If you stop to think about it, the lives that these African people lead are very similar to our own. Society has not really changed much over the years. People still judge and sanction each other in the same ways today. Okonkwo was very ashamed of his place in life and especially of his lazy father. As Okonkwo matured he became determined to turn to his life around. He wanted not only wanted to be better than his father but better and more successful than anyone. He knew that to achieve this aspiration that he would have to be everything that his father was not, and according to Okonkwo his father was not much. I think that all purpose driven young people want to be better than what has come before them. I have already vowed to myself to make up for my parent’s downfalls in the future. My parents are excellent people but I will not allow the same mistakes crop up for two generations in a row. This is exactly the kind of thinking and mindset that Okonkwo has and I completely connect with him in that way. However, I do oppose the way in which he treats his family. Everyone makes mistakes and children are to honor their parents no matter what they have done. I believe that parental respect is for important in any family and or society.
The final thoughts on my last post must now be expanded after reading these next three chapters. Okonkwo is very cold and unfeeling and treats his family very harshly. He strives only for masculine control and detests any weaknesses. However, I believe, that Okonkwo is the weak one. Okonkwo thinks that emotion is a sign of weakness but I think that those who are unable to show emotion are weak. His views on women are very repulsive to me. He shows them no respect and I think that he would have killed the wife he was angry with if he hadn’t been concerned about what other people thought of him. Okonkwo is very hard on his sons. He especially puts a lot of pressure on his oldest son, Nwoye. He beats him at any sign of what he believes is weakness. He seems to care for his adopted son, Ikemefuna, but yet he does not provide him protection. He showed no sign of protest when he was told that Ikemefuna was to be killed and in fact he finished him off when they were killing him. He killed someone he cared for because he was so afraid of what people thought of him.
Ekwefi is a very strong character in the novel. She had much disappointment and heart ache after she has had so many children die. She became quite bitter but she did not try to blame other people for the death of her children. She didn’t even become angry or jealous of the other women and take out her pain and anger on Okonkwo’s other two wives. She blamed the death of her children completely on herself but did not lose faith that a healthy child would be born. When Ezinma lived for several years she devoted her entire being to her. The author makes it quite clear that Ekwefi is much more attached to Ezinma than to anyone else in the world, including Okonkwo. I even believe that Okonkwo values Ezinma and the strength that she possesses. He pronounces several times that it is a shame that she was not a son. When Ekwefi told him that Ezinma was dying he immediately rushed to her aid. This confirms that he truly does care for her even though she is a daughter and not a son. Okonkwo does have some feeling in him which he reveals when he is removed from people outside his immediate family. I think that Okonkwo is much too concerned with how other people view him and this is an obvious fault that has chased people through the centuries.
Okonkwo’s character improves upon further study. When Ezinma is carried away Okonkwo, at first, demonstrates no fear or worry, but later he sets out after Ekwefa and Ezinma. He obviously does care about his family much more than he lets on. This section of the novel is very important because it is an opportunity to view Okonkwo when he is not under the pressure of his peers. When Okonkwo is being observed by his peers he behaves very cruelly because he is afraid of revealing weakness. However, Okonkwo’s character was almost unrecognizable in this section of the text because he was acting in the dead of night and without worry of discovery. I do not think that Okonkwo really enjoys being cruel to his family. When Ekwefa told him that she was going to follow her daughter he did not become angry but later set out on his own for the exact same purpose. He even allowed Ekwefa to remain with him after Ezinma was discovered. I think that he actually has a very tender heart but is insecure with himself and without really realizing it he takes out his insecurities out on his family whom he blames for his downfalls.
The views on religion in the novel have finally come to a head. Missionaries have come to the pagan villages of Africa and are determined to convince the rustic villagers to convert to Christianity. These missionaries, of course, create much controversy. They are first rejected because the natives believe that they can’t last for long and will soon die. However, the missionaries show no sign of perishing after several weeks. More and more people begin to convert and even Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, begins to take interest in Christianity despite his father’s obvious hatred towards Christianity. Nwoye realizes that Christianity explains many things that his own gods do not. Nwoye never understood the senseless killing of babies and young children and Christianity seems to complete him. His father beat him when he discovered that he had become involved in Christianity. This did not Nwoye, however. Nwoye proves to be courageous when he leaves his family and goes to attend a Christian school where he learns to read, write, and learn more about his newfound faith. Okonkwo thinks that his son is weak but Nwoye has a strength that his father will never understand. “Mr. Kiaga’s joy was very great. ‘Blessed is he who forsakes his father and his mother for my sake,’ he intoned. ‘Those that hear my words are my father and my mother’” (152). Nwoye stands up for what he believes and he chose his own path in life.
Okonkwo’s family has finally completed their seven years of exile. Okonkwo is determined to reenter Umuofia with a flourish. Okonkwo was devastated when he was exiled for accidentally killing a young boy and he never thought of anything but his return. When I read the section previous to this I thought the exile might be a good thing for Okonkwo and his family. I thought that perhaps that Okonkwo might be awakened to the important things in life. Okonkwo is so focused on power and domination that he isn’t able to enjoy life. He is, of course, well liked because he is a powerful man but many fear him because they see how cruel he can be to those who don’t obey him. His plan when he returns to Umuofia is to build a much larger compound and to increase the amount of land he owns to impress people. He expects to be welcomed back with open arms after he does this. He thinks that his wealth will impress people and does not realize that his own character comes into play as well. He thinks that wealth and power is everything and this is why I strongly dislike him so much.
A spreading of a religion through the peaceful work of missionaries is very important. However, the forcing of a new government on a nation is absolutely horrific. People cannot be forced to change their entire life style but it has to be a decision that they make for themselves. The ending of this novel was absolutely revolting. The way the people were treated in Africa is sickening. They were not even treated like intelligent human beings but like cattle who have to be driven in the right direction. A new form of government was being forced upon the people and they were treated very cruelly. I did not foresee Okenkwo’s suicide at all. In fact, I thought he was stronger than that. I do not view suicide as a form of courage but of weakness and cowardliness. Okenkwo was needed to first lead and then to resist and he bailed at the moment he was needed most. The last paragraph of the novel symbolizes just how ignorant “civilized” and “educated” people really are. The commissioner did not care about the people of Niger at all but only about the book he was preparing to write. It was exactly like he was researching some species of animal. This novel not only shows us an example of another culture that is supposed to be so completely opposite our own but reveals how alike all human beings really are.
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.
7 comments:
Chapters 1-4
If you stop to think about it, the lives that these African people lead are very similar to our own. Society has not really changed much over the years. People still judge and sanction each other in the same ways today. Okonkwo was very ashamed of his place in life and especially of his lazy father. As Okonkwo matured he became determined to turn to his life around. He wanted not only wanted to be better than his father but better and more successful than anyone. He knew that to achieve this aspiration that he would have to be everything that his father was not, and according to Okonkwo his father was not much.
I think that all purpose driven young people want to be better than what has come before them. I have already vowed to myself to make up for my parent’s downfalls in the future. My parents are excellent people but I will not allow the same mistakes crop up for two generations in a row. This is exactly the kind of thinking and mindset that Okonkwo has and I completely connect with him in that way. However, I do oppose the way in which he treats his family. Everyone makes mistakes and children are to honor their parents no matter what they have done. I believe that parental respect is for important in any family and or society.
Chapters 5-7
The final thoughts on my last post must now be expanded after reading these next three chapters. Okonkwo is very cold and unfeeling and treats his family very harshly. He strives only for masculine control and detests any weaknesses. However, I believe, that Okonkwo is the weak one. Okonkwo thinks that emotion is a sign of weakness but I think that those who are unable to show emotion are weak. His views on women are very repulsive to me. He shows them no respect and I think that he would have killed the wife he was angry with if he hadn’t been concerned about what other people thought of him.
Okonkwo is very hard on his sons. He especially puts a lot of pressure on his oldest son, Nwoye. He beats him at any sign of what he believes is weakness. He seems to care for his adopted son, Ikemefuna, but yet he does not provide him protection. He showed no sign of protest when he was told that Ikemefuna was to be killed and in fact he finished him off when they were killing him. He killed someone he cared for because he was so afraid of what people thought of him.
Chapters 8-10
Ekwefi is a very strong character in the novel. She had much disappointment and heart ache after she has had so many children die. She became quite bitter but she did not try to blame other people for the death of her children. She didn’t even become angry or jealous of the other women and take out her pain and anger on Okonkwo’s other two wives. She blamed the death of her children completely on herself but did not lose faith that a healthy child would be born. When Ezinma lived for several years she devoted her entire being to her. The author makes it quite clear that Ekwefi is much more attached to Ezinma than to anyone else in the world, including Okonkwo. I even believe that Okonkwo values Ezinma and the strength that she possesses. He pronounces several times that it is a shame that she was not a son. When Ekwefi told him that Ezinma was dying he immediately rushed to her aid. This confirms that he truly does care for her even though she is a daughter and not a son. Okonkwo does have some feeling in him which he reveals when he is removed from people outside his immediate family. I think that Okonkwo is much too concerned with how other people view him and this is an obvious fault that has chased people through the centuries.
Chapters 11-13
Okonkwo’s character improves upon further study. When Ezinma is carried away Okonkwo, at first, demonstrates no fear or worry, but later he sets out after Ekwefa and Ezinma. He obviously does care about his family much more than he lets on. This section of the novel is very important because it is an opportunity to view Okonkwo when he is not under the pressure of his peers. When Okonkwo is being observed by his peers he behaves very cruelly because he is afraid of revealing weakness. However, Okonkwo’s character was almost unrecognizable in this section of the text because he was acting in the dead of night and without worry of discovery. I do not think that Okonkwo really enjoys being cruel to his family. When Ekwefa told him that she was going to follow her daughter he did not become angry but later set out on his own for the exact same purpose. He even allowed Ekwefa to remain with him after Ezinma was discovered. I think that he actually has a very tender heart but is insecure with himself and without really realizing it he takes out his insecurities out on his family whom he blames for his downfalls.
Chapters 14-18
The views on religion in the novel have finally come to a head. Missionaries have come to the pagan villages of Africa and are determined to convince the rustic villagers to convert to Christianity. These missionaries, of course, create much controversy. They are first rejected because the natives believe that they can’t last for long and will soon die. However, the missionaries show no sign of perishing after several weeks. More and more people begin to convert and even Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, begins to take interest in Christianity despite his father’s obvious hatred towards Christianity. Nwoye realizes that Christianity explains many things that his own gods do not. Nwoye never understood the senseless killing of babies and young children and Christianity seems to complete him. His father beat him when he discovered that he had become involved in Christianity. This did not Nwoye, however. Nwoye proves to be courageous when he leaves his family and goes to attend a Christian school where he learns to read, write, and learn more about his newfound faith. Okonkwo thinks that his son is weak but Nwoye has a strength that his father will never understand. “Mr. Kiaga’s joy was very great. ‘Blessed is he who forsakes his father and his mother for my sake,’ he intoned. ‘Those that hear my words are my father and my mother’” (152). Nwoye stands up for what he believes and he chose his own path in life.
Chapters 19-21
Okonkwo’s family has finally completed their seven years of exile. Okonkwo is determined to reenter Umuofia with a flourish. Okonkwo was devastated when he was exiled for accidentally killing a young boy and he never thought of anything but his return. When I read the section previous to this I thought the exile might be a good thing for Okonkwo and his family. I thought that perhaps that Okonkwo might be awakened to the important things in life. Okonkwo is so focused on power and domination that he isn’t able to enjoy life. He is, of course, well liked because he is a powerful man but many fear him because they see how cruel he can be to those who don’t obey him. His plan when he returns to Umuofia is to build a much larger compound and to increase the amount of land he owns to impress people. He expects to be welcomed back with open arms after he does this. He thinks that his wealth will impress people and does not realize that his own character comes into play as well. He thinks that wealth and power is everything and this is why I strongly dislike him so much.
Chapters 22-25
A spreading of a religion through the peaceful work of missionaries is very important. However, the forcing of a new government on a nation is absolutely horrific. People cannot be forced to change their entire life style but it has to be a decision that they make for themselves. The ending of this novel was absolutely revolting. The way the people were treated in Africa is sickening. They were not even treated like intelligent human beings but like cattle who have to be driven in the right direction. A new form of government was being forced upon the people and they were treated very cruelly. I did not foresee Okenkwo’s suicide at all. In fact, I thought he was stronger than that. I do not view suicide as a form of courage but of weakness and cowardliness. Okenkwo was needed to first lead and then to resist and he bailed at the moment he was needed most. The last paragraph of the novel symbolizes just how ignorant “civilized” and “educated” people really are. The commissioner did not care about the people of Niger at all but only about the book he was preparing to write. It was exactly like he was researching some species of animal. This novel not only shows us an example of another culture that is supposed to be so completely opposite our own but reveals how alike all human beings really are.
Post a Comment