get in trouble. I can understand not wanting to get in trouble but girls like her bug me a lot when they pull those types of things, especially if they have a strong reputation for getting out of things that they did on purpose. Obiageli didn't do it on purpose but it was her attitude when the damage had been done that really bugged me and then the lie she told. It's interesting though. Obiageli's little brothers were going to tell their mother the truth but Ikemefuna stopped them from telling. My question is why? For some reason Obiageli doesn't seem like a very nice girl. So why would he stand up for her if she knew better than not to be messing around like that and then told a lie to get out of being punished? I mean I can kind of understand since if she had told the true then Okonkwo surely would have beaten her and he does have a very strong hand, so I can see the banding together as children but she was being really dumb.
Entery Number: 9
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pg. 43-44
Obiageli had been playing around while she was carrying her waterpot on her head and it accidentally fell off and broke into pieces. She thought it was funny and started to laugh. It was not until she got closer to the compound that she started to "cry". She then told her mother a totally made up story just so as she wouldn't get in trouble. I can understand not wanting to get in trouble but girls like her bug me a lot when they pull those types of things, especially if they have a strong reputation for getting out of things that they did on purpose. Obiageli didn't do it on purpose but it was her attitude when the damage had been done that really bugged me and then the lie she told. It's interesting though. Obiageli's little brothers were going to tell their mother the truth but Ikemefuna stopped them from telling. My question is why? For some reason Obiageli doesn't seem like a very nice girl. So why would he stand up for her if she knew better than not to be messing around like that and then told a lie to get out of being punished? I mean I can kind of understand since if she had told the true then Okonkwo surely would have beaten her and he does have a very strong hand, so I can see the banding together as children but she was being really dumb.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 7, 2007
Entery Number: 8
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pg. 38-39
Okonkwo is so evil. He was angery because he didn't really like feasts and would rather be working, so he was walking around in supressed anger when he saw that his bananna tree was looking barer then usual but he took it as being dead and started asking who killed this tree. It was perfectly fine but it had a few leaves taken off of it to wrap food in. Okonkwo's second wife confessed to having taken leaves off for the food and then Okonkwo then gave her a savage beating. He then started to walk away and told Ikemefuna to get his gun and that he was going hunting except he never used his gun. As he was walking away she said something unsmart and he heard it. He got his gun and shot at her. He actually shot at his wife. That's crazy savageness. Luckily he had bad aim and missed her but still that's crazy. I'd be hecka scared of him after that. I wonder what Okonkwo would have done if he did hit her. I bet he was glad actually that he didn't hit her. But that's just crazy. I'd be a lot more careful around Okonkwo when he was in a bad mood after that.
Entery Number: 8
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pg. 38-39
Okonkwo is so evil. He was angery because he didn't really like feasts and would rather be working, so he was walking around in supressed anger when he saw that his bananna tree was looking barer then usual but he took it as being dead and started asking who killed this tree. It was perfectly fine but it had a few leaves taken off of it to wrap food in. Okonkwo's second wife confessed to having taken leaves off for the food and then Okonkwo then gave her a savage beating. He then started to walk away and told Ikemefuna to get his gun and that he was going hunting except he never used his gun. As he was walking away she said something unsmart and he heard it. He got his gun and shot at her. He actually shot at his wife. That's crazy savageness. Luckily he had bad aim and missed her but still that's crazy. I'd be hecka scared of him after that. I wonder what Okonkwo would have done if he did hit her. I bet he was glad actually that he didn't hit her. But that's just crazy. I'd be a lot more careful around Okonkwo when he was in a bad mood after that.
Part Two Chp. 14-19
A1. If you commit a “female crime,” like Okonkwo did by accidentally killing that boy when his gun exploded, it was required that you flee from the clan for seven years. So Okonkwo took his family to his motherland. That was probably the only other place were he had extended family that would welcome him and his family and besides that was were his mother had grown up. Okonkwo despaired because he had to start all over again and had to replant but on a new farm and work extra hard. Okonkwo was getting older and to start completely over held no excitement or pleasure in it. Okonkwo had wanted to be one of the lords of his clan and he was nearly there and then the accident happened and he lost everything, except his family. Uchendu was somewhat mad at Okonkwo because he was yielding to despair and Uchendu and his family were doing so much for Okonkwo and his family already. Uchendu tells Okonkwo that one reason for coming back to the motherland is to be comforted, like went the children came to be comforted by their mothers after being beaten by their father, but Okonkwo was refusing to be comforted and it was very rude. If he continued to despair then he would die in exile and leave his family in exile probably never to return to Umuofia.
A2. The Abame clan was completely destroyed with the exception of a few survivors. The people had killed a white man who came on an “iron horse” and so more white men can with other men and killed all the people who were in the market, which was everyone except the sick, the old, and a few men and women who stayed home. Uchendu was mad at the people of Abame because they killed the white man and he didn’t say anything. Uchendu gave a story about a mother kite who told her daughter to find some food. So she went out and brought back a duckling whose mother had no protest to her taking it. When she told her mother this her mother told her to take it back. “There is something ominous behind the silence.” So the daughter took it back and brought a chick whose mother raved and cursed. The mother tells the daughter “There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts.” And they ate the chick. The people of Abame were fools in Uchendu’s eyes because the white man said nothing and they should have suspected something because he didn’t say a thing. Okonkwo thought they were fools because none of them had their machetes or guns on them and they were warned by their Oracle that danger was ahead but they didn’t do anything to protect themselves. In a way I think that Uchendu’s reaction is wiser to responding to new challenges to old ways of living because if a man doesn’t say a thing when he knows that he is going to die then there is something ominous behind him and you probably shouldn’t kill him. It’s like kicking a man while he is down. You never know, he could just catch your foot just as you are about to kick him and bring you down to a crashing end. (That happens in the movie Enough.) But then again those people probably wouldn’t have thought of that but they should have been smart enough to protect themselves with their guns and machetes if they were warned that danger was ahead. But I would go with Uchendu’s reaction. It really brings the old to the new. When Uchendu says “There is no story that is not true,” he means that even the stories that seem like they are totally made up may have some truth to them so you should still take them into account and consider them sometimes. So there is no story that is not true or at least partially true.
A3. Obierika visits Okonkwo the first time while Okonkwo was in exile because he came to give him the money that he made when he sold Okonkwo’s yams and seed yams. The second time Obierika comes it is to tell Okonkwo about the white missionaries in Umuofia and to tell him that he saw Nwoye amongst them. Nwoye’s motive for converting to Christianity was that this new religion answered this question, through a hymn, that he had had since he was young; about the crying twins in a bush and why Ikemefuna had been killed. When the Christian missionaries first came the people didn’t like them and thought they were crazy and made fun of them. When they asked for land and were given the evil forest the Igbo people thought they were even crazier and thought that surely their gods would destroy them with in a matter of time. The Christian missionaries lived longer than the people expected and then some of the people joined them but others thought that they were evil and that was how they were able to survive in the evil forest. After a while the people got really mad and sad because they were leading more and more people away, even women and children, and so they decided to try and run them out by not allowing them to go to town get water from the water place and other things and if they tried to get into town then they would whip them and run them out. Through out the times the missionaries would teach in the market places and in the village playground and then eventually built the church in the evil forest. They accepted any and everybody, even the outcasts. Some of the sources of the misunderstandings between the Igbo and the missionaries were that the Igbo were not used to the idea of only one god and that he had a son but didn’t have a wife and those that did convert were not used to being among the outcasts who were considered heathens basically because of their beliefs which they had to give up if they wanted to become Christian. The men that were attracted to the new religion were mainly the worthless, empty men who held no titles and were looked down upon and with the new religion they probably felt like they were actually equal to those that did look down on them. Others that were attracted were the outcasts or osu who had heathen beliefs and was dedicated to a taboo, could not marry a free-born, carried the mark of his caste which was long, tangle, dirty hair. They could not attend free-born meetings, live under a free-born roof, take a title, and would be buried in the evil forest. They figured if the church took in twins and other abominations that they would accept them and they did but with slight opposition. Nwoye converts because they did answer his question and it made more sense to him them the religion of his father and forefathers. Okonkwo was very, very angry with Nwoye for forsaking his religion and joining the Christians and he wanted to kill him and he probably would have had it not been for Uchendu.
A4. The main crises that they had were admitting the outcasts into the church which I’ve already talked about, and ended with one of the converts returning to the clan because of the admittance of the outcasts. But after the two outcasts were admitted the rest of the osu converted to Christianity. One of those osu converts ended up making more conflict with the clan a year later when they killed a sacred python and got the congregation, which had grown and was now numbered with men, women, and children, excluded from the life and privileges of the clan. The people of Mbanta are allowing the Christians to stay because they had never had to fight for their gods before and didn’t think they need to now. If they were doing abominable things then the gods would take care of it and administer justice were it was needed. They didn’t want to intervene because if they got in the way they might get the punishment that was intended for the Christian people. The Mbanta religion believes in many different gods for the different things in their lives and has ranks of respect for those with titles, those without, and those who are outcasts. The Christian missionaries believe in the Trinity and that everyone is brother and sister in God’s way and that everyone is equal. Two very different beliefs.
A5. Because of the new Christian church a man could leave his family, his father, his brothers and he can turn against them and curse his father and his ancestors. The elders fear for the younger generation and the future clan because they will not be able to stand together as well or as strong as kinsmen if they are turning on each other and cursing their fathers and ancestors. The bond of kinship can be very, very strong if they stand together but this new church has come and told them it is okay to turn against their family and forsake everything they’ve ever know. If the Igbo people see that it is okay to leave their families and join a new religion and their old gods do nothing to stop them or kill them when they join, more and more people will start joining and everything that they thought was wrong or they didn’t quite like about their fathers’ religion, they can now leave behind and not have to worry about being beat because they don’t see the sense in those things they don’t like. The white man will have the upper hand in things if the Igbo people don’t run them out soon and they will take over and be successful.
A2. The Abame clan was completely destroyed with the exception of a few survivors. The people had killed a white man who came on an “iron horse” and so more white men can with other men and killed all the people who were in the market, which was everyone except the sick, the old, and a few men and women who stayed home. Uchendu was mad at the people of Abame because they killed the white man and he didn’t say anything. Uchendu gave a story about a mother kite who told her daughter to find some food. So she went out and brought back a duckling whose mother had no protest to her taking it. When she told her mother this her mother told her to take it back. “There is something ominous behind the silence.” So the daughter took it back and brought a chick whose mother raved and cursed. The mother tells the daughter “There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts.” And they ate the chick. The people of Abame were fools in Uchendu’s eyes because the white man said nothing and they should have suspected something because he didn’t say a thing. Okonkwo thought they were fools because none of them had their machetes or guns on them and they were warned by their Oracle that danger was ahead but they didn’t do anything to protect themselves. In a way I think that Uchendu’s reaction is wiser to responding to new challenges to old ways of living because if a man doesn’t say a thing when he knows that he is going to die then there is something ominous behind him and you probably shouldn’t kill him. It’s like kicking a man while he is down. You never know, he could just catch your foot just as you are about to kick him and bring you down to a crashing end. (That happens in the movie Enough.) But then again those people probably wouldn’t have thought of that but they should have been smart enough to protect themselves with their guns and machetes if they were warned that danger was ahead. But I would go with Uchendu’s reaction. It really brings the old to the new. When Uchendu says “There is no story that is not true,” he means that even the stories that seem like they are totally made up may have some truth to them so you should still take them into account and consider them sometimes. So there is no story that is not true or at least partially true.
A3. Obierika visits Okonkwo the first time while Okonkwo was in exile because he came to give him the money that he made when he sold Okonkwo’s yams and seed yams. The second time Obierika comes it is to tell Okonkwo about the white missionaries in Umuofia and to tell him that he saw Nwoye amongst them. Nwoye’s motive for converting to Christianity was that this new religion answered this question, through a hymn, that he had had since he was young; about the crying twins in a bush and why Ikemefuna had been killed. When the Christian missionaries first came the people didn’t like them and thought they were crazy and made fun of them. When they asked for land and were given the evil forest the Igbo people thought they were even crazier and thought that surely their gods would destroy them with in a matter of time. The Christian missionaries lived longer than the people expected and then some of the people joined them but others thought that they were evil and that was how they were able to survive in the evil forest. After a while the people got really mad and sad because they were leading more and more people away, even women and children, and so they decided to try and run them out by not allowing them to go to town get water from the water place and other things and if they tried to get into town then they would whip them and run them out. Through out the times the missionaries would teach in the market places and in the village playground and then eventually built the church in the evil forest. They accepted any and everybody, even the outcasts. Some of the sources of the misunderstandings between the Igbo and the missionaries were that the Igbo were not used to the idea of only one god and that he had a son but didn’t have a wife and those that did convert were not used to being among the outcasts who were considered heathens basically because of their beliefs which they had to give up if they wanted to become Christian. The men that were attracted to the new religion were mainly the worthless, empty men who held no titles and were looked down upon and with the new religion they probably felt like they were actually equal to those that did look down on them. Others that were attracted were the outcasts or osu who had heathen beliefs and was dedicated to a taboo, could not marry a free-born, carried the mark of his caste which was long, tangle, dirty hair. They could not attend free-born meetings, live under a free-born roof, take a title, and would be buried in the evil forest. They figured if the church took in twins and other abominations that they would accept them and they did but with slight opposition. Nwoye converts because they did answer his question and it made more sense to him them the religion of his father and forefathers. Okonkwo was very, very angry with Nwoye for forsaking his religion and joining the Christians and he wanted to kill him and he probably would have had it not been for Uchendu.
A4. The main crises that they had were admitting the outcasts into the church which I’ve already talked about, and ended with one of the converts returning to the clan because of the admittance of the outcasts. But after the two outcasts were admitted the rest of the osu converted to Christianity. One of those osu converts ended up making more conflict with the clan a year later when they killed a sacred python and got the congregation, which had grown and was now numbered with men, women, and children, excluded from the life and privileges of the clan. The people of Mbanta are allowing the Christians to stay because they had never had to fight for their gods before and didn’t think they need to now. If they were doing abominable things then the gods would take care of it and administer justice were it was needed. They didn’t want to intervene because if they got in the way they might get the punishment that was intended for the Christian people. The Mbanta religion believes in many different gods for the different things in their lives and has ranks of respect for those with titles, those without, and those who are outcasts. The Christian missionaries believe in the Trinity and that everyone is brother and sister in God’s way and that everyone is equal. Two very different beliefs.
A5. Because of the new Christian church a man could leave his family, his father, his brothers and he can turn against them and curse his father and his ancestors. The elders fear for the younger generation and the future clan because they will not be able to stand together as well or as strong as kinsmen if they are turning on each other and cursing their fathers and ancestors. The bond of kinship can be very, very strong if they stand together but this new church has come and told them it is okay to turn against their family and forsake everything they’ve ever know. If the Igbo people see that it is okay to leave their families and join a new religion and their old gods do nothing to stop them or kill them when they join, more and more people will start joining and everything that they thought was wrong or they didn’t quite like about their fathers’ religion, they can now leave behind and not have to worry about being beat because they don’t see the sense in those things they don’t like. The white man will have the upper hand in things if the Igbo people don’t run them out soon and they will take over and be successful.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Journal Entery
Date: July 6, 2007
Journal Entery: 7
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs 36-37
In chapter five they talk about the New Yam Festival and how everyone looks forward to it. There is lots of food and lots of left overs. They gave an example story about how a wealthy man put food that was so pilled up high that you couldn't see over it. A guy can late and it was only until after a lot of the food had been eaten that he saw that his in-law was actually sitting across from him. It was expected of the Strong men to invite lots of people. Would all those people be family members or would some be friends too? And would the feast beheld in like one big place or would each family have it on their own compound? And how big are the huts or like Okonkwo's obi? Large enough to hold a large group or would they have to eat outside? And if outside, would they sit on the ground or would they have chairs? But of course if they have chairs the men would only get to sit on them. So what would the women and children sit on? The festival sounds like it would be fun but how does it all work? That's my question. It's not very important but I'm curious.
Journal Entery: 7
Page/Quote reflecting on: Pgs 36-37
In chapter five they talk about the New Yam Festival and how everyone looks forward to it. There is lots of food and lots of left overs. They gave an example story about how a wealthy man put food that was so pilled up high that you couldn't see over it. A guy can late and it was only until after a lot of the food had been eaten that he saw that his in-law was actually sitting across from him. It was expected of the Strong men to invite lots of people. Would all those people be family members or would some be friends too? And would the feast beheld in like one big place or would each family have it on their own compound? And how big are the huts or like Okonkwo's obi? Large enough to hold a large group or would they have to eat outside? And if outside, would they sit on the ground or would they have chairs? But of course if they have chairs the men would only get to sit on them. So what would the women and children sit on? The festival sounds like it would be fun but how does it all work? That's my question. It's not very important but I'm curious.