Journal+3+JYP

Chapter 7-8 Journal

As I read chapters 7 and 8 from the book __Things Fall Apart__, It made me to think deeply. When the oracles have said of Ikemefuna's death, I wouldn't wonder how bad Okonkwo would have felt. As they walked through the forest and killed Ikemefuna, this event is happening all around the world: peer pressure. As the clan mates from Ibo were walking with Okonkwo, Okonkwo was pressured by his own clan mates that he had to follow what they wished to be done: kill Ikemefuna. Being very identical to this situation, this situation of peer pressure is happening in places like the gang streets, schools, friends, parties! For example, person A desires to hang around with multiple people who are very 'popular' and cool. However, oneday, those friends would go and bully this little innocent kid for money. Person A might not enjoy this and feel extremely guilty, he has to bully the little kid too to show that he's not a sissy; he could now 'fit in' with these people. It says in the book " Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak."(pg.61). This clearly shows that he didn't wish to kill Ikemefuna, but he had to to prove that he's still strong.

“Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. He drank palm-wine from morning till night, and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat hen it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor. He called his son, Nwoye, to sit with him in his obi. But the boy was afraid of him and slipped out of the hut as soon as he notices him dozing.” (pg.63)

This introduction in chapter 8 shows how Okonkwo feels and how he loved Ikemefuna like his own son. From this reading, it made me curious of Okonkwo’s thoughts: Did he really think Ikemefuna before Nwoye? Will he be able to get out of the Ibo culture's peer pressure and not get pressed anymore? Will he later cause conflicts in the story because of Ikemefuna's death?