From the assigned reading, select three worthy quotes and annotate them. You must quote the text using MLA format and your responses must be 3-5 sentences long. You might want to think about the following questions to help your response. What attracts you to them? Why are they worthy of discussion? How do they aid our understanding of the novel.
Due Dates: B Block - Wednesday, 11/3 by midnight
A Block - Thursday, 11/4 by midnight
In chapter 18, it has more information about the Christian missionaries coming in to Umofia. People in the village, those who is starting to question about their native religion, are starting to follow the Christian beliefs. “These outcasts, or osu, seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations, thought that it was possible that they would also be received” (Achebe 155). The sentence shows how people started to realize that something was wrong with their religion, and that it seemed better for the ones without any position to be Christian since Christianity valued every one’s lives equally.
ReplyDeleteAlthough some favored Christianity, Okonkwo did not. He disliked the idea of the clan to be womanly. “’It is not our custom to fight for our gods,’ said one of them. ‘Let us not presume to do so now. If a man kills the sacred python in the secrecy of his hut, the matter lies between him and the god. We did not see it. If we put ourselves between the god and his victim we may receive blows intended for the offender’” (Achebe 158). This shows us that in the Christian belief, the god will take care of the trouble so people had to stay out of any problem. Okonkwo did not like this idea because if his house was to get robbed, he said that he will get a stick and break the man’s head. He basically does not like the fact that everyone is going to be treated equally and to have a life without any fights. Not only he does not favor the religion because of these reasons, he feels offended since if the religion changes to Christianity, then people would not follow the oracle anymore. What this meant is that Okonkwo will then cannot say anymore that he killed his step son Ikefuma because of his religion.
Okonkwo was about to finish his seven years of exile in Mbanda in chapter 19, and he was planning to have a beautiful feast for his mother’s kinsman, to show his thankfulness. “Okonkwo never did things by halves. When his wife Ekwefi protested that two goats were sufficient for the feast he told her that it was not her affair” (Achebe 165). This sentence shows that Okonkwo wanted to give the kinsman good feast, as well as to gain respect from them, as he said “I am calling a feast becaseu I have the wherewithal. I cannot live on the bank of a river and wash my hands with spittle. My mother’s people have been good to me and I must show my gratitude” (Achebe 165). Although he said this, he is not just to thank them, but in the inside, he is probably doing this for his pride and to show his wealth to the people.
Saya Shimoyama B2
In chapter 19, Okonkwo never did things by halves. When his wife Ekwefi protested that two goats were sufficient for the feast he told her that it was not her affair. " I am calling a feast because I have the wherewithal. I cannot live on the bank of a river and wash my hands with spittle.
ReplyDeleteMy mother's people have been good to me and I must show my gratitude." And so three goats were slaughtered and a number of fowls. It was like a wedding feast. There was foo-foo and yam pottage, egusi soup and bitter-leaf soup and pots and pots of palm wine.(Achebe 165)
The oldest member of this extensive family was Okonkwo's uncle, Uchendu. The kola nut was given him to break and he prayed to the ancestors. He asked them for health and children. "We do not ask for wealth because he that has health and children will also have wealth. They do not pray to have money but to have more kinsmen. They were better than animals because we have kinsmen. An animal rubs its itching flank of tree, a man asks his kinsman to scratch him.
" He prayed especially for Okonkwo and his family. He then broke the kola nut and threw one of the lobes on the ground for the ancestors." (Achebe 166) As the broken kola nuts were passed round, Okonkwo's wives and children and those who came to help them with the cooking began to ring out the food. There was so much food and drink that many kinsmen whistled in surprise. When all was laid out, he rose to speak.
What was de aim of the feast
DeleteIn the beginning of the story, Okonkwo wished if his daughter were a boy because she was responsible and thought she can be braver person that can closely lead to his “ideal son”. When Ikemefuna was still alive, he puts his hope on him and started to show his emotion. But after Ikemefuna’s death and Nwoye’s unpredictable behavior, Okonkwo feels despaired and still waits for his idea son to appear. “’I wish she were a boy,” Okonkwo thought within himself” (Achebe 173).
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 19, the generation gap between young and old is greatly expressed. “You may ask why I am saying all this. I say it because I fear for the younger generation, for you people” (Achebe 167). In old generation, there were less conflicts concerning about human relations. However, as generation change, the neighbors became unfriendly to each other and started to hold fears on themselves. The colonists (white people) brought new religion to Umuofia and brought confusion that lead to have gap as well. “How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay” (Achebe 166). They started to regret looking down on white people. White people introduced new religion, Christianity. Because white people wasn’t forcing or being compulsive to people in Umuofia to believe in it, they took that as advantage and got the power to colonize Umuofia.
Farah Okada B1
1. “’Let us give them a portion of the Evil Forest. They boast about victory over death. Let us give them a real battlefield in which to show their victory.’ They laughed and agreed” (Achebe 149). “’ They do not understand,’” (Achebe 149). These sentences were attractive to me because it is important to know how a person thinks about the other, and how it turns. These two quotes show that they don’t take them and their religious seriously. The natives, those who did not join the missionaries, were thinking that the whites are not smart, they used to say that their religious were silly, and a white man cannot be a God, to worship. They would say that a white man have no power to make people worship and believe in him.
ReplyDelete2. “’That is what a man does’” (Achebe 158). It was attractive because it reminds you of the cultures and political systems that the natives had. This quote that Okonkwo said, “’ We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. This is a wise action’” (Achebe 158). Okonkwo is mad about how they keep making people join their religious, and how his own son ran away from him, and decided to follow their religious.
3. “ It was Wednesday in Holy Week and Mr. Kiaga had asked the women to bring red earth and white chalk and water to scrub the church for Easter; and the women had formed themselves into three groups” (Achebe 159). I chose this sentence because it shows the political changes in women. Women in Christianity are in a better situation, and have more rights and knowledge than the native women. It is interesting how the Christian women actually have a work that is worthy for the community around them and they are growing with a hope and a new feelings.
In chapter 18, there is a quote that shows what kind of personality Okonkwo has. “If a man comes in to my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what man dose.” (Achebe 158). This quote shows how Okonkwo is manly and violent. Therefore if anyone go against him, he would beat that person. Next quote that interests me and at the same time it makes me mad is “Do what you are to woman,” (Achebe 14). This is what Okonkwo said to his wife. This quote shows how Okonkwo is acting very disrespectful to woman. Also it shows what kind of position women are in Africa. Next quote that shows change in people’s mind is “On the following Sunday, Nwoye passed and repassed the little red-earth and thatch building without summoning enough courage to enter.” (Achebe 150). This quote shows change in Nwoye’s mind. Eventhough he knows that to get interest in Christian is going against Okonkwo’s thinking, he is accepting new change and try to get along with it.
ReplyDeleteKei Saya Datwani A4
Mai Hiroyama
ReplyDeleteB2 Literature
"'My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down"(Achebe 61). From what I have read so far, I think this situation is the most biggest rise of tension. Ikefuna highly respects his "father", Okonkwo. When Ikefuna is in danger of assassination, he goes to Okonkwo for help, but gets killed by Okonkwo. Since there are good memories about Ikefuna and Okonkwo in previous pages, readers are able to predict the inside feeling of those two men. The surprise of Okonkwo's betrayal action, Okonkwo's fear, Ikefuna's fear, and Ikefuna's betrayed feeling. The quote also shows that Okonkwo doesn't have "individual". The collapsing relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye pretty much rises the tension.
When Okonkwo sees Nwoye he gets furious about Nwoye taking the side of whites. "'Answer me!' he roared again. Nwoye stood looking at him and did not say a word. The women were screaming outside, afraid to go in"(Achebe 152). Okonkwo is mad about converting to the Christianity. Okonkwo have wished Nwoye to become like a man, and this action are betrayal toward Okonkwo. From Nwoye's perspective, he doesn't seem like he is sorry about it, and it seems like he does not try to resist the Okonkwo's violence. Nwoye probably thinks that he isn't doing something wrong. Nwoye's right thing and Okonkwo's right thing are totally opposite, and they struggles with this difference. When Ikefuna existed, the relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye was good. Though after the death of Ikefuna, Nwoye goes against Okonkwo, and chooses to go to his own way.
"'The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and were have fallen apart.'"(Achebe 176). This quote clearly describes about white's invasion and individual's thinking. Clearly explains how whites come and traps Africans. The position of whites and blacks gets reversed, and white gains more power that blacks can't do anything. This morning during literature class, I read the quotes that talks about white's invasion. It was about whites coming to 'our' land with bible, and later the status gets exchanged and 'we' get bible and they get the land. I think that this perfectly parallels to this quote.
1) There are two sides to every piece of paper. In other words there are two ways to look at any one thing. This is the description Okonkwo used upon the return to Umuofia. “Umuofia had indeed changed during the seven years Okonkwo had been in exile. The church had come and led many people astray” (Achebe 174). I think it’s interesting how Okonkwo uses the word “astray”. If a missionary would describe how the clan had evolved over the seven years then I’m sure that the description would be quite different.
ReplyDelete2) I think that the missionaries that came to merely “spread religion” had other intentions. At the end of the story we will find a western culture along with western beliefs. The missionaries did much more then just spread their religion. They indirectly, quietly took over the political power of the land. “’The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one” (Achebe 176). Weather this was a just act or not can debated, but in my perspective it wasn’t entirely fair.
3) “I wish she were a boy” (Achebe 173). These words are what Okonkwo thought toward his daughter Ezinma. Unlike Nwoye, she acted like Okonkwo wanted her to act if she were a boy. I think the reason why Achebe put this situation in the story is to add to Okonkwo’s misfortune. Also, to help us view people through Okonkwo’s perspective while engaging in the story.
Daniel Snow B1
Seiya B2
ReplyDelete“ ‘If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what man does…’ Okonkwo made a sound full of disgust. This was a womanly clan, he thought” (Achebe 159). Okonkwo thinks that aggression and feeling of anger is the only feeling that man should display. And everything else is womanly. His definition of woman is weak. Okonkwo showing such disgust toward woman is influenced from his father’s existence. Where his father was called agbala, meaning woman.
“Now that he had time to think of it, his son’s crime stood out in its stark economy. To abandon the gods of one’s father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very depth of abomination. Suppose when he died all his male children decided to follow Nwoye’s steps and abandon their ancestors?”(Achebe 153). I thought this was interesting by how you could hear the inner feelings of Okonkwo. How he fears that Christianity might take over his native beliefs. He also mentions that the converts are effeminate. Okonkwo truly disgusts womanly-ness. He thinks that does who converted are not manly.
“These outcasts, or osu, seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations, thought that it was possible that they would also be received”(Achebe 155). The natives started to question the belief of the village. More and more converted to Christianity. Christianity was more appealing than to stay in the clan because Christianity viewed everyone equal. This quoted shows that Christianity is slowly gaining converts and strength.
Chapter 18 was mainly about how the church, Mr. Kiaga converts the osu to Christianity. "But stories were already gaining ground that the white man had not only brought a religion but also a government. It was said that they had built a place of judgement in Umuofia to protect the followers of their religion. It was even said that they had hanged one man who killed a missionary" (Achebe 155). The missionaries came not only to convert the natives to Christianity but they also brought a new type of ruling to the village, the government. The missionaries are not forcing them to convert, but by making church in their village and by talking eloquently, the efulefu converted and other villagers are also gradually converting. This quote depict that the missionaries are slowly but obtaining success of converting and conquering the land of the natives.
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo is a man that sticks to titles and wealth, since his father was a terrible man. Although he accepted to exile and thanked his motherland and family, he could not let the titles that he got blow away. "It was going to be Okonkwo's last harvest in Mbanta. The seven wasted and weary years were at last dragging to a close... And so he regretted every day of his exile" (Achebe 162). The seven years of life in Mbanta was just a waste of time for Okonkwo. His life is about getting titles and have numerous wives and children to show that he is rich and strong.
Okonkwo is devoted to the beliefs of the natives and he does not want others to just build their obi because that would not look 'good'. "As soon as he entered his last year in exile Okonkwo sent money to Obierika to build him two huts in his old compound where he and his family would live until he built more huts and the outside wall of his compound. He could not ask another man to build his own obi for him, nor the walls of his coumpound. Those things a man built for himself or inherited from his father" (Achebe 162-163). Even in building the obi, he has his pride that he do not want others to complete his obi since it is his own obi and do not want anyone, even his friend Obierika to build it. This quote interpret Okonkwo's characteristic and his pride of being in the top.
Risa Yamada B2
1. "but the stories were already gaining ground that the white man had not only brought a religion but also a government"(Achebe 115). This shows that the european are gaining power over Umuofia. In this chapter it also mention the judgment had hanged one man who killed a missionary. The european had interacted Umuofia's culture and changed them. It's quite interesting wether if the europeans really has the power to "judge".
ReplyDelete2. "I don't know. he is not my father, said Nwoye, unhappily" (Achebe 144). This is clearly not a good sign, the family is breaking apart. The christian had brought difficulties between Okonkwo and Nwoye. And also conflict with the village, that okonkwo can't not gain power and respect back.
3. " Okonkwo never did things by halves"(Achebe 165). If Okonkwo want's to return and gain his respect back, sharing is one important he must learn to do. The feast his wife is hosting also could help Okonkwo's reputation in the village.
“One of them passes here frequently” (Achebe 74). This quote talks about the first appearance of the whites in the village. We can tell by the quote that whites are starting to coming in but the natives aren’t still familiar of them so they make fun of them by saying things such as “And these white men, they say, have no toes” (Achebe 74). They still don’t know much about the whites at this point.
ReplyDelete“The Missionaries had come to Umuofia. They had built their church there, won a handful of converts and were already sending evangelists to the surrounding towns and villages” (Achebe 143). This shows that Africa is slowly starting to be invaded by the whites. Christian missionaries already have churches and converts in Umuofia and they are starting to get power to take over the village. It shows that the village is slowly changing.
“’It is already too late,’ said Obierika sadly. ‘Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government” (Achebe 176). This quote shows that Umuofia had been invaded and changed to the point where no one can bring it back to the old Umuofia. Okonkwo and Obierika feel very sad and mortified about the change, “The two men sat in silence for a long while afterwards” (Achebe 177).
Hikari Mizuno B2
1. “Guns fired the last salute and the cannon rent the sky. And then from the center of agony and shouts of horror. It was as if a spell had been cast. All was silent. In the center of the crowd a boy lay in a pool of blood. It was the dead man’s sixteen-year-old- son…” (Achebe 124). This quote interest me because someone has just died and that person’s also died. Even though Okonkwo shot the little boy accidentally, he was sent for an exile. This is more interesting because he wasn’t executed for the murder. Usually, if someone kills someone, that person will be executed or sent to prison.
ReplyDelete2. “Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61). Okonkwo loved Ikemefuna and Ikemefuna respected Nwoye and Okonkwo. However, it turned out Okonkwo killing Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna has done so many things for Okonkwo, such as working for Okonkwo and teaching Nwoye. I’m pretty sure that Okonkwo didn’t want to kill Ikemefuna.
3. “Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna” (Achebe 63). Okonkwo is a brave man who has two titles. However, when he killed Ikemefuna, he is depressed and can barely eat and drink. How is this possible? Okonkwo has kille many people and now depressed just for one person. This statement is very interesting.
1,“Okonkwo’s gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy’s heart. The confusion that followed was without parallel in the tradition of Umuofia” (Achebe 124), This quote shows that Oknokwo killed a sixteen years old boy by accident, and this is his turning point that he will be exile from Umuofia and not be able to come back.
ReplyDelete2,As soon as the day broke, a large crowd of men from Ezeudu’s quearter stormed Okonkwo compound, dressed in garbs of war. They set fire to his houses, demolished his red walls, killed his animals and destroyed his barn.(Achebe 125). This quote shows that gods are respected and appeased pleasing god is a most important thing in this society.
3,”Ikemefuna had begun to feel like a member of Okonkwo’s family. He still thought about his mother and his three-year-old sisterm and he had moments of sadness and depression.” This quote tells that Ikemefuna was feeling he’s part of Okonkwo’s family, which lead him to bad ending.
Kazuya A2
1. In these few chapters foreigners started to arrive in villages with missionaries to spread Christianity. To most of the clan, the stories of the new faith were pathetic and false, but some "empty, useless men" were still converted, later followed by more. The clan therefore became anxious and sought to take action. "His death showed that the gods were still able to fight their own battles. The clan saw no reason then for molesting the Christians."(Achebe 161). At first everyone was sure that the Christians wouldn't last long because surely the gods that were angered would punish them. However, as time passed and nothing happened, the new belief began to gain more followers instead. Therefore when one of the Christians who had been thought to have killed the sacred python died the following day, the tribe was positive that the new faith was fake and their god was still with them. This incident just supported their original beliefs; and with the thought of their god punishing the stubborn, unworthy Christians, they no longer stopped themselves from debarring them out of their clan.
ReplyDelete2. During the farewell feast of Okonkwo and his family, Okonkwo stood up to say "'’It is not to pay you back for all you did for me in these seven years. A child cannot pay for its mother's milk. I have only called you together because it is good for kinsmen to meet.'"(Achebe 166). Ironically, these humble words were the opposite of his intensions. He had thrown such a big feast because he wanted to show his gratitude to the kinsmen of his motherland but at the same time couldn’t wait to return to his fatherland where he belongs. The reason he put up such a great feast is because even in his motherland, Okonkwo defines himself as superior and powerful and feels the need to conduct the same momentum in his farewell feast. Again, this can be traced back to Okonkwo's great fear of being thought weak. He would definitely do anything to show his authority.
3. With more and more of the younger generation being influenced by the new religion that the white foreigners brought, the elders of the clan grew more worried and anxious of the future."An abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse the gods of his fathers and his ancestors, like a hunter's dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master. I fear for you; I fear for the clan.'"(Achebe 167). The young people were especially easy to be converted into Christians. This had become a great concern and problem for the elders in fear of the original traditions and customs vanishing over time. However, perhaps young people including Nwoye were starting to think differently and began questioning traditional customs. They wanted to know the reasons behind their actions such as the killing of twins, and were no longer as enthusiastic of the cultures as their fathers were. The new religion brought excitement and answers to the young people which resulted in what the elders resented the most.
In most of the civilizations, socially, son needs to take some legacy of his father, and this story takes place where son needs to take all of the legacy. Fame, debt, money, farm, seeds, and all the other stuff. “Any wonder then that his son Okonkwo was ashamed of him?Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father”(Achebe 8). From here, I can understand that Okonkwo thought that he can escape from his father's(Unoka's) legacy, which is laziness only. Unfortunately, Okonkwo received legacy of his father, Unoka. The legacy of the bad luck. At this point, I understood that Okonkwo will degenerate soon.
ReplyDeleteThe entire title was foreshadowing the worst end of Okonkwo's life, and also, a succession of misfortunes and sins. Ikemefuna's death will symbolize it very well. “Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak”(Achebe 61). Ikemefuna is a child who was brought to Okonkwo's house with complicated reasons, but Okonkwo was nurturing him like his real child. One day, Okonkwo was asked from the Oracles to kill Ikemefuna. His tribal sin was able to evade. However, his personal sin was added.
“It was the dead man's sixteen-year-old son, who with his brothers and half-brothers and had been dancing the traditional farewell to their father. Okonkwo's gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy's heart”(Achebe 124). Okonkwo's sin is gradually piling up. However, for this accident, people can't say that Okonkwo is 100% wrong. Unfortunately, he can't deny his sin, so he had to leave Umoufia. If we really need to give reason why Okonkwo is going out, it can be only answered like this: its his misfortune's fault.
This quote attracted me, because it described the situation between the people of Nigeria and Christians. “And so nobody gave serious thought to the stories about the white man's government or the consequences of killing the Christians” (Achebe 155). This quote can be made in to a good question for us to ask our selves, which will also deepen the understanding of relationship between the clans of the villages and the Christians. The question is “Do you think pretending like nothing had happened was the right thing to do? Didn't that cause the situation to be worse?”
ReplyDelete“‘Let them laugh,’ said Mr. Kiaga. ‘God will laugh at them... them in derision.’“ (Achebe 156). This one is worthy of discussion because this relates to our lives. The converts were being laughed at the villagers, however Mr. Kiaga told him to be your self and follow your own heart, and also telling him to ignore the people who are not worth listening to. I thought that was something we should also consider important as being individuals and not being influenced by the others.
After the new faith have stepped in to the land of Africa, the elder of the clan in Okonkwo’s motherland expressed his fear of what Christianity have brought and influenced to their land and people. “‘But I fear for you young people because... I fear for you; I fear for the clan.’” (Achebe 167). It is one of the important key points in Thing Fall Apart that how people of Africa fears Christians as strangers and becoming very violent to protect their culture and faith. It's important to discuss about the use of violence and justice in this book.
1)"Okwonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak"(Achebe 61). This quote really attracts me because it tells me that there's two sides to Okwonkwo. Okwonkwo had a strong outlook, but after he killed his adopted child, he felt unhappy with his action. So that's why i pick this quote, because it tells me about the Okwonkwo in two sides of him.
ReplyDelete2)""If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do i do? Do i shut my eyes?No! I take a stick and break his head"(Achebe 158). I think this quote is worthy of discussion because it seperates into two section either he is being violent towards the Christians or protective to his people.
3)"He prayed especially for Okonkwo and his family. He then broke the kola nut and threw one of the lobes on the ground for the ancestors"(Achebe 165). I pick this quote because it tells the culture of the book by it have religions. It also tells me that Okonkwo is a trouble man.
1) "I wish she were a boy. Okonkwo thought within himself. She understood things so perfectly(Achebe 173)." Okonkwo wishes that Ezinma was a boy because she always ask what real boy should be asking to his father, always understanding him so perfectly and understood his every mood he has. He hates that any of the sons more specifically Nwoye isn't like Ezima because she listens to everything he says to her.
ReplyDelete2)"They guarded the prison, which was full of men who had offended against the white man's law.Some of these had thrown there twins away and some had molested the Christians." What the white mans don't understand is that even though the village people in the prison had offended them there were doing that because the white mans just came out of no where and took over when they had no right too. Also that the white man don't realize what there taking away from them and that the white men just do things their they don't realize that, that's how they live.
3)" And so Mr Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on it's faith (Achebe 178)."Mr. Brown is a Christian but is not like the white mam because he doesn't push or force people to become a christian. He actually listens and understands that if they don't want to be a christian then they don't have to be. So he is more understanding than the others.
1)“Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61). I picked this quote is because that I would never thought that Okonkwo would have to heart to killed Ikemefuna. He was almost like a son to Okonkwo; Okonkwo loved him more than he loved his own son, Nwoye. This was the part that really hit me when I was reading; I couldn’t believe that a man’s own way could cause him to commit this. But in another way it was understandable because due to the fear that Okonkwo was facing, maybe it could of happen to anyone.
ReplyDelete2)This second quote was another one that just really hit me. “Every clan and village had its ‘evil forest.’ In it were buried all those who died of the really evil diseases, like leprosy and smallpox” (Achebe 148). What I don’t really like about this quote was that they were being contempt toward the people that had die from those diseases. It’s true that they believe that those diseases were evil but instead of saying that place is evil place, why can’t they just make it into a normal cemetery. The people that were dying were suffering from the disease and all the people could think about is they are evil.
3)“He held up a piece of chalk, which every man kept in his obi and with which his guests drew lines on the floor before they at kola nuts. “And these white men, they say, have no toes”” (Achebe 74). To me this was actually quite funny of them; they actually believe that the white men have no toes. Since they don’t wear shoes so they didn’t know about it. The reason I picked this quote was that this show use that all the villages around their area doesn’t have any contact with the outside world. It also show the differences of how Africa was like with and without foreigner coming in.
A4
What attracts you to them?
ReplyDelete"Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had. He did not inherit a barn from his father. There was no barn to inherit." (Achebe 12). It was attractive quote for me because this quote showed how much Okonkwo hated his father and also this quote is saying about Okonkwo's family. I understand how Okonkwo feels because he had a bad father and he didn’t want to be like his father.
Why are they worthy of discussion?
“I think it is good that our clan holds the ozo title in high esteem,” said Okonkwo. “In those other clans you speak of, ozo is so low that every beggar takes it.” (Achebe 69). This quote is talking about that Okonkwo's status in community is good and meaningful achievement. He was proud of his strength. I thought he is a worthy man because how he did to community.
How do they aid our understanding of the novel.
"'The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and were have fallen apart.'" (Achebe 176). I think this quote showed about how white man's knowledge. He knew how to treat Africans and he was only thinking about his own benefits.
"He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look"(Achebe 4). This is the starting point of the story and this quote is explainning about how does Okonkwo looks like and all. Only by this description, I could see that Okonkwo is a very scary guy who has ego about himself, and because of that he will have lots of conflicts with lots of people.
ReplyDelete"Dazed with fear,Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak"(Achebe 61). When we just started this book, the main discussed theme in this book was Okonkwo's fear. Although Okonkwo's a strong and wrestling champion, he had a great weakness. This quote was the climax of his fear that was shown in this book. And it really shocked me alot.
"They set fire to his houses, demolished his red walls, killed his animals and destroyed his barn"(Achebe 125). This part shocked me alot too, and it's a part that pretty much worth of discussion. As we know, Okonkwo killed a person by mistake. It wasn't his fault at all. But he had to be kicked out from his village because of the stupid tradition. On the same page, it says people didn't want to do that in the deep heart, but they did it, all because of tradition. And Okonkwo should've feel angry about these tradition and all and could've just support Christianity later who will eventually destroy village traditions.
"He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look"(Achebe 4). This quote can tell us how Okonkwo looked like and his atmosphere, so that we can imagine about him and that it can be useful information for the story since we are reading this book.
ReplyDelete“Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61). This quote shows one of the characteristic but at the same time, we can know the fear of Okonkwo. He is afraid of people thinking about him as a weak person like his father.
“’It is already too late,’ said Obierika sadly. ‘Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government” (Achebe 176). This quote shows the negative side of Okonkwo, who is always positive and leads their family. He is always strong and very manly.
"`Anyway,` resumed Obierika, `they killed him and tied up his iron horse`" (Achebe 139). This first interested me as the first 'conflict' between the Ibo people and the White society. Seeing a white man for the first time, the Ibo people's killed the man before he could say anything. This is why, after many market weeks, the white people got their very bloody 'revenge' by killing every person in the market place.
ReplyDelete"`Let us give them a portion of the Evil Forest. They boast about victory over death. Let us give them a real battlefield in which to show their victory`" (Achebe 149). This quote shows the Ibo people's first attemp to do harm to the white people. This also shows the extend of belief they had in their customs and religion. I also found this quote especially interesting because I never dreamed that these people would actually give the white people any land at all, even if it was the evil forest.
"The band of egwugwu moved like a furious whirlwind to Enoch's compound and with machere and fire reduced it to a desolate heap" (Achebe 188). This quote interested me because it shows just how much the relationship between two cultures can change just because of one event. It also shows how important ones culture can be to their society's life. One Ibo person who converted to christianity mocked Umuofia's culture, and even killed one of the 'anscesteral spirits', so just from that the other egwugwu's burned the offender's house down, along with the church. This was the start of the major hatred between the Ibo people and Christians.
Kiran Dixit A4