Ch.1-4 In Things Fall Apart it is apparent from the beginning of the story that Okonkwo has only one main goal in life, not to be like is father. As the book progresses forward we learn that Okonkwo father, Unoka, was a low life. Always asking for money, being lazy on the farm, and by the end of his life he couldn’t even give Okonkwo a barn to put yams in. For Okonkwo this goal of not being like his father is his life but also may led to his down fall. The positive side of this goal is that Okonkwo will be determined to work hard on his farm. He will keep his family discipline so that they would not become lazy. Pretty much he will rule with an iron fist. This is all good for the family but what about himself. Okonkwo goal, which I would like to call, is a reverse goal. Most people’s goal or goals is to become someone or something. For ex. Some people might want to become athletics. They work hard to get to their goal. If they succeed then they gain they goal, but if they don’t then they try again. Some times people could fail at these goals but they may choose another goal to reach. For Okonkwo it is different. Okonkwo has to be working hard never to fail his goal instead of reaching his goal. He must keep his family discipline and rule with an iron fist. If he becomes lazy then he will fail his only goal in life. If he fails that goal then he may become miserable and see life as being a meaningless place.
Ch. 5-7 I believe that Ikemefuna life is a foreshadowing of Okonkwo’s life. Like Okonkwo, Ikemefuna was forced into a situation that he had no power over. While Okonkwo had to face life when his father died and left him nothing, Ikemefuna had to face a new life when he was forced away from his parents. Both of them grow up to be strong. Okonkwo became a warrior and a successful farmer and husband. Ikemefuna was just like Okonkwo’s younger life. The book even said “he (Ikemefuna) grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season, and was full of the sap of life (52).” Ikemefuna became very successful following Okonkwo’s rules and Okonkwo appreciated him. Then everything went bad for Ikemefuna. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves said that Ikemefuna must be sacrificed. Ikemefuna had no say what was going to happen to him. Ikemefuna didn’t even now what was happening. Since he didn’t know what was happening he couldn’t change the out come of his downfall. He was going to die. Just like Ikemefuna, Okonkwo will not be able to change the outcome of his life. Just like Ikemefuna his life will fall apart (HINT: Things Fall Apart) he will not be able to fix his life. He might try to fix his life but I don’t think it will happen.
Ch.8-10 It seems that after Ikemefuna’s death that Okonkwo went into a phase of depression. Okonkwo was so upset after Ikemefuna’s death that he did not know what to do. He started to think about different thoughts that have never occurred to him before. He started to think about Ezinma. At one point he even said to himself “She should have been a boy (64).” The only reason for his insanity he gives us (the readers) is that his mind is not occupied. After Ikemefuna’s death Okonkwo had nothing to do. For him “it was the season of rest between the harvest and the next planting season (64)” Okonkwo didn’t know how to deal with this problem. Okonkwo only got better when he was able to do some type of activity from working or talking, I believe this might become his down fall. Okonkwo will more then likely face another situation or situations just like Ikemefuna’s death but he will have to face it head on but not with physical action but with mental focus. Okonkwo will have to understand what he or others have done in life. In a nutshell, Okonkwo will have to face himself. If Okonkwo can understand what actions he will take he will be fine, but if he doubt his actions he will more then likely loss focus in life, do to the fact he is man of action and not of thought.
Ch.11-13 Ekwefi journey for Ezinma seems to symbolize a journey through life with “blind eyes”. When Chielo took Ezinma to the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves Ekwefi decided to follow them. Ekwefi had to be careful to not follow behind them to closely because she did then Chielo would know that she was following when Ekwefi was told not to follow. If Ekwefi fell behind to far then she would of lost them. At the beginning of the journey it was night so she couldn’t even see. “Her eyes were useless to her in the darkness (103).” Just like Ekwefi blindly followed Chielo and Ezinma, people in ever day life follow their goals blindly. Ekwefi had only one goal set, to make sure that Ezinma was safe. Ekwefi wanted to make sure that her daughter was safe. Just like Ekwefi, everyone has his or own goal(s). We know what we must do to reach these goals but some choose to not think through their goals. Some goals are not reachable by some. I know this sounds pessimistic but stay with me. Some people are stubborn and try to reach these goals but still do not recognize the goals are impossible. “She shut her eyes for a while and opened them again in an effort to see. But it was useless. She could not see beyond her nose (103).” Although Ekwefi was able to stay with the Chielo and Ezinma (her goal), many people are not that successful. Many people fail in their effort the reach their goal(s).
Ch.14-18 Uchendu explained the point about mothers to Okonkwo to not only to comfort Okonkwo but also to help explain a point about life. When Okonkwo was exile to his mother’s original village, Mbanta, his mother’s younger brother, Uchendu, welcomed him. Uchendu later in the day explain to Okonkwo the point about mothers. He said while fathers may beat their children, children run to their mothers for comfort. “A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland (134).” While Uchendu tried to explain to Okonkwo that he would find comfort in Mbanta he can’t only think about himself but about others as well. “Your duty is to comfort your wives and children …. (134).” Uchendu was to help Okonkwo understand that he cannot be self-fish. Sure Okonkwo may be miserable for killing someone but he must remember those who are near him. Okonkwo may lose his compound, his barn, his yams, but he still has his family. Things may be falling apart for him (like other people in the world) but he still needs to hold to what should be most dear to him, his family. He, like others, doesn’t recognize what is most dear to him (them) then he (they) will lose everything.
Ch. 19-21 Mr. Brown and Akunna discussions between their different beliefs symbolized the relationships between not only different religions about also different nations in the modern world. Mr. Brown and Akunna discuss for hours about their different beliefs to understand each other’s beliefs. Mr. Brown still criticized Akunna beliefs of having false gods and still considered Christianity to be better. Akunna saw that his beliefs and Christianity’s beliefs to be similar by having a high God with messengers either in the form of smaller gods or as people like Mr. Brown. While Mr. Brown came into a foreign land he face a couple of problems. He did not know the customs of the land. Even though people converted over to Christianity he still needed to understand what the customs of the land to get more people. Just like Mr. Brown there have been relationships built between nations by trying to understand each other’s customs (laws, business, traditions, etc.). Even though one nation might invade another nation, they try to understand each other. If each other’s customs are not understand then there would be trouble between the nations. This trouble might be in the form of cases in courts to physical actions. I believe if Mr. Brown did not choose to understand the beliefs of the natives then there might be trouble.
Ch.22-25 This may seem a little bit Romantic but I believe that there is a hint of self-discover, not in the people directly, but in the village of Umuofia. At the beginning of the book everything was fine. Umuofia had its customs that it was following and certain gods that they worshipped. Even though Okonkwo may have been exile, Umuofia still remained the same. This all change when the missionaries came in. The missionaries challenge Umuofia to keep their customs. Up until the missionaries came Umuofia never had any outside contact, not even from white man. So when the missionaries came, the people in Umuofia started to challenge their faith. Some the people like Okonkwo saw the church as a wicked place, while other people like Enoch saw the churches salvation. This scenario seems to reflect the world. Everyday people are experiencing new events or customs either from traveling the world or going off to college. Some of these people are challenge in what they have believed in. Like Umuofia, these people never had to face different beliefs at first in their lives. At an early age must people learn a set of guidelines of dos and don’ts. When they head into the world different people challenge these dos and don’ts. Most people are able to hang on to what they believe in, but loss their beliefs, like Umuofia. Okonkwo saw Umuofia had loss all cause to fight the missionaries when he killed the messenger. When he killed the man he knew he went into action too quickly. “They had broken into tumult instead of action. He discerned fright in that tumult (205).” Maybe back in the day Okonkwo may have cause an up roar for war against the missionaries but the people have change. The people had to gain moral before fighting the missionaries, but Okonkwo ruined that by killing the messenger. The people of Umuofia would never be the same.
Didn't the passage of background information say that Antigone was a victim of Creon's hubris? Some of you are suggesting that Antigone is the tragic hero. Thoughts on that.
8 comments:
Ch.1-4
In Things Fall Apart it is apparent from the beginning of the story that Okonkwo has only one main goal in life, not to be like is father. As the book progresses forward we learn that Okonkwo father, Unoka, was a low life. Always asking for money, being lazy on the farm, and by the end of his life he couldn’t even give Okonkwo a barn to put yams in.
For Okonkwo this goal of not being like his father is his life but also may led to his down fall. The positive side of this goal is that Okonkwo will be determined to work hard on his farm. He will keep his family discipline so that they would not become lazy. Pretty much he will rule with an iron fist. This is all good for the family but what about himself.
Okonkwo goal, which I would like to call, is a reverse goal. Most people’s goal or goals is to become someone or something. For ex. Some people might want to become athletics. They work hard to get to their goal. If they succeed then they gain they goal, but if they don’t then they try again. Some times people could fail at these goals but they may choose another goal to reach. For Okonkwo it is different.
Okonkwo has to be working hard never to fail his goal instead of reaching his goal. He must keep his family discipline and rule with an iron fist. If he becomes lazy then he will fail his only goal in life. If he fails that goal then he may become miserable and see life as being a meaningless place.
Ch. 5-7
I believe that Ikemefuna life is a foreshadowing of Okonkwo’s life. Like Okonkwo, Ikemefuna was forced into a situation that he had no power over. While Okonkwo had to face life when his father died and left him nothing, Ikemefuna had to face a new life when he was forced away from his parents. Both of them grow up to be strong. Okonkwo became a warrior and a successful farmer and husband. Ikemefuna was just like Okonkwo’s younger life. The book even said “he (Ikemefuna) grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season, and was full of the sap of life (52).” Ikemefuna became very successful following Okonkwo’s rules and Okonkwo appreciated him. Then everything went bad for Ikemefuna.
The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves said that Ikemefuna must be sacrificed. Ikemefuna had no say what was going to happen to him. Ikemefuna didn’t even now what was happening. Since he didn’t know what was happening he couldn’t change the out come of his downfall. He was going to die. Just like Ikemefuna, Okonkwo will not be able to change the outcome of his life. Just like Ikemefuna his life will fall apart (HINT: Things Fall Apart) he will not be able to fix his life. He might try to fix his life but I don’t think it will happen.
Ch.8-10
It seems that after Ikemefuna’s death that Okonkwo went into a phase of depression. Okonkwo was so upset after Ikemefuna’s death that he did not know what to do. He started to think about different thoughts that have never occurred to him before. He started to think about Ezinma. At one point he even said to himself “She should have been a boy (64).” The only reason for his insanity he gives us (the readers) is that his mind is not occupied. After Ikemefuna’s death Okonkwo had nothing to do. For him “it was the season of rest between the harvest and the next planting season (64)” Okonkwo didn’t know how to deal with this problem. Okonkwo only got better when he was able to do some type of activity from working or talking, I believe this might become his down fall.
Okonkwo will more then likely face another situation or situations just like Ikemefuna’s death but he will have to face it head on but not with physical action but with mental focus. Okonkwo will have to understand what he or others have done in life. In a nutshell, Okonkwo will have to face himself. If Okonkwo can understand what actions he will take he will be fine, but if he doubt his actions he will more then likely loss focus in life, do to the fact he is man of action and not of thought.
Ch.11-13
Ekwefi journey for Ezinma seems to symbolize a journey through life with “blind eyes”. When Chielo took Ezinma to the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves Ekwefi decided to follow them. Ekwefi had to be careful to not follow behind them to closely because she did then Chielo would know that she was following when Ekwefi was told not to follow. If Ekwefi fell behind to far then she would of lost them. At the beginning of the journey it was night so she couldn’t even see. “Her eyes were useless to her in the darkness (103).”
Just like Ekwefi blindly followed Chielo and Ezinma, people in ever day life follow their goals blindly. Ekwefi had only one goal set, to make sure that Ezinma was safe. Ekwefi wanted to make sure that her daughter was safe. Just like Ekwefi, everyone has his or own goal(s). We know what we must do to reach these goals but some choose to not think through their goals. Some goals are not reachable by some. I know this sounds pessimistic but stay with me. Some people are stubborn and try to reach these goals but still do not recognize the goals are impossible. “She shut her eyes for a while and opened them again in an effort to see. But it was useless. She could not see beyond her nose (103).” Although Ekwefi was able to stay with the Chielo and Ezinma (her goal), many people are not that successful. Many people fail in their effort the reach their goal(s).
Ch.14-18
Uchendu explained the point about mothers to Okonkwo to not only to comfort Okonkwo but also to help explain a point about life. When Okonkwo was exile to his mother’s original village, Mbanta, his mother’s younger brother, Uchendu, welcomed him. Uchendu later in the day explain to Okonkwo the point about mothers. He said while fathers may beat their children, children run to their mothers for comfort. “A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland (134).” While Uchendu tried to explain to Okonkwo that he would find comfort in Mbanta he can’t only think about himself but about others as well. “Your duty is to comfort your wives and children …. (134).”
Uchendu was to help Okonkwo understand that he cannot be self-fish. Sure Okonkwo may be miserable for killing someone but he must remember those who are near him. Okonkwo may lose his compound, his barn, his yams, but he still has his family. Things may be falling apart for him (like other people in the world) but he still needs to hold to what should be most dear to him, his family. He, like others, doesn’t recognize what is most dear to him (them) then he (they) will lose everything.
Ch. 19-21
Mr. Brown and Akunna discussions between their different beliefs symbolized the relationships between not only different religions about also different nations in the modern world. Mr. Brown and Akunna discuss for hours about their different beliefs to understand each other’s beliefs. Mr. Brown still criticized Akunna beliefs of having false gods and still considered Christianity to be better. Akunna saw that his beliefs and Christianity’s beliefs to be similar by having a high God with messengers either in the form of smaller gods or as people like Mr. Brown.
While Mr. Brown came into a foreign land he face a couple of problems. He did not know the customs of the land. Even though people converted over to Christianity he still needed to understand what the customs of the land to get more people. Just like Mr. Brown there have been relationships built between nations by trying to understand each other’s customs (laws, business, traditions, etc.). Even though one nation might invade another nation, they try to understand each other. If each other’s customs are not understand then there would be trouble between the nations. This trouble might be in the form of cases in courts to physical actions.
I believe if Mr. Brown did not choose to understand the beliefs of the natives then there might be trouble.
Ch.22-25
This may seem a little bit Romantic but I believe that there is a hint of self-discover, not in the people directly, but in the village of Umuofia. At the beginning of the book everything was fine. Umuofia had its customs that it was following and certain gods that they worshipped. Even though Okonkwo may have been exile, Umuofia still remained the same. This all change when the missionaries came in.
The missionaries challenge Umuofia to keep their customs. Up until the missionaries came Umuofia never had any outside contact, not even from white man. So when the missionaries came, the people in Umuofia started to challenge their faith. Some the people like Okonkwo saw the church as a wicked place, while other people like Enoch saw the churches salvation.
This scenario seems to reflect the world. Everyday people are experiencing new events or customs either from traveling the world or going off to college. Some of these people are challenge in what they have believed in. Like Umuofia, these people never had to face different beliefs at first in their lives. At an early age must people learn a set of guidelines of dos and don’ts. When they head into the world different people challenge these dos and don’ts. Most people are able to hang on to what they believe in, but loss their beliefs, like Umuofia.
Okonkwo saw Umuofia had loss all cause to fight the missionaries when he killed the messenger. When he killed the man he knew he went into action too quickly. “They had broken into tumult instead of action. He discerned fright in that tumult (205).” Maybe back in the day Okonkwo may have cause an up roar for war against the missionaries but the people have change. The people had to gain moral before fighting the missionaries, but Okonkwo ruined that by killing the messenger. The people of Umuofia would never be the same.
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