TFAjournal+3

Journal 3 Reading through chapter 7 and 8, there were many dramatic and emotional events that made me feel sorrow. As I mentioned in the last journal, like in our modern society, Ibo culture depends on Oracles and prophecies. However, in the book Things Fall Apart, the fact that people believing too much in Oracle led to a tragic event: Ikemefuna’s Death. In previous chapters, we can see that there were some affection between father and Ikemefuna. Despite the love that Ikemefuna and Okonkwo shared, as soon as Okonkwo hears to kill Ikemefuna from the Oracle, Okonkwo does not hesitate. I cannot believe Okonkwo actually listened to the Oracle because I thought emotion of love would win out all those superstitions. I think this village people do not have their own opinions or thoughts because they trust the Oracle too much that they killed a young boy. Like in this story, in our world today, there are some similar problems but not as severe as much such as killing someone. An example is if you consult that you do not have good grades these days, then the oracle might say to betray or be distant from a person that might be taking your luck. That person might be your best friend or maybe your boyfriend. So then, I believe, it is better to trust your decision rather than depending on the Oracle.
 * a) Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection: **


 * b) Do a close reading of one paragraph coming from any of the chapters we've read somehow; post that somehow (diigo, scanned image, voice thread, or other option)**



How have Ikemefuna influence other people? Okonkwo? Nwoye?
 * c) An interpretive or evaluative question stemming from the first paragraph of your journal or your close reading activity.**

Paragraph by Jane C There are many ways that Ikemefuna influenced the characters in this book. The two biggest characters that I think are mostly related with Ikemefuna is Okonkwo and Nwoye, whom were the family of Ikemefuna. At the begining of the story, 3 people seemed to get together with each other well, planting Yams together and working the man's work of the family. I think that out of all the males in the family, Ikemefuna was the strongest, bravest and the most skillful worker. His planting skills and works were acknowledged by Okonkwo who also believed that Ikemefuna made Nwoye as a man. " Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father's household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors." It was said in the book that Nwoye stopped talking about the women's story and was not interested into women. After leaving his original family, Umuofia, Ikemefuna was living well with all of his new belongings before the decision of Okonkwo that he should be killed. The death of Ikemefuna was the turning point which gave big impact on both Okonkwo and Nwoye. As shown in the above paragraph, Okonkwo was depressed and regret about killing the precious person who he liked. He knew that Nwoye can not stand by himself and finish the work by himself. Also, the death of Ikemefuna made Nwoye to become scared of his father and to not know how he should live a life and finish the work.