Ikemefuna stayed with Okonkwo's family for three years. I don't think that was a good choice for him to kill Ikemefuna. What I found bad is that Ogbuefi told him he doesn’t have to be part of it, But still he agreed to go. The one question I have is that how can Okonkwo have the heart to kill that child? The last word of Ikemefuna was "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him .Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down." pg 61.I believe it’s one of those decisions you take, and later you pay the consequences, I can predicted that because of Ikemefuna death, there will be a lot of problem.
Taking heed to Okonkwo’s surroundings from what I read so far, you can sense that the time takes place when African traditional customs are strongly intact. I realize that there are many mythical references thus far. Like Nwoye, I enjoy the folk tales that the women in the village tell to their children rather than the men’s “masculine tales.” The myth about the Vulture, Sky, and Earth reminded me of a Greek version. The Sky wouldn’t let rain fall upon on Earth and so the Vulture persuaded the Sky by singing a lovely, yet a heartbreaking song. In the Greek version, Demeter misses her lost daughter, Persephone, so much she refuses to nourish the Earth. Thus, Demeter’s brother sends his flying messenger to fix the problem. According to Okonkwo and his people, the folklores are true; they also relate to the nature (including many animal references) and one’s spirit. I thought that the comparison between snake-lizard tale and the “too much vegetable” talk on page 83 was a little overwhelming. You get killed because you cooked too little vegetables. I feel like this is a small lesson about appearances being deceiving.
On page 80, does “iyi-uwa” represent one’s bad chi? Is that why Ezinma is often ill?
Like I said from my last blog, I think Okonkwo is a very traditional man. He doesn’t protest when Ikemefuna is sentenced to die. And yes, Okonkwo is the one who kills Ikemefuna because he doesn’t want to show weakness to the other male villagers. Ikemefuna was like another son of Okonkwo’s; he wasn’t as close to his biological father like Okonkwo. I think Okonkwo was very fond of the boy. Ikemefuna greatly influences his oldest boy, Nwoye, of becoming more man-like. What man would kill his son? Yet deep down, I think Okonkwo is feeling guilty. He’s fighting with himself in both mind and heart. Okonkwo is trying very hard not to become as lazy as his father. Ironically, after Ikemefuna’s death, Okonkwo had been feeling feeble himself, “But he [Okonkwo] was so weak that his legs could hardly carry him. He felt like a drunken giant walking with the limbs of a mosquito (p.63).” A big, strong man like Okonkwo has suddenly become as weak as a puny mosquito that can be easily squished. I think that Okonkwo hides his feelings well because he is such a hard man. Gaelle, I like your prediction about having consequences in the future; it’s very likely this will happen. ^.^
I agree that Okonkwo should not have killed Ikemefuna in that Ikemefuna looked up to him as a father figure. Looking back at all of the decisions Okonkwo made, they all contribute to his manhood. No matter what decision Okonkwo made throughout the book, they were all based on his masculinity and power. Whatever he had to do, he did it to maintain his manhood. One of the major decisions that was made in part 2 was when Okonkwo shot the dead man’s sixteen year old son. I’m not entirely sure if it was an accident or intentional, but Okonkwo’s actions resulted in banishment of his clan for seven years. This decision is played out in a way that Okonkwo’s aggressiveness is frowned up on. Relating his previous decision, I think that it is quite contradicting that Okonkwo was looked at as masculine when he killed Ikemefuna, and he was being punished for killing the sixteen year old. It just shows how important clan members were, and how unimportant other clans were regardless of how accepted they became.
Throughout the book, Okonkwo decides to be very aggressive to his wives and children. He is portrayed as a scary and dominant male figure. I can see all of Okonkwo’s decisions of abusiveness and aggressiveness unraveling because he is being punished for it. He was punished for Ikemefuna’s death because he felt guilty. He was punished for abusing his family when he was exiled to his motherland. “Be careful or you may displease the dead. Your duty is to comfort your wives and children and take them back to your fatherland after seven years” (134). Overall, Okonkwo’s decisions result in punishment. He gets scolded by his mother’s clan for his acts of “manliness”. His ideal “strong man” persona backfires for the worst.
One thing I wanted to bring up was the paragraph in the middle of page 163. “The rain became lighter and lighter until it fell in slanting showers. Sometimes the sun shone through the rain and a light breeze blew. It was a gay and airy kind of rain. The rainbow began to appear, and sometimes two rainbows, like a mother and her daughter, the one young and beautiful, and the other an old and faint shadow.” I think that this paragraph symbolically means the rebirth of Okonkwo. He is given a second chance after seven years to return to his homeland. I think that the rainbow and the rain are so symbolic because during the entire seven years Okonkwo was in exile, it rained. The rain signifies a deep depression and isolation. Now that Okonkwo is preparing to go home, rainbows welcome him and make the mood lighter and happier. I think that the rainbows signify Okonkwo’s rebirth or second chance to a new beginning, just as the rainbows signified a new beginning after the rain.
As I said in my first blog post, I think the first third of the book is really about setting the tone. This is a piece that, more than anything, illustrates a specific culture. The first third of the book sets us up and introduces us, as readers who don’t fully understand the African culture, to this society. I really appreciate that the author often repeats descriptions (mostly who is who) rather than getting so entirely engrossed in the culture that he excludes anyone who doesn’t know it as well as himself.
To the above poster, I think it was pretty clear that the gun shot that killed the boy was accidental. This brings me to my next point. This 2nd part of the book is showing how, just as much as the culture defines these people, they are also victims to it. In modern society, we accept that accidents happen. However, with all of the belief about chi and whatnot, a specific punishment is assigned to this specific crime.
And I think that is one of the larger ideas that Things Fall Apart is dealing with. The book explores how culture defines and controls our lives; how we can become slaves to a system that we create. And, ultimately, it poses questions about the very structure of societies. Are we better or worse off for separating religious and spiritual beliefs from those that govern our society? Can such a comparison even be made?
The decision that has taken over Okonkwo’s life is the one that’s backfiring on him. Because he’s decided to ignore his emotions and hide behind his masculine image, he has to suffer the consequences. The masculine act of using a gun and ultimately shooting an innocent kid is what has taken away everything he worked hard for. Even though the shooting was an accident, everything manly and fierce and strong is the very thing that got him into exile.
Another major decision is choosing to stick with his old values and spiritual beliefs. Even though Okonkwo is being his old stubborn self, I actually don’t blame him for keeping faith in his old values. It must have been hard for people to just drop all their values and accept new ones from a total stranger.
To answer Keith’s question, I think we’re neither better nor worse off separating religious and spiritual beliefs from ideals that run our government. When government officials decide on topics on abortion, the death penalty, laws concerning gay rights, and others, what they decide often concerns their religious beliefs. What ever they decide may be better on their conscience but not so good for others. But if politicians left out their spiritual beliefs, then that could leave them feeling bad about not following what they believe.
The last decision I want to point out made by Okonkwo is that even through the lecture from his uncle about saying humble (134-135), Okonkwo’s only concern at the end of part two is regaining all his power. He completely ignores a big lesson he could have learned those seven years about how everything can be taken away from you at any moment and that you need to appreciate anything you have instead of being power hungry.
It’s like that saying “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And I think because Okonkwo hasn’t changed his power hungry ways, as I said before his life is not going to get any better.
Okonkwo’s decisions are constantly dictated by his aggressive and forceful demeanor. Irrational decisions tend to arise as a consequence of emotional reactions that the character cannot deal with difficult decisions. Okonkwo conveys to the audience that he does not know what he truly wants in any situation. Instead of going with his initial gut feeling, he reverts to his clouded perception of masculinity and power. He is always thinking about how he will claim the highest title of the clan instead of thinking out the steps to his goals properly. I agree with Kellie’s assertion that the decisions that Okonkwo makes are all based on his masculinity and power. The more masculine that he appeared the more powerful he ultimately felt in the African society. To answer Kellie’s thoughts about whether Okonkwo’s actions were on purpose or accidental; I believe that it could have been intentional. His actions finally dealt him cards that he was not all too pleased with, banishment for the next seven years. During his banishment the audience would think that Okonkwo would rethink his previous perceptions of masculinity and change for the well-being for himself and his family. Yet, I am not too sure that it has entirely soaked into Okonkwo’s psyche. He seems to have moments of relation and then reverts back to his old stubborn ways.
An example that relates to the statement above is abusive men in society today. In public abusive men are depicted as “Mr. Wonderful”, but behind closed doors they are someone completely different. This relates to Okonkwo seeing that he is a prominent, well respected figure in society. While his wives and children live in fear of his violent outbursts. The audience could infer that Okonkwo expresses his emotions (guilt, frustration, hurt, etc.) as anger. When everything is not fine and dandy then the violent explosions of temperament tend to occur.
Another portion of “Things Fall Apart” that I found quite interesting was when the missionaries came into the clan preaching their beliefs. The other members of the clan wanted to stick by their ancestral traditions and not fight for their gods. They did not feel it was necessary to chastise the missionaries. Okonkwo was the only one who wanted to cause them harm and drive them out of their land. He has disliked the idea of the missionaries internally because he does not like the idea of change. Okonkwo has always been a man who was one-minded, so the resistance to cultural change would only increase. When his son, Nwoye, chose to convert to the Christian faith Okonkwo felt disrespected and hurt. He immediately passed it off as more punishment from his chi. European involvement has threatened the very aspect that Okonkwo strives for, his social status. The European people have taught these people a new way of having a more enjoyable life instead of their old, outdated ways. I predict some sort of uproar involving those who have embraced and resisted Christianity.
Iyi-Uwa does not represent ones bad chi, if you look at the glossary, you'll see all the definitions. iyi-uwa is the little stone that links the devil child with the spirit world, once it is broken, the child will stop dying and coming back to his/her mother's stomach. I don't agree with the fact that Okonkwo killed Ezeudu's son on purpose, he was simply honoring Ezeudu, then he shot the gun, and killed him by accident. I like the part of the book where the guy went to complain about his wife's relatives taking her away from him. On page 93 it pleased me when the spirit said "It is not bravery when a man fights with a woman". I thought it showed moral when it came to their customs, because apparently it's OK for a husband to hit his wife if he thinks she doesn't conduct herself properly, and the spirit forbade that in a way. It was obvious and mentioned in the book that Okonkwo was fond of Ikemefuna. It was stupid how Okonkwo contributed to his murder when Ezedu told him he didn't have to since he called him father. He's stubborn, and he still did it because he doesn't want to seem weak. Okonkwo's desperation to not appear or come out as weak is self destructive, because as long as he has been doing it, it has yet to work in his favor. All he does is scare people and feel shallow on the inside. Commenting on what Keith said, I do agree that culture defines us but it doesn't necessarily have to control us. I think that may only be true when it comes to this book and the extremeness of the African culture. We also have to keep in mind the time period these customs were in practice, also the place and the mentality of the people. Okonkwo's decisions reflects his personality and the strong will for him not to want to be like his father. I feel as if Okonkwo suffered more than his father because his father wasn't as harsh, and he had an amazing love for music. Although he was in constant debt and he wasn't successful like Okonkwo, he wasn't as miserable because it seemed as if he kept himself happy. It raises the question of what should defines one's happiness.d
Concerning the question that Keith brought up and the responses from the previous poster, I must say that maybe it only seems extreme for religion to play such a large part in African culture because instead of looking at it from their view, we are seeing it as Americans, where we are able to choose our religion and customs, therefore, it does not play as an important or "extreme" role in our culture than it does in the book. But I'm sure that in other countries, where there is no freedom of religion, government, customs, and society goes hand in hand. To go further with this question of can there be such a comparison, then there is a yes and a no, as always. Yes, theoretically, there should be. Then the customs would be more fair, but also, even stricter. But then again, no because we are all influenced by our religion, so what we believe in, what our religion tells us is right, will always be our first instinctive reaction to approach decisions. Therefore, there is no real separation between society, religion, or customs, they are all linked together and coexist.
Yes it is clear, as many has said before that Okonkwo is to say more or less putting up a front, doing everything that he can to show masculinity, something that he feels has to prove since his father did not have. It almost seems as if he is trying to make up for his father's lack of masculinity, therefore, he pressures himself to be twice as masculine. But in doing so, Okonkwo loses sight of what family and relationships mean, partly of what life is about. As said in the earlier post, Okonkwo's father was a great relationship builder, but for Okonkwo, his lack of this skill caused him to not only kill his "son" but to also create a distance between himself and his family.
Something that came to me as I read is that Okonkwo's exile is clearly a great loss for him, but while reading it, it seems that it is not stressed enough just how much it hurts Okonkwo to realize that he has to start over again, it merely says that he knew it was wrong, his family cried, and thats it. Does the author do this on purpose to stress the fact that Okonkwo, even during a mistake does not like to show emotions, since it would seem feminine?
This second section just seemed like a filler section. It seems like nothing happened, and if you think about it, seven years just flew by.We get the sense that Okonkwo was just sitting there. And indeed, he didn't participate much in that city's politics. It's like he didn't bother building himself up because he knew he would return to his own city in seven years.
I think a lot of you are being too hard on Okonkwo. He is doing what an outstanding member of any African village would do. Assuming this is a work of fiction, Okonkwo is the average noble citizen. He is law abiding and well as following the status quo. Many of you slammed Okonkwo for being proud and definitively masculine. If he was any less he would be looked down upon. And you may say "So what?", but most of you do it too. Clothes, make-up, and yes, even this AP class. You are trying to impress people. And yes, he beats his children and wives. But let me ask you, Have you ever used any violence, even a little bit? At least his beatings were justified by cultural law. Are your little punches?
Am I right in assuming that gun I mentioned earlier was foreshadowing the coming and trouble of the white missionaries?
I am especially touched by the bit about "Mother is Supreme". It would be best if these African villages took from their own teachings. Let people grow up to take independence and perseverence from their father, but also gentle loving care from their mother.
Finally we have a better idea when this story is taking place after Obierika referenced white men who “made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas.” So this novel is set around 16-17 century. When Ms. Clapp classified this novel as a tragedy, during the previous post, the plotline wasn’t very clear, however, by the end of the second third of the novel and the introduction of the white men, I think as evidenced through history the white men will lead to the destruction of African Villages. Just a side note: Although the syntax in the remains of the day was significantly complex this novel, I think that Things Fall apart is a lot harder to analyze. As a result I have been questioning everything that could potentially be a symbol. For instance, I think that weather plays a prominent role in foreshadowing events and displaying emotion. Rain in particular is a motif that the villagers extremely value. It is the lifeblood of their economy, it grows their yams, and occasional casts a dark spell in the village as it destroys their crop. In addition to its practical uses, rain symbolizes emotions, especially Okonkwo’s as he tends to stand by, “rumbling like thunder in the rainy season.” Who else thought that the chase through the woods was really weird?!?! The priestess came in the middle of the night and ran away with Ezinma into the forest. I thought it was pretty funny considering the spontaneity and how frenzied the priestess was. However, there is a reason why the author chose to include the chase into the novel, and the chase must be representative of something. I think that the fact that Ezinma was carried into the woods by such a prominent religious figure illustrates that she must play a significant role in the outcome of the village’s fate. She must have achieved a status that transcends the normal villagers as they ventured to the shrine of a great god. Interestingly enough, Achebe , the author (because all of us are bad with these names), has illustrated multiple aspects of the culture and tradition of the village and in this third of the book he has shown us their judicial and political structure. Their mystical and ritualistic beliefs permeated even the most momentous aspects of their daily life. Now that the white men have been introduced it will be interesting to see these two distinct cultures clash. In this third of the novel Okonkwo has managed to further ostracize himself from the rest of the village as he murders a young man when his gun inadvertently fired. Chloe brought up an interesting point earlier about the gun and how it foreshadows the coming of the white missionaries. However, I think it means much more than their coming; it also symbolizes the imminent conflict between these two groups as the gun, a product of the white men’s culture, manages to cause trouble within the village whenever it is brought out. Okonkwo prided himself in the wealth he had amassed. His wealth came in terms of wives, children, successful yam harvests, wrestling championships, and the coveted village titles. Now that he is an exile and nearly all of his power is stripped from him, all that is left is “a child (134).” Uchendu, Okonkwo’s relative on his mother’s side, questions Okonkwo’s knowledge of tradition and Okonkwo does not have an answer displaying his immaturity. Additionally, Ucendu continues to drop some life lesson on him telling him that sometimes that “men sometimes lose all their yams and even children,” however they manage to live and thrive. Achebe, the author, demonstrates that maybe in order to be a successful MAN you don’t necessarily have to be overly wealthy and father 30 children, but wise and mature. This idea justifies Okonkwo’s father’s lifestyle and how even though he wasn’t nearly as successful as his son, he was appreciative of what he had and lived happily. Okonkwo’s banishment is the beginning of his journey to become a man, because before he was just a child who threw temper tantrums and amassed toys.
In the second part of the novel, the author mainly focuses on Okonkwo’s lifestyle in Mbanta during his exile. In these seven years, we see the consequences of Okonkwo’s decisions that were driven by his desperation to prove his “manliness” and maintain his reputation in Umoufia. By taking part in the killing of Ikemefuna who was the source of happiness in his household, Okonkwo’s not only distances himself from his family but also his society. Many of his friends are displeased by his action and feel that he has committed a grave error. For example, Obierika states, “If I were you, I would have stayed home. What you have done will not please the Earth goddess.” (p. 67) Similarly, Ezeudu had warned Okonkwo not to “bear [a] hand in his death”. This decision also helps separate him from his family by forcing Nwoye to join the Christian faith. Okonkwo had always “wanted him to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices.” However, after Ikemefuna’s murder Nwoye begins to question whether the customs of Umuofia are morally justified. Therefore, when the Christian missionaries enter Mbanta and preach their religion then Nwoye becomes “captivated.” The hymns of the new religion “seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul, the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed.” (p.147) It was Okonkwo’s decision to murder Ikemefuna that lead Nwoye to accept the new faith and abandon his family to pursue the new religion. Furthermore, Okonkwo realizes that his violent demeanor for which he was named the “flaming fire” is the reason he had “begotten a woman for a son”.
Another major decision that unravels throughout part two of the novel is the accidental shooting of Ezeudu’s sixteen-year-old boy. Though this decision is not intentional, Okonkwo is exiled to his motherland for seven years. During these seven years Okonkwo is ashamed of himself for losing his wealth and honor. This shame results in his isolation from society. I agree with Ayoub on the idea that now that Okonkwo no longer has his status; he reduced to a mere “child” as Uchendu mentions. Uchendu illustrates that wealth and status does not determine a person’s true worth. This is the lesson that Okonkwo has failed to learn. Okonkwo believes that without wealth and power, a man is reduced to a “woman”. However, Uchendu demonstrates that “mother is supreme”. Even though, Okonkwo no longer holds his title, he can still be a successful person in the motherland. There is no sense of shame in starting a new life. However, in order to live a happy life, Okonkwo will have to conquer his fear of resembling his father, Unoka.
I disagree with the comparison that Steffy made of Okonkwo to modern domestic violence. In some instance it does ring true by him obviously hurting his family emotionally and physically but on the other hand it doesn’t, I don’t believe he puts on a “Mr. Wonderful” facade when he leaves the house. Because beside peace week it is okay to beat on your wives and family in this tribe, it seems to even be encouraged as a way to show your masculinity. In the first part it is no secret that Okonkwo lashes out at his family.
The Ibo religion to me seems like a religion that leaves little room for failure and or anything less than perfection. I think that’s what appeal to the Ibo people who left. And especially Nwoye. They were treated a s second-rate human beings; but in this religion everyone was essentially equal. People don’t like to see flaws (or what they think are flaws) in there religion I think that’s why we have so many. No one can truly follow a religion if they don’t have sense of belonging with it. Nwoye just didn’t have the faith need to blindly follow a religion that would leave twin babies to die or take away his best friend. The acceptance and absolute love he never got from his father he could get from his Father.
In this village these people are not as violent as those in Okonkwo’s village. He thinks they’re more feminine because they’re not used to his caveman ways. Especially because they don’t want to use any violence against the settlers.
I thought that it was very interesting to see how they reacted to these new people, and their belief. It seems that Okonkwo was the only one who wanted to be violent, and destroy. It seems like those in his mothers’ land have more sense then those in his fathers’ land. I don’t know how I would react if someone came to where I live and told me that everything I believed in was wrong. I think that it was very difficult for Okonkwo to see his son cross over to become a Christian.
I think that Okonkwo should have listened to his friend when he told him not to kill Ikemefuna. The boy thought of him as his father. He was also a good influence on the kids. He helped steer them to the right path. I think that killing Ikemefuna, made it easier for his son to switch religion. His father killed Ikemefuna for no real reason. I think he died with him that day, because even though they weren’t blood they were like brothers. He dint understand why his father had to kill Ikemefuna. The Christians wouldn’t do something like that.
I agree with Gaelle that Okonkwo should not have killed Ikemefuma but like Helen said, because of Okonkwo’s fear of appearing ‘womanly’ like his father, he had to do it. I feel as though Okonkwo is going way overboard in trying to prove so and I agree with what the elder said that Okonkwo didn’t have to participate in the killing. Kellie – I also saw the rainbow and the rain metaphor. However, I didn’t see it as reborn because Okonkwa is the same man as he was. In this story, I believe that Chinua is using ironically. Okonkwa didn’t get cleansed or became a new person; he just stayed as he is. This goes back to How To Read Literature Like a Professor, how a person can fall into the mud when the rain hits the ground and doesn’t come back clean but dirtier than before. When Okonkwo comes back from exile, he is still the same man he was, but with much more hatred and anger because of the missionaries that came and changed his fatherland.
Keith – I really like your view on the book and your question is really insightful. To answer it “Are we better or worse off for separating religious and spiritual beliefs from those that govern our society?” I do agree that sending Okonkwo off to exile when it is an accident without having any kind of trial is not very justifiable which goes back to Keith’s question, we should not mix your religious and spiritual beliefs with those that govern our society. I have to disagree with Belinda; I feel that mixing religious beliefs will make us biased. We based our decision on what we believed in and not that is logical or right. However, I do agree with Belinda with the fact that Okonkwo loses sight of his family and relationships because he is blinded by his fear of not being masculine enough. Belinda and Chloe brought up that the seven years of exile came and went really quickly. I think the author did that because in those seven years, Okonkwo doesn’t really change so why dwell in the details when it’s nothing new. Also, the story is more central around the Okonkwo's fatherland, about its traditon and its destruction when the white men come, so it makes sense if Chinua briefs over Okonkwo's time in exile
I think the blog questions should have page numbers because I’m not sure which decisions I am suppose to look at so I’ll choose the killing of Ikemefuma. From what we learned about Okonkwo, it was not a surprise that he killed the poor kid. Okonkwo is driven by fear of being like his father so to him, killing Ikemefuma shows that he is not afraid of anything. To Okonkwo, it’s just another way to prove to the people of the village that he is a man. But in our eyes, or even not in “our” eyes, even the villager thought what Okonkwo did was overboard. As Ms. Clapp has mentioned earlier and other people agree too, that something will befallen Okonkwo because this book is a tragedy.
The event that occured on page 124 really took my by surprise. Of all the people, it's Okonkwo who 'accidentally' fires his gun and takes a boy's life. I feel like while Okonkwo may not have been aiming at the boy, he really cannot control all of his repressed anger and just without thinking, pulled the trigger. It's also a little bit hard for me to believe that this happened, and I know its a fictional book, but it just seems really out of the blue. Anyways, I think that after Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, he set up his fate for a bleak and empty life. Especially after he is banished from his clan for seven years, it's a big sign that nothing too good can happen to him. Also, there's a lot of constant change that occurs in Okonkwo's life. On many occasions throughout the book, I've noticed that he always says the younger generation (especially his son) is weak and cowardly. On page 138, the conversation with Obierika foreshadows some more changing events stirring up the clan. Since Okonkwo has absolutely no tolerance for weak people, I see yet another unfortunate action taking place as a result of his anger and pain in the future.
In the second part of the book I see Okonkwo's actions leading him to more despair and misfortune. I still think that the reason Okonkwo is having such bad luck is the gods are punishing him. The gods are still punishing him for disturbing the peace during the week of peace.
Now that Okonkwo is in a new village for seven years for his crime he has to rebuild his life all over. Everything he worked for in his entire life was taken away in a flash and there was nothing he could do about it. But once again Okonkwo persevered and succeeded in becoming rich and supporting his family. Throughout the seven years Okonkwo was in exile he still had the same ambition to be great and powerful. His actions of always wanting to fight and being a man leads to more troubles in his life.
I think the white people and the Christians arriving in the village will cause the most destruction to their culture. Even Nwoye has abandoned his father to join the Christians. It is very sad to see that his own son abandoned the teachings and the culture he grew up knowing. Okonkwo has now lost two sons that he will never see again. His perfect family and life is falling apart.
As the second half of the book began I found myself less enthralled with the cultural aspect of the book and more interested in Okonkwo as a character. I agree that he is very caught up in what he believes is right for a man and the direct contrast between him and his son Nwoye. I find it very interesting how his son is trying to not be like his father, just as Okonkwo had done. It seems to be a cycle, his son is trying to distance himself from what his father has become which directly mirrors what Okonkwo had done when he was around the same age.
The concept of masculinity seems to be a big part of the culture being shown in the book and Okonkwo seems to be the very definition of masculinity. I do agree with Steph in the fact that the gun as a representation of masculinity was Okonkwo’s downfall which led him to be exiled to his motherland. I believe that this will further hurt him as the white men come in. He has turned himself into someone who uses violence as a means to solve everything and the Christian beliefs are the very opposite of all that he lives by. He will never be able to accept the new religion and as the story develops he will further be hurt by his stubbornness.
The insight given by Okonkwo’s uncle during this half of the book showed me that all do not view women to be the inferiors, but he instead showed their importance during his speech, they are those you run back to when you are in trouble and need comfort. When Okonkwo was put into what he refers to as a more “feminine village” I though it would aid in a transformation in his behavior, but I felt like his time in the village was a rushed part of the book. It seems that Okonkwo does not have the will to change and the fact that he is so against being “feminine” which stems mostly from the ideas he has surrounding his father is his greatest weakness in the book. I feel that he has grown from his exile somewhat and has learned much, but I think that “masculinity” will be his downfall in the third half of the book.
As the white men entered the scene I already felt on edge due what I have learned about slavery. I have to agree that rain seems a constant metaphor for what will happen next. Since it is what brings them harvest and therefore life it also signals despair and death in the book. The upheaval of Christianity in the book seems to be what the poem in the beginning was talking about. It is the white men which have provided the catalyst for anarchy.
Finally, touching upon what Keith mentioned about government and beliefs, in my opinion it is best to keep them separate. By intertwining religion and beliefs we become biased and it does not allow us to see all sides of a matter. Religion seems to muddy people’s perspectives and strong convictions do not allow us to see the other side of things, the best example I can come up for this is abortion. When we are to preoccupied thinking of only what we believe, we do not allow ourselves to think of the beliefs of others. Government should not be biased by religion, but instead run with reason.
I believe that part 2 is the climax of the story, when Ogbuefi dies Okonkwo is reminded of Ikemefuna's death. It seems that when Ogbuefi warned Okonkwo not go along with the other men of the village to kill Ikemefuna, it was forshadowing that if he did something terrible would happen to him. Then at the funeral by accident his gun is fired and kills Ezeudu's 16 year old child, which by the custom means that he has to leave the clan and although he didnt do it on purpose he suffers a less harmful consequence (leaving but being able to come back to the clan after 7 years.)
When all of this happens it seems like Okonkwo's life is shattered into a million pieces and he feels like he lost everything that he had worked for all his life.
Although this tragedy happened I believe that when he arrived to Mbanta his uncle tried to teach many things about life itself to him. For example, on pg. 133 when he explains why the 'Mother is Supreme.' Also when Okonkwo finds out that Nwoye is going to the white mans church and starts to beat him on pg. 152 he says, "Leave that boy at once. Are you mad?"
It seems like he's trying to knock some sense into Okonkwo but yet Okonkwo doesnt learn and it seems like his rage is increasing to the point that he becomes to be known as "Roaring Flame"(pg. 153)
Also when the missionaries arrive to Mbanta he seems to want to kill them or make them leave the clan. Nwoye can relate to the God of the white men because he seems to find answers to his lifelong questions and feels like this God is actually watching over him and taking care of his life, so he puts his trust into him. When Okonkwo hears that Nwoye has been congregating at the church, he beats him and Nwoye never returns which makes me believe that it sparked a hateful feeling towards his dad, jus like Okonkwo felt about Unoka.
I'm excited to start part 3 of the book to see how Okonkwo will be welcomed back to Umuofia and read about his enconter with Nwoye again and the drama that will probably happen with the missionaries!
This is the downside to posting so late…there is so much to respond to on top of my own personal thoughts about the second part of the story!
I think I’ll start by agreeing with Ayoub, because at first it was very difficult to get the idea of what era the story was taking place in. Now that we know that the African nations have guns and that white men are beginning to show up in their villages, we can estimate that the time period of the story is around the early 17th century (when the Portuguese and later British were beginning the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trading arms with the native peoples in return for slaves.)
Moving onward, I wholeheartedly agree with Chloe on the nature of this section of the book. It seems a bit pointless that a whole seven years of exile can take place so quickly. The fact that it does is purely indicative of the time period’s uselessness. To some extent perhaps, Okonkwo has learned a bit of a lesson about the value of familial ties and the benefits of being more kind-hearted, but knowing Okonkwo as we do…does this really change anything about who he thinks he is? Probably not. He still hides behind his veil of hyper-masculinity which merely masks his underlying inferiority complex. His drive for overachievement and the respect of the other men in the villages remains completely unchanged despite the efforts of his mother’s gracious family to humble him a bit. Even when things are “falling apart” for Okonkwo and his family, he manages to keep his head high…albeit a bit too high.
What of the news he receives from his friend Obierka? This section of the story also serves as a major period of change for Umofia and the surrounding areas. One town is completely destroyed by the white men, and several others are being introduced to a new religion and administration. It is probably better that Okonkwo was away from Umofia during this time period, because it adds much more to the story having him come back in the midst of being taken over rather than having him face the wave of white men from the beginning.
Having studied this period in history ad nauseam, it is interesting to see this perspective from the actual African inhabitants point of view. Furthermore, the idea that we’ve been exposed to a wealth of African customs and cultural traditions lends us a newfound respect for the intricacies of the African tribe societies. Whereas some history books make it seem as though the Western world did Africa a favor by taking it over and imposing its beliefs, this story is beginning to neutralize that justifying sense of “good.”
I think one of the main decisions that Okonwko made was the fact that he refuses to accept the values of his “Motherland.” I agree with Stephanie and Jen when they said that Okonwko was the only one that wanted to use violent as a mean to combat the intrusion of the white settlers. This shows that even though he’s been in this land for seven years, he still hangs tight to his Fatherland, toward the ideas and values of Umuofia. Umofia in a way represents what a male should act like, that everything is solve based through violent, there is more action than speaking. It’s the complete opposite of his “Motherland.” Like what David said, the fact that seven whole years can passed by so quickly tell us readers that nothing major had happen during that time. Okonwko did not changed, nor learned any lessons, rather all this time he’s been thinking ways on how to rebuild himself after he returns to his “Fatherland.” All the time and effort and success he had until now, are considered minor, for all his thoughts are on Umofia.
I agree with Needlam regards to the fact that Okonwko’s decision to kill Ikemenfunia eventually led to the departure of his oldest son Nwoye . Nwoye is drawn to Christianity because it offers him a way to escape. His experience with the abandonment of the twins and Ikemefuna’s death had taken a troll in his younger self. The new religion is like a way of escape, where he can leave behind all the old ideas and ways of life and especially from his father whom he sees as someone who represents those ideas.
This third of the novel was definitely a lot easier to read and comprehend after reading the first third of the novel. Although it was boring at times, the first third did a good job of setting readers up to fully understand that everything that happens in the book (although quite orthodox to most people) is seen commonly in a culture like that of Okonkwo's.
However, the whole situation with the gun and the killing of Ikemefuna was a little weird. The gun represents power and ferocity, so maybe it was fitting for power. However, the gun represents more than that. The gun is representative of the blending of two cultures, and now it has resulted in the death of a person. This could perhaps be a sign of things to come; these two cultures meeting each other could result in extremely negative conditions for one side or the other.
Regarding the exile of Okonkwo, there is also something that can be said. Primarily, all that he has tried to accomplish and represent in his village, him being all-powerful and respected, have been decimated with the entry of the foreigners. It should be intersting to see how Okonkwo copes with this whole situation and we can really see if he as strong as he says he is.
Yeah this part of the book did seem a little more boring, it almost made me forget about that Ikemfuna incident, but then it gets mentioned again at the very end of part 1 (the book’s part one—page 122ish). In fact a lot of various and seemingly unconnected things happen, and I’m not entirely sure about their purposes. For example, nothing happens during that trip Ekwefi takes to follow the crazy lady (agbala’s messenger) when she takes her daughter. Unless the whole purpose was just to show that Okonkwo was worried since the audience wouldn’t expect him to ever be worried about that. Maybe these events are all showing a small change in Okonkwo—possibly a downfall due to the exile and the lack of enthusiasm for work. And he does seem more likable in these last pages, just a little.
When I don’t try to think about the deeper meaning behind the book I do enjoy the many stories and sayings that are told. I just try to ignore the spiritual or superstitious stuff, although that can be amusing too.
Now that I found out the white men were coming to these villages, I find it a little less exciting because I have a pretty good idea of what the outcome will be like. And when Okonkwo’s friend said they spoke with a weird sound, it was the first time I thought about how the tribes must have been communicating. It can’t be with vocal sounds since they think it’s weird so maybe they do that clicking thing to communicate. Anyway, I’m not too thrilled to find out what happens if the climax is meeting with the white men because I’ve seen this type of thing plenty of times in history class. Their customs and way of life were much more interesting from the beginning of the book, so hopefully there are still some more new things.
Oh and one more thing… this section had more people questioning the traditions of their people. For example, Obierika wonders why Okonkwo is being exiled even though what happened was an accident. However, he later disregards the thought.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that Okonkwo’s actions are being dictated by his need to feel masculine and in control. I would also agree with Keith and say this need to be in control as a man is a requirement of the culture. If a man is not in control of his household that he built himself, then he is not a man at all. Ironically, everything that Okonkwo relied on to keep control of his life resulted in the opposite. When he felt he was being disrespected or that he wasn’t being listened to he lashed out and beat someone, which shows a complete incapability to control anger. Chloe, made a comment earlier about how Okonkwo would be looked down upon if he was any less masculine, but I have been under the impression that what the clan looked down upon was how extreme Okonkwo’s use of violence was. I think had there been more of a widespread use of violence, you could make the point that he was trying to fit into the culture, instead I see it as him overdoing what is preached to the point where it encroaches on other traditions. I don’t recall there being any examples of violence that didn’t involve Okonkwo. It was particularly interesting to see Okonkwo in a new surrounding where he didn’t have as much power as before. Him being exiled proved to be a test to see how in fact he would react to being deprived of all he had worked for. Okonkwo’s power entirely defines him, and when it is stripped from him other attributes surface. I would venture to say, however powerful Okonkwo was in Umofia he had not entirely respected their tradition. If momentarily the traditions didn’t fit him, he had no trouble with countering them. The week of peace is a perfect example, he understood that there should be no violence or beatings that week, but he took it upon himself to interrupt the peace by beating his wife. Part of leadership is the ability to go against the norm, if necessary, I’m starting to think that Okonkwo may have gained power in that respect over the years.
I feel as though Okonkwo didn't make the right decision when he killed Ikemefuna. I feel as though he did it for his own masculinity. He basically killed his own son because Ikemefuna looked up to him as a father figure. I feel as though Okonkwos inner emotions will be his undoing and are already beginning to take a toll on him. I feel as though Okonkwo is also trying to come to terms with the fact that he isn't as strong and powerful as he has always thought of himself to be and how he has been portrayed. This is due to the arrival of the white men who are clearly more powerful than him because they have better weapons (guns) then he has ever dealt with.
I feel as though the memory of his father also influenced him in that he did not want to appear womanly like his father. He needs to put this behind him and get over it because it will be his downfall.
So, I've accidentally broken the book up by pages instead of the three already separated parts... But I'll just go with how I did it for now.
As the book continues, it seems to go more in depth of the customs in the African village. There was the description of the feast of the suitor for one of the daughters in the village, which was described in great detail. “Temporary cooking tripods were erected on every available space by bringing together three blocks of sun-dried earth and making a fire in their midst.” The description of the preparation for this “woman’s ceremony” is further explained, and it is interesting to see where the day goes. It slips in that the cow of one of the families has escaped and it shows how laws are enforced even outside of a belief in god. The scene where the men are expecting more than thirty pots of wine, or Okonkwo “shall tell them [his] mind if they [don’t]” is interesting because it shows Okonkwo’s importance in the village and the attitude that he presents his power with. That says that his leadership may be less important than he thinks, and he could be setting himself up for disaster, which I feel is shown later in the story, when his gun goes off into the heart of the sixteen year old son of the man who’s funeral was being had weeks after the suitor ceremony. Another major part of this section that I found interesting: At the funeral of the man that told Okonkwo not to have a hand in Ikemfuna’s death, Okonkwo’s gun goes off and kills the man’s son... I believe that this is his punishment for not listening to the old man. Had he not had a hand in his “son’s” death, then he wouldn’t have accidentally killed the man’s son. Also, when Okonkwo gets into his motherland, and his kinsman questions his believe in his mother, I think that he was right in pointing out Okonkwo’s self-pity and needed to stop that. I appreciated his ability to stand up to Okonkwo.
In terms of decision making I think that the first wrong decision set his path for a road full of left turns. He made the choice of being everything his father wasn’t instead of seeing how his father’s gentle demeanor could be changed to a stronger and more effective sort of gentleness, which I noticed Obierika possessed. Latter on most of his decisions were fueled by his initial desire to be strong. Often the result was tragic like when he attacked his son, other times they were simply bad judgment like the beating of his wives and the quarrel between himself and another tribesman, and then there were instances were good intentions could be seen, for example his defense of his daughter and later on of his culture and deities. Overall though I don’t think that Okonkwo’s decision making skills are up to par. He is to biased towards the manly way of doing things and even then his definition of manliness is skewed. Considering section 2 I think that there was more focus on building up for the climax of the story. Here we see how Okonkwo was given 7 years to see the side of “effeminate” decision making, that is to say not go in with the machete swinging, but he did not take advantage of the situation. Like many have mentioned already Okonkwo merely went there, counted the days until his exile was over and felt regret for being in such a “feminine” village. I think that his decision to not even consider the other side of things is going to bring him troubles. Also I’d like to point out that in this chapter we see an increase of culture clashing. While the village is passive, Oknonwo is going into a frenzy of disapproval, so much so that he was ready to strangle his eldest son. To me this seemed a manner for the author to contrast two ways of thinking, as if he wanted his readers to know the different sides of the African culture, and perhaps to bring us around to admit a connection between the interactions of the different characters with such a change.
Now that we know the time period of the story thanks to the introduction of the white men and their guns, I have to say I'm surprised. I couldn't tell what time period this was in from the beginning of the novel, and I had no idea that it would be dealing with racial and religious differences.
I was very intrigued with Okonkwo's changes through this second section. I knew status meant a lot to him, but the fact that he lost his high place in the social ladder seemed to drain away his will to persevere. He no longer enjoyed work, which was emphasized in the first section as the one thing he could do to distract himself and the thing he got pleasure from, because it made him different from his slothful father. Once he went to Mbtanta he had become lazy himself. His status was his only pride.
However, while it was his culture that gave him this social status, it had also taken it away by exiling him as punishment for the killing of the boy. Even though these customs are what caused him such grief, he continues to stand by them, as shown when he disowns Nwoye for converting to Christianity. That is why he thinks his son is so weak, because he doesn't uphold the values given to him by his culture, and therefore has not come out to be the masculine son Okonkwo wanted. So, Okonkwo quite often compares his son to a woman.
While Okonkwo had faired well in exile, he still yearned to be home, up until the very end of it. At the end of the second section, during his "thank you" feast, I have hopes that his decision to move to the motherland and respectfully accept the exile for the crime he had committed turns out well for him, and the new religious issues don't end up ruining his old village as he returns, shattering the culture and society he has longed to return to.
I thought it was pretty clear that Okonkwo who Achebe had already established as a conservative, forceful and tough man had a change of heart. Not that pure goodness radiated from his body, but that his emotions were actually alive. Achebe made sure to make Okonkwo human - at least a little. There was an added level of respect that Okonkwo distributed. He actually acted as a true man when he acknowledged his motherland and its kinsmen.
Of course he was much too eager to return back to his fatherland.
I felt this section, especially the ending paragraph, highlighted the importance and reasoning of why Okonkwo acted in such ways. He "fears for the clan" (167), which completely ties back to the beginning where we found he was utterly embarrassed of his father's unachievements.
I believe Nwoye's betrayal towards his father, family and clan was a foresahdowing of more ba things to come. They would lead to Okonkwo's breaking point.
I thought the mentioning of the differences between Okonkwo’s stories from his wife’ is that Okonkwo’s stories taught a person to be violent while the other taught a person to be caring and compassionate. It was destined for the children to choose whichever one they believed in, but the majority mostly chooses the “wrong” ones. The fact that Nwoye rejects the stories meant for “women” indicates that the newer generations are rejecting important lessons in life. Instead, they embrace only the trivial stories of gaining titles and being wealthy, which would seem foolish if it were to be heard today. If the Earth and the Sky had never forgiven each other, then all living things would have died off. Therefore, the lesson to forgive was really more important than being the most notorious. Since there was a time when Nwoye loved the stories told by the women, this means that he outgrew his innocence and became corrupted along with everyone else. I wouldn’t blame Okonkwo if he didn’t want to hear about the Earth and the Sky, because they resemble the relationship he with his father, except there was never a resolution to the conflict between them.
Also, there was a scene where the Umuofians were bedazzled by the “beauty” of the locusts. Usually, people run away from locusts let alone stay to watch their swarms. Locusts usually bring destruction to the living, especially to nature, so it would be suspicious for Achebe to have the villagers observe them with delight. One could possibly guess that the Umuofians can no longer distinguish right from wrong. The locusts, which bear destruction and power, appeal to them because they are alike them. The Umuofians enjoy bringing forth destruction (wars) and feeling powerful (which is what the titles are for). Bearing a title in Umuofia is very trivial and insignificant because, aside from telling the world to fear you, it implies the number of wives one has. Maybe eating them may also provide them with even further darkness to their hearts. Remember, “you are what you eat.”
I was very taken aback by Ikemefuna’s scene, as I am sure many of you were too. He was not shown any mercy, even from the man who had thought of him as his own son, that is, until the village had reminded him in the wrongness of doing so. With the death of Ikemefuna, whose last words were to a man he greatly respected and admired, it made me not believe in any father-son bonds anymore. I had already been discouraged of this bond since Okonkwo and Unoka did not have the best relationship as discussed in parte uno. Apparently a man isn’t as strongly bonded to his family as to his own reputation. After all, Okonkwo killed a boy that he was proud to call son under the assumption that his tough image would be challenged if he didn’t.
Since Ogbuefi Ndulue and Ozoemena had died following the death of Ikemefuna, I thought that this wasn’t a coincidence. A balance has somehow been distorted and consequences will surely emerge upon those deserving of it. We will soon discover the meaning of the title when more things fall apart. What we must wonder is what will replace the fallen.
This site will be the summer resource for students in Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Clapp's AP Literature courses. You'll come here to discuss summer reading, college searches and applications, and literary topics in general.
29 comments:
Ikemefuna stayed with Okonkwo's family for three years. I don't think that was a good choice for him to kill Ikemefuna. What I found bad is that Ogbuefi told him he doesn’t have to be part of it, But still he agreed to go. The one question I have is that how can Okonkwo have the heart to kill that child? The last word of Ikemefuna was "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him .Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down." pg 61.I believe it’s one of those decisions you take, and later you pay the consequences, I can predicted that because of Ikemefuna death, there will be a lot of problem.
Taking heed to Okonkwo’s surroundings from what I read so far, you can sense that the time takes place when African traditional customs are strongly intact. I realize that there are many mythical references thus far. Like Nwoye, I enjoy the folk tales that the women in the village tell to their children rather than the men’s “masculine tales.” The myth about the Vulture, Sky, and Earth reminded me of a Greek version. The Sky wouldn’t let rain fall upon on Earth and so the Vulture persuaded the Sky by singing a lovely, yet a heartbreaking song. In the Greek version, Demeter misses her lost daughter, Persephone, so much she refuses to nourish the Earth. Thus, Demeter’s brother sends his flying messenger to fix the problem. According to Okonkwo and his people, the folklores are true; they also relate to the nature (including many animal references) and one’s spirit. I thought that the comparison between snake-lizard tale and the “too much vegetable” talk on page 83 was a little overwhelming. You get killed because you cooked too little vegetables. I feel like this is a small lesson about appearances being deceiving.
On page 80, does “iyi-uwa” represent one’s bad chi? Is that why Ezinma is often ill?
Like I said from my last blog, I think Okonkwo is a very traditional man. He doesn’t protest when Ikemefuna is sentenced to die. And yes, Okonkwo is the one who kills Ikemefuna because he doesn’t want to show weakness to the other male villagers. Ikemefuna was like another son of Okonkwo’s; he wasn’t as close to his biological father like Okonkwo. I think Okonkwo was very fond of the boy. Ikemefuna greatly influences his oldest boy, Nwoye, of becoming more man-like. What man would kill his son? Yet deep down, I think Okonkwo is feeling guilty. He’s fighting with himself in both mind and heart. Okonkwo is trying very hard not to become as lazy as his father. Ironically, after Ikemefuna’s death, Okonkwo had been feeling feeble himself, “But he [Okonkwo] was so weak that his legs could hardly carry him. He felt like a drunken giant walking with the limbs of a mosquito (p.63).” A big, strong man like Okonkwo has suddenly become as weak as a puny mosquito that can be easily squished. I think that Okonkwo hides his feelings well because he is such a hard man. Gaelle, I like your prediction about having consequences in the future; it’s very likely this will happen. ^.^
I agree that Okonkwo should not have killed Ikemefuna in that Ikemefuna looked up to him as a father figure. Looking back at all of the decisions Okonkwo made, they all contribute to his manhood. No matter what decision Okonkwo made throughout the book, they were all based on his masculinity and power. Whatever he had to do, he did it to maintain his manhood. One of the major decisions that was made in part 2 was when Okonkwo shot the dead man’s sixteen year old son. I’m not entirely sure if it was an accident or intentional, but Okonkwo’s actions resulted in banishment of his clan for seven years. This decision is played out in a way that Okonkwo’s aggressiveness is frowned up on. Relating his previous decision, I think that it is quite contradicting that Okonkwo was looked at as masculine when he killed Ikemefuna, and he was being punished for killing the sixteen year old. It just shows how important clan members were, and how unimportant other clans were regardless of how accepted they became.
Throughout the book, Okonkwo decides to be very aggressive to his wives and children. He is portrayed as a scary and dominant male figure. I can see all of Okonkwo’s decisions of abusiveness and aggressiveness unraveling because he is being punished for it. He was punished for Ikemefuna’s death because he felt guilty. He was punished for abusing his family when he was exiled to his motherland. “Be careful or you may displease the dead. Your duty is to comfort your wives and children and take them back to your fatherland after seven years” (134). Overall, Okonkwo’s decisions result in punishment. He gets scolded by his mother’s clan for his acts of “manliness”. His ideal “strong man” persona backfires for the worst.
One thing I wanted to bring up was the paragraph in the middle of page 163. “The rain became lighter and lighter until it fell in slanting showers. Sometimes the sun shone through the rain and a light breeze blew. It was a gay and airy kind of rain. The rainbow began to appear, and sometimes two rainbows, like a mother and her daughter, the one young and beautiful, and the other an old and faint shadow.” I think that this paragraph symbolically means the rebirth of Okonkwo. He is given a second chance after seven years to return to his homeland. I think that the rainbow and the rain are so symbolic because during the entire seven years Okonkwo was in exile, it rained. The rain signifies a deep depression and isolation. Now that Okonkwo is preparing to go home, rainbows welcome him and make the mood lighter and happier. I think that the rainbows signify Okonkwo’s rebirth or second chance to a new beginning, just as the rainbows signified a new beginning after the rain.
As I said in my first blog post, I think the first third of the book is really about setting the tone. This is a piece that, more than anything, illustrates a specific culture. The first third of the book sets us up and introduces us, as readers who don’t fully understand the African culture, to this society. I really appreciate that the author often repeats descriptions (mostly who is who) rather than getting so entirely engrossed in the culture that he excludes anyone who doesn’t know it as well as himself.
To the above poster, I think it was pretty clear that the gun shot that killed the boy was accidental. This brings me to my next point. This 2nd part of the book is showing how, just as much as the culture defines these people, they are also victims to it. In modern society, we accept that accidents happen. However, with all of the belief about chi and whatnot, a specific punishment is assigned to this specific crime.
And I think that is one of the larger ideas that Things Fall Apart is dealing with. The book explores how culture defines and controls our lives; how we can become slaves to a system that we create. And, ultimately, it poses questions about the very structure of societies. Are we better or worse off for separating religious and spiritual beliefs from those that govern our society? Can such a comparison even be made?
The decision that has taken over Okonkwo’s life is the one that’s backfiring on him. Because he’s decided to ignore his emotions and hide behind his masculine image, he has to suffer the consequences. The masculine act of using a gun and ultimately shooting an innocent kid is what has taken away everything he worked hard for. Even though the shooting was an accident, everything manly and fierce and strong is the very thing that got him into exile.
Another major decision is choosing to stick with his old values and spiritual beliefs. Even though Okonkwo is being his old stubborn self, I actually don’t blame him for keeping faith in his old values. It must have been hard for people to just drop all their values and accept new ones from a total stranger.
To answer Keith’s question, I think we’re neither better nor worse off separating religious and spiritual beliefs from ideals that run our government. When government officials decide on topics on abortion, the death penalty, laws concerning gay rights, and others, what they decide often concerns their religious beliefs. What ever they decide may be better on their conscience but not so good for others. But if politicians left out their spiritual beliefs, then that could leave them feeling bad about not following what they believe.
The last decision I want to point out made by Okonkwo is that even through the lecture from his uncle about saying humble (134-135), Okonkwo’s only concern at the end of part two is regaining all his power. He completely ignores a big lesson he could have learned those seven years about how everything can be taken away from you at any moment and that you need to appreciate anything you have instead of being power hungry.
It’s like that saying “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And I think because Okonkwo hasn’t changed his power hungry ways, as I said before his life is not going to get any better.
Okonkwo’s decisions are constantly dictated by his aggressive and forceful demeanor. Irrational decisions tend to arise as a consequence of emotional reactions that the character cannot deal with difficult decisions. Okonkwo conveys to the audience that he does not know what he truly wants in any situation. Instead of going with his initial gut feeling, he reverts to his clouded perception of masculinity and power. He is always thinking about how he will claim the highest title of the clan instead of thinking out the steps to his goals properly. I agree with Kellie’s assertion that the decisions that Okonkwo makes are all based on his masculinity and power. The more masculine that he appeared the more powerful he ultimately felt in the African society. To answer Kellie’s thoughts about whether Okonkwo’s actions were on purpose or accidental; I believe that it could have been intentional. His actions finally dealt him cards that he was not all too pleased with, banishment for the next seven years. During his banishment the audience would think that Okonkwo would rethink his previous perceptions of masculinity and change for the well-being for himself and his family. Yet, I am not too sure that it has entirely soaked into Okonkwo’s psyche. He seems to have moments of relation and then reverts back to his old stubborn ways.
An example that relates to the statement above is abusive men in society today. In public abusive men are depicted as “Mr. Wonderful”, but behind closed doors they are someone completely different. This relates to Okonkwo seeing that he is a prominent, well respected figure in society. While his wives and children live in fear of his violent outbursts. The audience could infer that Okonkwo expresses his emotions (guilt, frustration, hurt, etc.) as anger. When everything is not fine and dandy then the violent explosions of temperament tend to occur.
Another portion of “Things Fall Apart” that I found quite interesting was when the missionaries came into the clan preaching their beliefs. The other members of the clan wanted to stick by their ancestral traditions and not fight for their gods. They did not feel it was necessary to chastise the missionaries. Okonkwo was the only one who wanted to cause them harm and drive them out of their land. He has disliked the idea of the missionaries internally because he does not like the idea of change. Okonkwo has always been a man who was one-minded, so the resistance to cultural change would only increase. When his son, Nwoye, chose to convert to the Christian faith Okonkwo felt disrespected and hurt. He immediately passed it off as more punishment from his chi. European involvement has threatened the very aspect that Okonkwo strives for, his social status. The European people have taught these people a new way of having a more enjoyable life instead of their old, outdated ways. I predict some sort of uproar involving those who have embraced and resisted Christianity.
Iyi-Uwa does not represent ones bad chi, if you look at the glossary, you'll see all the definitions. iyi-uwa is the little stone that links the devil child with the spirit world, once it is broken, the child will stop dying and coming back to his/her mother's stomach. I don't agree with the fact that Okonkwo killed Ezeudu's son on purpose, he was simply honoring Ezeudu, then he shot the gun, and killed him by accident.
I like the part of the book where the guy went to complain about his wife's relatives taking her away from him. On page 93 it pleased me when the spirit said "It is not bravery when a man fights with a woman". I thought it showed moral when it came to their customs, because apparently it's OK for a husband to hit his wife if he thinks she doesn't conduct herself properly, and the spirit forbade that in a way.
It was obvious and mentioned in the book that Okonkwo was fond of Ikemefuna. It was stupid how Okonkwo contributed to his murder when Ezedu told him he didn't have to since he called him father. He's stubborn, and he still did it because he doesn't want to seem weak. Okonkwo's desperation to not appear or come out as weak is self destructive, because as long as he has been doing it, it has yet to work in his favor. All he does is scare people and feel shallow on the inside.
Commenting on what Keith said, I do agree that culture defines us but it doesn't necessarily have to control us. I think that may only be true when it comes to this book and the extremeness of the African culture. We also have to keep in mind the time period these customs were in practice, also the place and the mentality of the people. Okonkwo's decisions reflects his personality and the strong will for him not to want to be like his father. I feel as if Okonkwo suffered more than his father because his father wasn't as harsh, and he had an amazing love for music. Although he was in constant debt and he wasn't successful like Okonkwo, he wasn't as miserable because it seemed as if he kept himself happy. It raises the question of what should defines one's happiness.d
Concerning the question that Keith brought up and the responses from the previous poster, I must say that maybe it only seems extreme for religion to play such a large part in African culture because instead of looking at it from their view, we are seeing it as Americans, where we are able to choose our religion and customs, therefore, it does not play as an important or "extreme" role in our culture than it does in the book. But I'm sure that in other countries, where there is no freedom of religion, government, customs, and society goes hand in hand. To go further with this question of can there be such a comparison, then there is a yes and a no, as always. Yes, theoretically, there should be. Then the customs would be more fair, but also, even stricter. But then again, no because we are all influenced by our religion, so what we believe in, what our religion tells us is right, will always be our first instinctive reaction to approach decisions. Therefore, there is no real separation between society, religion, or customs, they are all linked together and coexist.
Yes it is clear, as many has said before that Okonkwo is to say more or less putting up a front, doing everything that he can to show masculinity, something that he feels has to prove since his father did not have. It almost seems as if he is trying to make up for his father's lack of masculinity, therefore, he pressures himself to be twice as masculine. But in doing so, Okonkwo loses sight of what family and relationships mean, partly of what life is about. As said in the earlier post, Okonkwo's father was a great relationship builder, but for Okonkwo, his lack of this skill caused him to not only kill his "son" but to also create a distance between himself and his family.
Something that came to me as I read is that Okonkwo's exile is clearly a great loss for him, but while reading it, it seems that it is not stressed enough just how much it hurts Okonkwo to realize that he has to start over again, it merely says that he knew it was wrong, his family cried, and thats it. Does the author do this on purpose to stress the fact that Okonkwo, even during a mistake does not like to show emotions, since it would seem feminine?
This second section just seemed like a filler section. It seems like nothing happened, and if you think about it, seven years just flew by.We get the sense that Okonkwo was just sitting there. And indeed, he didn't participate much in that city's politics. It's like he didn't bother building himself up because he knew he would return to his own city in seven years.
I think a lot of you are being too hard on Okonkwo. He is doing what an outstanding member of any African village would do. Assuming this is a work of fiction, Okonkwo is the average noble citizen. He is law abiding and well as following the status quo. Many of you slammed Okonkwo for being proud and definitively masculine. If he was any less he would be looked down upon. And you may say "So what?", but most of you do it too. Clothes, make-up, and yes, even this AP class. You are trying to impress people. And yes, he beats his children and wives. But let me ask you, Have you ever used any violence, even a little bit? At least his beatings were justified by cultural law. Are your little punches?
Am I right in assuming that gun I mentioned earlier was foreshadowing the coming and trouble of the white missionaries?
I am especially touched by the bit about "Mother is Supreme". It would be best if these African villages took from their own teachings. Let people grow up to take independence and perseverence from their father, but also gentle loving care from their mother.
Finally we have a better idea when this story is taking place after Obierika referenced white men who “made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas.” So this novel is set around 16-17 century.
When Ms. Clapp classified this novel as a tragedy, during the previous post, the plotline wasn’t very clear, however, by the end of the second third of the novel and the introduction of the white men, I think as evidenced through history the white men will lead to the destruction of African Villages.
Just a side note: Although the syntax in the remains of the day was significantly complex this novel, I think that Things Fall apart is a lot harder to analyze. As a result I have been questioning everything that could potentially be a symbol.
For instance, I think that weather plays a prominent role in foreshadowing events and displaying emotion. Rain in particular is a motif that the villagers extremely value. It is the lifeblood of their economy, it grows their yams, and occasional casts a dark spell in the village as it destroys their crop. In addition to its practical uses, rain symbolizes emotions, especially Okonkwo’s as he tends to stand by, “rumbling like thunder in the rainy season.”
Who else thought that the chase through the woods was really weird?!?! The priestess came in the middle of the night and ran away with Ezinma into the forest. I thought it was pretty funny considering the spontaneity and how frenzied the priestess was. However, there is a reason why the author chose to include the chase into the novel, and the chase must be representative of something. I think that the fact that Ezinma was carried into the woods by such a prominent religious figure illustrates that she must play a significant role in the outcome of the village’s fate. She must have achieved a status that transcends the normal villagers as they ventured to the shrine of a great god.
Interestingly enough, Achebe , the author (because all of us are bad with these names), has illustrated multiple aspects of the culture and tradition of the village and in this third of the book he has shown us their judicial and political structure. Their mystical and ritualistic beliefs permeated even the most momentous aspects of their daily life. Now that the white men have been introduced it will be interesting to see these two distinct cultures clash.
In this third of the novel Okonkwo has managed to further ostracize himself from the rest of the village as he murders a young man when his gun inadvertently fired. Chloe brought up an interesting point earlier about the gun and how it foreshadows the coming of the white missionaries. However, I think it means much more than their coming; it also symbolizes the imminent conflict between these two groups as the gun, a product of the white men’s culture, manages to cause trouble within the village whenever it is brought out.
Okonkwo prided himself in the wealth he had amassed. His wealth came in terms of wives, children, successful yam harvests, wrestling championships, and the coveted village titles. Now that he is an exile and nearly all of his power is stripped from him, all that is left is “a child (134).” Uchendu, Okonkwo’s relative on his mother’s side, questions Okonkwo’s knowledge of tradition and Okonkwo does not have an answer displaying his immaturity. Additionally, Ucendu continues to drop some life lesson on him telling him that sometimes that “men sometimes lose all their yams and even children,” however they manage to live and thrive. Achebe, the author, demonstrates that maybe in order to be a successful MAN you don’t necessarily have to be overly wealthy and father 30 children, but wise and mature. This idea justifies Okonkwo’s father’s lifestyle and how even though he wasn’t nearly as successful as his son, he was appreciative of what he had and lived happily.
Okonkwo’s banishment is the beginning of his journey to become a man, because before he was just a child who threw temper tantrums and amassed toys.
In the second part of the novel, the author mainly focuses on Okonkwo’s lifestyle in Mbanta during his exile. In these seven years, we see the consequences of Okonkwo’s decisions that were driven by his desperation to prove his “manliness” and maintain his reputation in Umoufia. By taking part in the killing of Ikemefuna who was the source of happiness in his household, Okonkwo’s not only distances himself from his family but also his society. Many of his friends are displeased by his action and feel that he has committed a grave error. For example, Obierika states, “If I were you, I would have stayed home. What you have done will not please the Earth goddess.” (p. 67) Similarly, Ezeudu had warned Okonkwo not to “bear [a] hand in his death”. This decision also helps separate him from his family by forcing Nwoye to join the Christian faith. Okonkwo had always “wanted him to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices.” However, after Ikemefuna’s murder Nwoye begins to question whether the customs of Umuofia are morally justified. Therefore, when the Christian missionaries enter Mbanta and preach their religion then Nwoye becomes “captivated.” The hymns of the new religion “seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul, the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed.” (p.147) It was Okonkwo’s decision to murder Ikemefuna that lead Nwoye to accept the new faith and abandon his family to pursue the new religion. Furthermore, Okonkwo realizes that his violent demeanor for which he was named the “flaming fire” is the reason he had “begotten a woman for a son”.
Another major decision that unravels throughout part two of the novel is the accidental shooting of Ezeudu’s sixteen-year-old boy. Though this decision is not intentional, Okonkwo is exiled to his motherland for seven years. During these seven years Okonkwo is ashamed of himself for losing his wealth and honor. This shame results in his isolation from society. I agree with Ayoub on the idea that now that Okonkwo no longer has his status; he reduced to a mere “child” as Uchendu mentions. Uchendu illustrates that wealth and status does not determine a person’s true worth. This is the lesson that Okonkwo has failed to learn. Okonkwo believes that without wealth and power, a man is reduced to a “woman”. However, Uchendu demonstrates that “mother is supreme”. Even though, Okonkwo no longer holds his title, he can still be a successful person in the motherland. There is no sense of shame in starting a new life. However, in order to live a happy life, Okonkwo will have to conquer his fear of resembling his father, Unoka.
I disagree with the comparison that Steffy made of Okonkwo to modern domestic violence. In some instance it does ring true by him obviously hurting his family emotionally and physically but on the other hand it doesn’t, I don’t believe he puts on a “Mr. Wonderful” facade when he leaves the house. Because beside peace week it is okay to beat on your wives and family in this tribe, it seems to even be encouraged as a way to show your masculinity. In the first part it is no secret that Okonkwo lashes out at his family.
The Ibo religion to me seems like a religion that leaves little room for failure and or anything less than perfection. I think that’s what appeal to the Ibo people who left. And especially Nwoye. They were treated a s second-rate human beings; but in this religion everyone was essentially equal. People don’t like to see flaws (or what they think are flaws) in there religion I think that’s why we have so many. No one can truly follow a religion if they don’t have sense of belonging with it. Nwoye just didn’t have the faith need to blindly follow a religion that would leave twin babies to die or take away his best friend. The acceptance and absolute love he never got from his father he could get from his Father.
In this village these people are not as violent as those in Okonkwo’s village. He thinks they’re more feminine because they’re not used to his caveman ways. Especially because they don’t want to use any violence against the settlers.
I thought that it was very interesting to see how they reacted to these new people, and their belief. It seems that Okonkwo was the only one who wanted to be violent, and destroy. It seems like those in his mothers’ land have more sense then those in his fathers’ land. I don’t know how I would react if someone came to where I live and told me that everything I believed in was wrong. I think that it was very difficult for Okonkwo to see his son cross over to become a Christian.
I think that Okonkwo should have listened to his friend when he told him not to kill Ikemefuna. The boy thought of him as his father. He was also a good influence on the kids. He helped steer them to the right path. I think that killing Ikemefuna, made it easier for his son to switch religion. His father killed Ikemefuna for no real reason. I think he died with him that day, because even though they weren’t blood they were like brothers. He dint understand why his father had to kill Ikemefuna. The Christians wouldn’t do something like that.
I agree with Gaelle that Okonkwo should not have killed Ikemefuma but like Helen said, because of Okonkwo’s fear of appearing ‘womanly’ like his father, he had to do it. I feel as though Okonkwo is going way overboard in trying to prove so and I agree with what the elder said that Okonkwo didn’t have to participate in the killing.
Kellie – I also saw the rainbow and the rain metaphor. However, I didn’t see it as reborn because Okonkwa is the same man as he was. In this story, I believe that Chinua is using ironically. Okonkwa didn’t get cleansed or became a new person; he just stayed as he is. This goes back to How To Read Literature Like a Professor, how a person can fall into the mud when the rain hits the ground and doesn’t come back clean but dirtier than before. When Okonkwo comes back from exile, he is still the same man he was, but with much more hatred and anger because of the missionaries that came and changed his fatherland.
Keith – I really like your view on the book and your question is really insightful. To answer it
“Are we better or worse off for separating religious and spiritual beliefs from those that govern our society?”
I do agree that sending Okonkwo off to exile when it is an accident without having any kind of trial is not very justifiable which goes back to Keith’s question, we should not mix your religious and spiritual beliefs with those that govern our society. I have to disagree with Belinda; I feel that mixing religious beliefs will make us biased. We based our decision on what we believed in and not that is logical or right.
However, I do agree with Belinda with the fact that Okonkwo loses sight of his family and relationships because he is blinded by his fear of not being masculine enough. Belinda and Chloe brought up that the seven years of exile came and went really quickly. I think the author did that because in those seven years, Okonkwo doesn’t really change so why dwell in the details when it’s nothing new. Also, the story is more central around the Okonkwo's fatherland, about its traditon and its destruction when the white men come, so it makes sense if Chinua briefs over Okonkwo's time in exile
I think the blog questions should have page numbers because I’m not sure which decisions I am suppose to look at so I’ll choose the killing of Ikemefuma. From what we learned about Okonkwo, it was not a surprise that he killed the poor kid. Okonkwo is driven by fear of being like his father so to him, killing Ikemefuma shows that he is not afraid of anything. To Okonkwo, it’s just another way to prove to the people of the village that he is a man. But in our eyes, or even not in “our” eyes, even the villager thought what Okonkwo did was overboard. As Ms. Clapp has mentioned earlier and other people agree too, that something will befallen Okonkwo because this book is a tragedy.
The event that occured on page 124 really took my by surprise. Of all the people, it's Okonkwo who 'accidentally' fires his gun and takes a boy's life. I feel like while Okonkwo may not have been aiming at the boy, he really cannot control all of his repressed anger and just without thinking, pulled the trigger. It's also a little bit hard for me to believe that this happened, and I know its a fictional book, but it just seems really out of the blue.
Anyways, I think that after Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, he set up his fate for a bleak and empty life. Especially after he is banished from his clan for seven years, it's a big sign that nothing too good can happen to him. Also, there's a lot of constant change that occurs in Okonkwo's life. On many occasions throughout the book, I've noticed that he always says the younger generation (especially his son) is weak and cowardly. On page 138, the conversation with Obierika foreshadows some more changing events stirring up the clan.
Since Okonkwo has absolutely no tolerance for weak people, I see yet another unfortunate action taking place as a result of his anger and pain in the future.
In the second part of the book I see Okonkwo's actions leading him to more despair and misfortune. I still think that the reason Okonkwo is having such bad luck is the gods are punishing him. The gods are still punishing him for disturbing the peace during the week of peace.
Now that Okonkwo is in a new village for seven years for his crime he has to rebuild his life all over. Everything he worked for in his entire life was taken away in a flash and there was nothing he could do about it. But once again Okonkwo persevered and succeeded in becoming rich and supporting his family. Throughout the seven years Okonkwo was in exile he still had the same ambition to be great and powerful. His actions of always wanting to fight and being a man leads to more troubles in his life.
I think the white people and the Christians arriving in the village will cause the most destruction to their culture. Even Nwoye has abandoned his father to join the Christians. It is very sad to see that his own son abandoned the teachings and the culture he grew up knowing. Okonkwo has now lost two sons that he will never see again. His perfect family and life is falling apart.
As the second half of the book began I found myself less enthralled with the cultural aspect of the book and more interested in Okonkwo as a character. I agree that he is very caught up in what he believes is right for a man and the direct contrast between him and his son Nwoye. I find it very interesting how his son is trying to not be like his father, just as Okonkwo had done. It seems to be a cycle, his son is trying to distance himself from what his father has become which directly mirrors what Okonkwo had done when he was around the same age.
The concept of masculinity seems to be a big part of the culture being shown in the book and Okonkwo seems to be the very definition of masculinity. I do agree with Steph in the fact that the gun as a representation of masculinity was Okonkwo’s downfall which led him to be exiled to his motherland. I believe that this will further hurt him as the white men come in. He has turned himself into someone who uses violence as a means to solve everything and the Christian beliefs are the very opposite of all that he lives by. He will never be able to accept the new religion and as the story develops he will further be hurt by his stubbornness.
The insight given by Okonkwo’s uncle during this half of the book showed me that all do not view women to be the inferiors, but he instead showed their importance during his speech, they are those you run back to when you are in trouble and need comfort. When Okonkwo was put into what he refers to as a more “feminine village” I though it would aid in a transformation in his behavior, but I felt like his time in the village was a rushed part of the book. It seems that Okonkwo does not have the will to change and the fact that he is so against being “feminine” which stems mostly from the ideas he has surrounding his father is his greatest weakness in the book. I feel that he has grown from his exile somewhat and has learned much, but I think that “masculinity” will be his downfall in the third half of the book.
As the white men entered the scene I already felt on edge due what I have learned about slavery. I have to agree that rain seems a constant metaphor for what will happen next. Since it is what brings them harvest and therefore life it also signals despair and death in the book. The upheaval of Christianity in the book seems to be what the poem in the beginning was talking about. It is the white men which have provided the catalyst for anarchy.
Finally, touching upon what Keith mentioned about government and beliefs, in my opinion it is best to keep them separate. By intertwining religion and beliefs we become biased and it does not allow us to see all sides of a matter. Religion seems to muddy people’s perspectives and strong convictions do not allow us to see the other side of things, the best example I can come up for this is abortion. When we are to preoccupied thinking of only what we believe, we do not allow ourselves to think of the beliefs of others. Government should not be biased by religion, but instead run with reason.
I believe that part 2 is the climax of the story, when Ogbuefi dies Okonkwo is reminded of Ikemefuna's death. It seems that when Ogbuefi warned Okonkwo not go along with the other men of the village to kill Ikemefuna, it was forshadowing that if he did something terrible would happen to him. Then at the funeral by accident his gun is fired and kills Ezeudu's 16 year old child, which by the custom means that he has to leave the clan and although he didnt do it on purpose he suffers a less harmful consequence (leaving but being able to come back to the clan after 7 years.)
When all of this happens it seems like Okonkwo's life is shattered into a million pieces and he feels like he lost everything that he had worked for all his life.
Although this tragedy happened I believe that when he arrived to Mbanta his uncle tried to teach many things about life itself to him. For example, on pg. 133 when he explains why the 'Mother is Supreme.' Also when Okonkwo finds out that Nwoye is going to the white mans church and starts to beat him on pg. 152 he says, "Leave that boy at once. Are you mad?"
It seems like he's trying to knock some sense into Okonkwo but yet Okonkwo doesnt learn and it seems like his rage is increasing to the point that he becomes to be known as "Roaring Flame"(pg. 153)
Also when the missionaries arrive to Mbanta he seems to want to kill them or make them leave the clan. Nwoye can relate to the God of the white men because he seems to find answers to his lifelong questions and feels like this God is actually watching over him and taking care of his life, so he puts his trust into him. When Okonkwo hears that Nwoye has been congregating at the church, he beats him and Nwoye never returns which makes me believe that it sparked a hateful feeling towards his dad, jus like Okonkwo felt about Unoka.
I'm excited to start part 3 of the book to see how Okonkwo will be welcomed back to Umuofia and read about his enconter with Nwoye again and the drama that will probably happen with the missionaries!
This is the downside to posting so late…there is so much to respond to on top of my own personal thoughts about the second part of the story!
I think I’ll start by agreeing with Ayoub, because at first it was very difficult to get the idea of what era the story was taking place in. Now that we know that the African nations have guns and that white men are beginning to show up in their villages, we can estimate that the time period of the story is around the early 17th century (when the Portuguese and later British were beginning the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trading arms with the native peoples in return for slaves.)
Moving onward, I wholeheartedly agree with Chloe on the nature of this section of the book. It seems a bit pointless that a whole seven years of exile can take place so quickly. The fact that it does is purely indicative of the time period’s uselessness. To some extent perhaps, Okonkwo has learned a bit of a lesson about the value of familial ties and the benefits of being more kind-hearted, but knowing Okonkwo as we do…does this really change anything about who he thinks he is? Probably not. He still hides behind his veil of hyper-masculinity which merely masks his underlying inferiority complex. His drive for overachievement and the respect of the other men in the villages remains completely unchanged despite the efforts of his mother’s gracious family to humble him a bit. Even when things are “falling apart” for Okonkwo and his family, he manages to keep his head high…albeit a bit too high.
What of the news he receives from his friend Obierka? This section of the story also serves as a major period of change for Umofia and the surrounding areas. One town is completely destroyed by the white men, and several others are being introduced to a new religion and administration. It is probably better that Okonkwo was away from Umofia during this time period, because it adds much more to the story having him come back in the midst of being taken over rather than having him face the wave of white men from the beginning.
Having studied this period in history ad nauseam, it is interesting to see this perspective from the actual African inhabitants point of view. Furthermore, the idea that we’ve been exposed to a wealth of African customs and cultural traditions lends us a newfound respect for the intricacies of the African tribe societies. Whereas some history books make it seem as though the Western world did Africa a favor by taking it over and imposing its beliefs, this story is beginning to neutralize that justifying sense of “good.”
I think one of the main decisions that Okonwko made was the fact that he refuses to accept the values of his “Motherland.” I agree with Stephanie and Jen when they said that Okonwko was the only one that wanted to use violent as a mean to combat the intrusion of the white settlers. This shows that even though he’s been in this land for seven years, he still hangs tight to his Fatherland, toward the ideas and values of Umuofia. Umofia in a way represents what a male should act like, that everything is solve based through violent, there is more action than speaking. It’s the complete opposite of his “Motherland.” Like what David said, the fact that seven whole years can passed by so quickly tell us readers that nothing major had happen during that time. Okonwko did not changed, nor learned any lessons, rather all this time he’s been thinking ways on how to rebuild himself after he returns to his “Fatherland.” All the time and effort and success he had until now, are considered minor, for all his thoughts are on Umofia.
I agree with Needlam regards to the fact that Okonwko’s decision to kill Ikemenfunia eventually led to the departure of his oldest son Nwoye . Nwoye is drawn to Christianity because it offers him a way to escape. His experience with the abandonment of the twins and Ikemefuna’s death had taken a troll in his younger self. The new religion is like a way of escape, where he can leave behind all the old ideas and ways of life and especially from his father whom he sees as someone who represents those ideas.
This third of the novel was definitely a lot easier to read and comprehend after reading the first third of the novel. Although it was boring at times, the first third did a good job of setting readers up to fully understand that everything that happens in the book (although quite orthodox to most people) is seen commonly in a culture like that of Okonkwo's.
However, the whole situation with the gun and the killing of Ikemefuna was a little weird. The gun represents power and ferocity, so maybe it was fitting for power. However, the gun represents more than that. The gun is representative of the blending of two cultures, and now it has resulted in the death of a person. This could perhaps be a sign of things to come; these two cultures meeting each other could result in extremely negative conditions for one side or the other.
Regarding the exile of Okonkwo, there is also something that can be said. Primarily, all that he has tried to accomplish and represent in his village, him being all-powerful and respected, have been decimated with the entry of the foreigners. It should be intersting to see how Okonkwo copes with this whole situation and we can really see if he as strong as he says he is.
Yeah this part of the book did seem a little more boring, it almost made me forget about that Ikemfuna incident, but then it gets mentioned again at the very end of part 1 (the book’s part one—page 122ish). In fact a lot of various and seemingly unconnected things happen, and I’m not entirely sure about their purposes. For example, nothing happens during that trip Ekwefi takes to follow the crazy lady (agbala’s messenger) when she takes her daughter. Unless the whole purpose was just to show that Okonkwo was worried since the audience wouldn’t expect him to ever be worried about that. Maybe these events are all showing a small change in Okonkwo—possibly a downfall due to the exile and the lack of enthusiasm for work. And he does seem more likable in these last pages, just a little.
When I don’t try to think about the deeper meaning behind the book I do enjoy the many stories and sayings that are told. I just try to ignore the spiritual or superstitious stuff, although that can be amusing too.
Now that I found out the white men were coming to these villages, I find it a little less exciting because I have a pretty good idea of what the outcome will be like. And when Okonkwo’s friend said they spoke with a weird sound, it was the first time I thought about how the tribes must have been communicating. It can’t be with vocal sounds since they think it’s weird so maybe they do that clicking thing to communicate. Anyway, I’m not too thrilled to find out what happens if the climax is meeting with the white men because I’ve seen this type of thing plenty of times in history class. Their customs and way of life were much more interesting from the beginning of the book, so hopefully there are still some more new things.
Oh and one more thing… this section had more people questioning the traditions of their people. For example, Obierika wonders why Okonkwo is being exiled even though what happened was an accident. However, he later disregards the thought.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that Okonkwo’s actions are being dictated by his need to feel masculine and in control. I would also agree with Keith and say this need to be in control as a man is a requirement of the culture. If a man is not in control of his household that he built himself, then he is not a man at all. Ironically, everything that Okonkwo relied on to keep control of his life resulted in the opposite. When he felt he was being disrespected or that he wasn’t being listened to he lashed out and beat someone, which shows a complete incapability to control anger. Chloe, made a comment earlier about how Okonkwo would be looked down upon if he was any less masculine, but I have been under the impression that what the clan looked down upon was how extreme Okonkwo’s use of violence was. I think had there been more of a widespread use of violence, you could make the point that he was trying to fit into the culture, instead I see it as him overdoing what is preached to the point where it encroaches on other traditions. I don’t recall there being any examples of violence that didn’t involve Okonkwo.
It was particularly interesting to see Okonkwo in a new surrounding where he didn’t have as much power as before. Him being exiled proved to be a test to see how in fact he would react to being deprived of all he had worked for. Okonkwo’s power entirely defines him, and when it is stripped from him other attributes surface. I would venture to say, however powerful Okonkwo was in Umofia he had not entirely respected their tradition. If momentarily the traditions didn’t fit him, he had no trouble with countering them. The week of peace is a perfect example, he understood that there should be no violence or beatings that week, but he took it upon himself to interrupt the peace by beating his wife. Part of leadership is the ability to go against the norm, if necessary, I’m starting to think that Okonkwo may have gained power in that respect over the years.
I feel as though Okonkwo didn't make the right decision when he killed Ikemefuna. I feel as though he did it for his own masculinity. He basically killed his own son because Ikemefuna looked up to him as a father figure. I feel as though Okonkwos inner emotions will be his undoing and are already beginning to take a toll on him. I feel as though Okonkwo is also trying to come to terms with the fact that he isn't as strong and powerful as he has always thought of himself to be and how he has been portrayed. This is due to the arrival of the white men who are clearly more powerful than him because they have better weapons (guns) then he has ever dealt with.
I feel as though the memory of his father also influenced him in that he did not want to appear womanly like his father. He needs to put this behind him and get over it because it will be his downfall.
So, I've accidentally broken the book up by pages instead of the three already separated parts... But I'll just go with how I did it for now.
As the book continues, it seems to go more in depth of the customs in the African village. There was the description of the feast of the suitor for one of the daughters in the village, which was described in great detail. “Temporary cooking tripods were erected on every available space by bringing together three blocks of sun-dried earth and making a fire in their midst.” The description of the preparation for this “woman’s ceremony” is further explained, and it is interesting to see where the day goes. It slips in that the cow of one of the families has escaped and it shows how laws are enforced even outside of a belief in god. The scene where the men are expecting more than thirty pots of wine, or Okonkwo “shall tell them [his] mind if they [don’t]” is interesting because it shows Okonkwo’s importance in the village and the attitude that he presents his power with. That says that his leadership may be less important than he thinks, and he could be setting himself up for disaster, which I feel is shown later in the story, when his gun goes off into the heart of the sixteen year old son of the man who’s funeral was being had weeks after the suitor ceremony.
Another major part of this section that I found interesting: At the funeral of the man that told Okonkwo not to have a hand in Ikemfuna’s death, Okonkwo’s gun goes off and kills the man’s son... I believe that this is his punishment for not listening to the old man. Had he not had a hand in his “son’s” death, then he wouldn’t have accidentally killed the man’s son.
Also, when Okonkwo gets into his motherland, and his kinsman questions his believe in his mother, I think that he was right in pointing out Okonkwo’s self-pity and needed to stop that. I appreciated his ability to stand up to Okonkwo.
In terms of decision making I think that the first wrong decision set his path for a road full of left turns. He made the choice of being everything his father wasn’t instead of seeing how his father’s gentle demeanor could be changed to a stronger and more effective sort of gentleness, which I noticed Obierika possessed. Latter on most of his decisions were fueled by his initial desire to be strong. Often the result was tragic like when he attacked his son, other times they were simply bad judgment like the beating of his wives and the quarrel between himself and another tribesman, and then there were instances were good intentions could be seen, for example his defense of his daughter and later on of his culture and deities. Overall though I don’t think that Okonkwo’s decision making skills are up to par. He is to biased towards the manly way of doing things and even then his definition of manliness is skewed.
Considering section 2 I think that there was more focus on building up for the climax of the story. Here we see how Okonkwo was given 7 years to see the side of “effeminate” decision making, that is to say not go in with the machete swinging, but he did not take advantage of the situation. Like many have mentioned already Okonkwo merely went there, counted the days until his exile was over and felt regret for being in such a “feminine” village. I think that his decision to not even consider the other side of things is going to bring him troubles.
Also I’d like to point out that in this chapter we see an increase of culture clashing. While the village is passive, Oknonwo is going into a frenzy of disapproval, so much so that he was ready to strangle his eldest son. To me this seemed a manner for the author to contrast two ways of thinking, as if he wanted his readers to know the different sides of the African culture, and perhaps to bring us around to admit a connection between the interactions of the different characters with such a change.
Now that we know the time period of the story thanks to the introduction of the white men and their guns, I have to say I'm surprised. I couldn't tell what time period this was in from the beginning of the novel, and I had no idea that it would be dealing with racial and religious differences.
I was very intrigued with Okonkwo's changes through this second section. I knew status meant a lot to him, but the fact that he lost his high place in the social ladder seemed to drain away his will to persevere. He no longer enjoyed work, which was emphasized in the first section as the one thing he could do to distract himself and the thing he got pleasure from, because it made him different from his slothful father. Once he went to Mbtanta he had become lazy himself. His status was his only pride.
However, while it was his culture that gave him this social status, it had also taken it away by exiling him as punishment for the killing of the boy. Even though these customs are what caused him such grief, he continues to stand by them, as shown when he disowns Nwoye for converting to Christianity. That is why he thinks his son is so weak, because he doesn't uphold the values given to him by his culture, and therefore has not come out to be the masculine son Okonkwo wanted. So, Okonkwo quite often compares his son to a woman.
While Okonkwo had faired well in exile, he still yearned to be home, up until the very end of it. At the end of the second section, during his "thank you" feast, I have hopes that his decision to move to the motherland and respectfully accept the exile for the crime he had committed turns out well for him, and the new religious issues don't end up ruining his old village as he returns, shattering the culture and society he has longed to return to.
I thought it was pretty clear that Okonkwo who Achebe had already established as a conservative, forceful and tough man had a change of heart. Not that pure goodness radiated from his body, but that his emotions were actually alive. Achebe made sure to make Okonkwo human - at least a little. There was an added level of respect that Okonkwo distributed. He actually acted as a true man when he acknowledged his motherland and its kinsmen.
Of course he was much too eager to return back to his fatherland.
I felt this section, especially the ending paragraph, highlighted the importance and reasoning of why Okonkwo acted in such ways. He "fears for the clan" (167), which completely ties back to the beginning where we found he was utterly embarrassed of his father's unachievements.
I believe Nwoye's betrayal towards his father, family and clan was a foresahdowing of more ba things to come. They would lead to Okonkwo's breaking point.
I thought the mentioning of the differences between Okonkwo’s stories from his wife’ is that Okonkwo’s stories taught a person to be violent while the other taught a person to be caring and compassionate. It was destined for the children to choose whichever one they believed in, but the majority mostly chooses the “wrong” ones. The fact that Nwoye rejects the stories meant for “women” indicates that the newer generations are rejecting important lessons in life. Instead, they embrace only the trivial stories of gaining titles and being wealthy, which would seem foolish if it were to be heard today. If the Earth and the Sky had never forgiven each other, then all living things would have died off. Therefore, the lesson to forgive was really more important than being the most notorious. Since there was a time when Nwoye loved the stories told by the women, this means that he outgrew his innocence and became corrupted along with everyone else. I wouldn’t blame Okonkwo if he didn’t want to hear about the Earth and the Sky, because they resemble the relationship he with his father, except there was never a resolution to the conflict between them.
Also, there was a scene where the Umuofians were bedazzled by the “beauty” of the locusts. Usually, people run away from locusts let alone stay to watch their swarms. Locusts usually bring destruction to the living, especially to nature, so it would be suspicious for Achebe to have the villagers observe them with delight. One could possibly guess that the Umuofians can no longer distinguish right from wrong. The locusts, which bear destruction and power, appeal to them because they are alike them. The Umuofians enjoy bringing forth destruction (wars) and feeling powerful (which is what the titles are for). Bearing a title in Umuofia is very trivial and insignificant because, aside from telling the world to fear you, it implies the number of wives one has. Maybe eating them may also provide them with even further darkness to their hearts. Remember, “you are what you eat.”
I was very taken aback by Ikemefuna’s scene, as I am sure many of you were too. He was not shown any mercy, even from the man who had thought of him as his own son, that is, until the village had reminded him in the wrongness of doing so. With the death of Ikemefuna, whose last words were to a man he greatly respected and admired, it made me not believe in any father-son bonds anymore. I had already been discouraged of this bond since Okonkwo and Unoka did not have the best relationship as discussed in parte uno. Apparently a man isn’t as strongly bonded to his family as to his own reputation. After all, Okonkwo killed a boy that he was proud to call son under the assumption that his tough image would be challenged if he didn’t.
Since Ogbuefi Ndulue and Ozoemena had died following the death of Ikemefuna, I thought that this wasn’t a coincidence. A balance has somehow been distorted and consequences will surely emerge upon those deserving of it. We will soon discover the meaning of the title when more things fall apart. What we must wonder is what will replace the fallen.
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