TFA+journal+6

a) Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection Now, I can interpret that the title Things Fall Apart plays a significant meaning in this entire story. As I was reading through part 2, there were many changes in the society but also in Okonkwo. In the Ibo culture, the white men converting the Ibo’s beliefs reminds me of few things. First of all, it makes me think about the historical event where the Europeans try to convert the Native Americans. The white men, Mr. Brown, Kiaga, and other Christian converters represent the Europeans in the 17th century. And the Ibo people which represents Africans who are being used by the Europeans. In the real historical event, Europeans came into African to convert them into Christianity and in exchange they will provide protection and other resources. Later, some conservatism will protest on the conversion of Christianity. Same with Ibo, some protested about believing in Christianity such as Okonkwo. Secondly, this seems to connect to my friends and myself. In a human relationship, conflicts exist due to collision of opinions. Like in this story, there were some conflicts between two religions. **When there are conflicts, the conflicts make people to fight, the conflict will make disunity in the society as well.** Now I get why the title is Things Fall Apart. At first, the readers can tell that the clan’s kinship is very strong. However, as Okonkwo gets exiled and the white men invaded Ibo, soon, Ibo lost their own identity.

b) Paragraph looking at the character of Okonkwo in Part II - is he changing? same person we saw in Part I? In most other books, usually the main character matures and transforms in a way. However, in the book Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo have not changed for the past 7 years. For my understanding, I thought he would change into a person who is caring, understanding, and less strict. Despite my predictions, Okonkwo has the same belief about being manly. One of the examples that show he has not changed is in the scene where Okonkwo says this tribe is not manly. And also when Nyowe is converted to Christian, he regrets having a son not manly like him.

c) Interpretive/Evaluative Question related to one of your two paragraphs for this journal entry Why does conversion of Christianity make Okonkwo mad?