Journal Entries

16 June 2007
Entry Number 1
Pages 1-18

There seem to be a compare and contrast thing going on with Okonkwo and his father Unoka. It seems as if Okonkwo has been influencedby his father in a way that Okonkwo knows he does not want to turn out. Okonkwo's father seems like what we would consider a 'dead-beat' father.

Unoka seems as if he didn't even want childeren and that the only reason he had themwas because of the cultural influences he must have had the feeling that if he didn't have kids the villiage would judge him. Although the people disliked him when he would not pay any debts. For some reason it seems like the only way Unoka has ever found slace from these people was by playing his flute. Music was his get away.

People of the villiages percieve Okonkwo's a strong man. This is because personal achievments were highly liked in the Igbo society. Unoka had no personal achievments, except for music so therefore he was frowned upon.

17 June 2007
Entry Number 2
Pages 28-29

Okonkwo beat his wife. It's funny because it was the Week Of Peace and since they are extrememly superstituos, if there is any violence during that week, it is like an omen. Okonkwo's anger had gotten the best of him. In this culture it seems like violence is the more manly approach. It shows that if one does not impress others with physical strength, they are prone to be made a negative spectacle of themselves to the villiage.

19 June 2007
Entry Number 3
Quote: 'And when she returned he beat her very heavily'(29).

Okonokwo beat his wife because she wasn't attending to his manly needs. It shows that in his culture it was tolerated to beat women. I think it's stupid. Men show up to be selfish and sexist in the Igbo culture.

21 June 2007
Entry Number 4
Pages: 37-45

It seems as if wrestling is a way to prove your social status in this culture. Considering it is ones personal achievment. I find it ridiculous. People have to pound others in the ground to prove something of themselves. Whether it is strength, wit, or talent. Wrestling and winning proves how well they are percieved in the society. That leaves the women of the culture to prove themselves how? They cannot really prove themselves, all they can do is to do as they are told without question. It's horrible.

24 June 2007
Entry Number 5
Pages 46-48

Wrestling matches are about to start. They really do go all out for the wrestling matches with the decorations and all. A while bunch of people seem to show up for them. The Igbo people seemed to be entertained by two men tearing eachother up. Violence seems to be a way to show your personal achievement. One must physically prove themselves in the Igbo culture. It's ridiculous.

25 June 2007
Entry Number 6
Pages 53-62

Okonkwo had seemed to develop a meaningful relationship with Ikemefuna. Everything seemed okay, until 'spirit's had wanted Ikemefuna dead. Okonkwo did not have to witness Ikemefuna's death, but he did anyways because he feared the spirits. Okonkwo seems to be selfish and care for himself more than he cares for a boy he could call his son. Even though Okonkwo seemed close to Ikemefuna, he had never called him son. He was very much detached, I am thinking he knew to keep his distance just incase there was a time like this.

26 June 2007
Entry Number 7
Page 66

Okonkwo asks Obierika why he did not come with them to kill Ikemefuna. Obierika says that it would displease the Earth God. Okonkwo happend to go because he did not want to anger the spirits. I owuld have thought that these two men would have argued over who was right and who was wrong, but they did not. Secretly I bet that they truly believed they were right.

27 June 2007
Entry Number 8
Page 78

Igbo people are very supersituos. They believe that the reason Ekwefi's baby kept dieing was of an Obanje. I think that's insane. Normally we would just assume it was due to misscarriages because of the lack of medical help. Living in a thrid world country, you have to assume that people are not going to have many of the advantages as they do.

28 June 2007
Entry Number 9
Page 96

In this section Ekwefi tells a story to Enzima. For the to be sharing stories with eachother is a great bonding method. The Author's discripotions of Ekwefi and Enzima seem to emulate that they are very close, especially since he [Achebe] does not mention much of the other mothers and their childeren's relationship. I feel that their relationship is more profound than the others.

29 June 2007
Entry Number 10
Page 70

There is a section on this page that mentions arranged marriage, it seems although Igbo cultures and traditions may differ drastically, they also sometimes compare with our society today.

30 June 2007
Entry Number 11
Page 76

Okonkwo was informed that Enzima is in danger if dieing. He was very alrarmed, his emotions and actions showed his deep love for the child. What I was wondering was, what if it was another one of his childeren? Would he have reacted to them in the way he did towards Enzima? I think his obvious love for Enzima overshadowed his care for his other childered.

1 July 2007
Entry 12
Pages 79-80

As I have been readin about Ekwefi it is obvious how important Enzima is to her.I think that the relationship with Enzima is so pure that of a mother and daughter. Ekwefi is afraid of lever losing Enzima becuase of all the other children she had lost. Enzima seems to be the only person she cares about in the world.

2 July 2007
Entry 13
Quote

'Okonkwo's wives, and perhaps other women as well, might have noticed that the second egwugwu had the springy walk of Okonkwo. And they migh have also noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of egugwu. But if they thought these things they kept it within themselves" (90).

This passage shows to me how surpressed not only women felt, but men too. I am concludung that many Igbo people have questioned their religion, but did not have the courage to speak out so do to consequences, so when the white men came, it gave them a chance to experience diversity and the feeling that they weren't the only ones that though differently.

3 July 2007
Entry 14
Quote:

The night was impenterably dark. The moon was rising later and later every night until now it was seen only at dawn. And whenever the noon forsook and rose at cock-crow the nigths were black as charcoal.

I like how descriptive the author was being about what we would consider daylight savings time. He used words such as 'impenetertably' and ;clack as charcoal' to describe the change of the year.

4 July 2007
Entry 15
Page 96

I thought it was very modern the way mothers bonded with their childeren. They would sit around and tell stories to eachother. Ekwefi bonded with Enzoma that way, this showed me that no matter how many cultural differences there are, that there are also a few simliarites.

6 July 2007
Entry 16
Page 104

I admired that Ekwefi followed Enzima to the Preistess's. It showed how much Ewkefi really cared for her daughter's well being. Although it does lead me to believe that all of Ekwefi's misscarriages has tramatized her, and any time away from Enzima is painful to bare for her. Enzima seems like a very smart child and she can be capable on her own and Ekwefi knows this, but the thought of losing another child to Ekewefi is misery at it's best.

8 July 2007
Entry 17
Page 109

Ekwefi has seemed to sacrifice alot when she married Anene. She ad tp giv eup her love Okonkwo because he could not support her. I think it was dumb that she had left him once Okonkwo earned money.

10 July 2007
Entry 18
Page 113

I find it odd that they have sacrifices to honor their Gods, whether it is humans or animals. They seem to be very intouch with their spirituality and love of all Gods. It seems to me that they most likely fear their Gods, for they have the ultimate power in giving bad omens.

12 July 2007
Entry 19
Page 114

The women went frantic after hearing how a cow had gotten loose. It makes me think that the women are put in fear and that if they make a mistake they have to face consequences that are severe.

16 July 2007
Entry 20
Page 120

When there is a death in the villiage the entire villiage is notified. I think it is amazing people have this sense of communication with eachother. Especially with deaths. They play a certain beat on an instrument and right away people know what it means. Communication and worship is very important to these people.

17 July 2007
Entry 21
Page 121

People in the community run wild and reak havoc after a death. They go about and cut down trees and hurt animals. These people seem as if they are taking out their sorrow on on the earth and it's creatures. This seems barbaric and it contradicts their belief.

20 July 2007
Entry 22
Page 129-130

Given Okonkwo's attitude towards being independant and how he feels, I do not know how he is going to deal with having to live with his mother's family. After commiting a sensless act of violence, he was sent off to live with his mother. That was it! That is insane, that is not even much of a punishment. Ofcourse it is to them because reputation seems to be a very important thing to them, so it would make sense how embarrassing this much be for Okonkow. It shows how much we differ from their culture.

21 July 2007
Entry 23
Page 128-130

Given Okonkwo's attitude towards being independant and how he feels the need to show he is a true man I do not know how he is going to deal with having to live wit his mother's family. After committing what we would call accidental manslaughter he had to leach which tells me that this is very damaging to his reputation, which seems to by very important.

23 July 2007
Entry 24
Pages 132-133

I though it was very admirable that Uchenda preached to Okonkwo, It is netter Oknokwo know that is is okay to except help from others, especially his family.

25 July 2007
Entry 25
Page 135

They seem to sing songs for many occasions such as a woman's death. I think that is a bit too much.

27 July 2007
Entry 26
Page 145

I think it is a swell idea that Nwoye happens to have about joining the Christian religion. It shows that he was one of many that was not limited by the Igbo culture. I was very interested in Nwoye's journey of becoming his own person and sacrificing his family so that he could, experience more for himself. Although at times, to me it does seem that Nwoye's curiousity is surpressed by his father, I admire that Nwyoe does his best to not let it get in the way of many new experiences.

28 July 2007
Entry 27
Page 146

I get annoyed with these evangelists from time to time. The keep forcing their beliefs on the Igbo culture, and all the Ibo peopel want to do is live in peace and follow their own God. These evangelical people drive me insane. They happen to be very narrowminded.

30 July 2007
Entry 28
Page 148

These evangelists seem to think that the Igbo people are unethical in their beliefs. I will never grasp the thought process of people who cannot seem to be more opened to other cultures and beliefs.

31 July 2007
Entry 29
Page 150

Nwoye's interest has sparked even more and Okonkwo cannot seem to handle it. I find it funny because the evangelists and Okonkwo happen to have the similar distaste in diversity.

1 August 2007
Entry 30
Page 157

I can tell Nwoye is having an interest in Chirstianity U wouldn't blame him . All he has ever known was what he was taught by the Igbo society. I think it is very brave of him to go out and experience knew things for himself.

2 August 2007
Entry 31
Page 152

I think it is horrible how Okonkwo cannot seem to accept that Nwoye is branching out to new things in his life. I guess Okonkwo thinks that Nwoye is being disloyal to his heritage, but that is not true, the way I see it is that Nwoye is just making his life more meaningful because he realizes that the Igbo life might not be what he wants.

3 August 2007
Entry 32
Page 172

Okonkwo seems to indirectly say that Nwoye is not a man for not honoring his Heritage and being like his father. I think by standnig up to Oknowo Nwyoe was very manly.

4 August 20007
Entry 33
Page 173

It really annoys me that Okonkwo regrets Enzoma being a girl. Women can do things just as well as men can.

Pt. 3 Questions

1. Achebe brings European culture in the last part of Things Fall Apart. Achebe wants Okonkwo to have to deal with the new changes after his absense.


2. Umuofia has seemed to change alot over the last seven years of Okonkwo's exile. The Christian Church had successfully made it's way into the culture and led many to their beliefs. The Christians had even made what the Igbo society considered a 'worthy man' join the religion. Also there had been a white government established.



3. The Court Messengers play the role of guarding the prison, which happend to be full of people who insulted the white man's law. The white man's law does not seem to tolerate other beliefs, and if one insults their beliefs they seem to convert them or hurt them. The white man's laws seem to be more harsh then the Igbo's.

4. When the white men had taken over it was too late for the Igbo people to take their land back because their own men had taken side with the white men. Most of the Igbo people had joined the white man's religion and upheld their government. Also it would be difficult because the people of Igbo who had sided with white men would turn other people against Okonkwo and Obierika. White man has been clever as to turning the Igbo people to his religion and ways of thinking. Obierika seems as the transitional figure between the clash of two cultures. Obierka knows he cannot do much to change the minds of the white men so he accepts what they have turned the old Igbo culture into, but he still follows his old ways of the Igbo culture.

5. Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith are two opposites. Mr. Brown is unagressive, more understanding towards the Igbo culture. He tries to find common ground within the two cultures. Mr. Smith is more uncompromising, every conversation seems like an argument and not a compromise with the Igbo people. Mr. Brown has a conversation about religion with Akunna. This conversations shows that the Igbo religion and Christianity are two different religions that believe in completely opposite beliefs. Also this conversation shows how Mr. Brown's character triumphs in being a compromising and unagressive man. Mr. Brown also understood that attacking the religion and it's people would do no good. Enoch had sent an uproar umongst the community, he had unmasked an egwugwu. Which had angered the egwugwu spirits, who had then terrorized the white man's church and burned it down. The burning down of the church had angered the white men which then, called fourth the head of the Igbo society, which included Okonkwo. Then the men were sentenced to jail until the cowries were paid off, but in the time they were in jail they were beaten and shaved by the white men. When the men were bailed Okonkwo seeked revenge. He could not handle his weakness for the white men. Than Okonkwo swore revenge on the white men, afterwards, he had shot the white man knowing that Umuofia would not go into war. He became severly depressed and hung himself.

6. People did not feel the same as Okonkwo did about the white men. The people of Umuofia were glad because of the trading stores that the white men had instituted. Religion and education seem to go hand in hand because the white men seem to be very charismatic with their teachings, and are so assured that their religion is 'right'. They seem to know more than the Igbo, or are percieved that way. The more the white men seem to know, it strengthens their control over the communities beliefs.

7. The District Commisioner tells the six men that they will talk about the incident that had taken place in his absence. Afterwards the Commisioner tells them that they must pay for their people's wrong doings. Okonkwo is furious and tells the men they should have killed the white man as he had plannned. Okonkwo had killed the messenger because he was the very messenger that had beat him heavily and he had developed hate for. Okonkwo later takes his own life, he does this because he had realized after killing one messenger, it would not make a difference in making his society better. Okonkw is isolated later because his suicide was conveyed as an 'offense against the Earth'. I do consider Okonkwo a tragic hero because his community considered him a noble being and looked up to him although he had many flaws that he was aware of but did not accept.

8. The District Commissioner decided to to write a story about Okonkwo, he thought atleast a paragraph would do. The District Comisioner would write a paragraph consisting of the reason for killing a messenger and killing himself. On the other hand Achebe had written a whole book on the trials and success of Okonkwo, this is because Achebe had more incite on Okonkwo's life, and wanted to show all the event that led him to his suicide.

9. After having read Things Fall Apart it seems as if the Igbo culture's failure to have excepted diversity seemed to be their downfall. It was not just that, the evangilists also had a part in the destruction of the community, the evangilists took over without any restraint. They had little to no consultation with the people about their ideas and motives. Also, within their own direcotry of people they did not seem to have communication or the same visions in mind for the Igbo culture. For both parties neither one was open to diversity. The Igbo people were not going to welcome it and the white men were surpressing the Igbo Society's culture and religion and had tried to over power the the people. The battle between changing and what was considered orthodox seemed to play a immense theme in the novel.

10. Achebe has inegrated traditional African/Igbo elements in his novel, the cross of Western literary and Igbo/African creative expression produce effects such as controversial diversity with the white men and the Igbo men. Such as religion.

Pt. 2 Questions

1. Okonkwo and his family has fled his fatherland to go an dlive in his motherland, Mbanta. This is because Okonkwo had killed a dead man's young boy. Okonkwo despairs as he first starts living in Mbanta do to the fact that hae has been exiled from his fatherland. Uchendu, Okonkwo's uncle, sees his despair and tells him that it is okay to find comfort in his motherland.

2. The Abame clan was wiped out. Three white men and a handful of other men had found their way to the market of Abame and began to shoot everyone there. Uchenda thought the Abame tribe was foolish because they should not have said a word to the white men, therefore they would not attack. Okonkwo thought that they were foolsih because they knew danger was coming and they stayed. The Abame tribe should have moved elsewhere since they knew danger was ahead. Uchenda says, "There is no story that is not true" by this he means that when a person tells a story there are people that will believe the story, making it true. Just because there are people tha do not believe it does not make it a lie.

3. Oberieka had visited Okonkwo after two years of his exile. Oberieka had come and told Okonkwo about what had happend to the Abame tribe and brought Okonkwo cowries. After another two years Okonkwo had another visit from Oberieka. This time Oberieka had more unhappy news, it was about the missionaries building a Church in Imuofia. Nwoye, Okonkwo's eldest son, had converted to Christianity. His motive for this was because Christianity did not make much sense to Nwoye so all the more reason for him to learn more about the religion. When the Africans had first come upon the missionaries, th ey did not knwo what to make of them. When the African's understood that the missionaries were there to tell them about Christianity, they were not very open to them and their beliefs. Soon the Igbo people wanted nothing to do with them and the people from their tribes who would follow their beliefs. Once the missionaries had invaded the Igbo community, the Igbo's did not know what the missionaries had come for. Igbo people had thought missionaries were there to kill them, so the Igbo tribes had killed a missionary. Missionaries had attacked the Abame tribe which triggered the tribes extinction. Slowly more and more Africans are joining the missionaries. It is mainly the people who do not understand the relgion and want to understand it more join, or the people who want diversity and are tired of the same repetitive life style. Nwoye converts to Christianity because he wants to understand the religion more and he is interested by the percept. As Nwoye converts Okonkwo is furious and does not want much to do with him, Okonkwo does not see Nwoye as his son any longer.

4. In Mbanta, the young Church started to have a few crises. The missionaries had started to invaid the villages and walked around boasting how impotent and unreal the peoples' Gods were. The people of Mbanta are content with the Christians remaining in their midst rather than leaving because they do not want to cause and trouble, such as war, by forcing them to leave. The people of Mbanta do not want what has happend to the Abame tribe to happent ot them. There ae many differences between the Mbanta religion and the Christian religion. People of Mbanta believe in more than one god. They belief there are many Gods afoot for many situations. Also Mbanta people are highly superstitious.

5. There have been many changes from the elders' generation to the younger men of Umuofia, when the elders were younger people seemed to be more friendly. Men did not beat there childeren and wives.