TFAJournal+Minae

Journal #7
Okonkwo did not do the right thing. Throughout his whole life, his goal was to try and prove himself and maintain his image as a strong and proud man. However, his definition of “manly” was very one-minded in a sense that it only consisted of bravery and physical strength. However, the real definition of a man includes being able to cope and show one’s weakness. Okwonkwo ended up hanging himself in a tree since he didn’t want to get executed by the white men. This shows that he kept up his pride and didn’t want to be killed by the savage and low white men. He wasn’t able to cope with the embarrassment of being killed by another man. Therefore, he just killed himself instead. This shows that he hadn’t changed much, and that he should have just let fate carry its role, admitting his faults. That was what a real man should have done.

Journal #6
1. I could relate the church in the Mbanta village with an inner-city academy that taught children who were unable to go to school or who were orphans english. The church took in outcasts from the society such as twins and took care of them while teaching them Christianity. **Similarly, the inner-city academy took in orphans or children who couldn’t attend regular school- outcasts to education- and gave them a proper schooling.** Furthermore, both the church and the academy were unwanted by the people/government of the society. The foreigners were unwelcome in Mbanta eventually leading the council of men to “ostracize the Christians”(159) In Seoul, there were many people who wanted to build a more “useful” facility in place of the academy. It was unwanted in the area. However, I believe that the church and the academy were doing a good job of taking care of the unwanted and treating them equally. If not, then the world would be an enjoyable place for the “wanted”.

2. Okonkwo has not shown much change throughout part two. He still thinks that a real man should have manly and emotionless features and is still very one-minded. When Uchendu asked Okonkwo some questions while he was unable to answer. In return Uchendu called Okonkwo “a child, even though he had many wives and many children”(134) Moreover, when the clan decided to ostracize the Christians, Okonkwo “ground his teeth in disgust and called Mbanta womanly.”(159) Okonkwo wanted to do away with the Christians with whips. This shows how he still thinks that using violence and not respecting females are traits of a manly character. Lastly, his one-mindedness leads him to grow apart more than ever with his son. As soon has he heard Nwoye had converted himself to Christianity, Okonkwo “yelled at him while seizing a heavy stick and hit him with two or three savage blows.”(152) However, in the future I believe that Okonkwo will grow to alter his character more like Unchenda after living with his clan for seven years and realizing the fault in his character.

3. Will the division of the clan in terms of religion later result in a civil war? or a revolution? (especially with the outcasts)

Journal #5
1.I could relate Jonas from //The Giver// to Okonkwo. They both left their home because of the custom that they offended or didn’t like. Okonkwo “accidentally” shot the son of Oberikira he had to be exiled for a couple of years from his Umofia. Similarily, in //The Giver//, Jonas left his home on his own since he didn’t like the society’s way of life and the strict rules that it held. Wanting to find out more and learn on his own, he left the safety of his country into the wild of the real world. However, in the first situation, Okonkwo had to leave the country unwillingly, while in the second situation Jonas left on his own will. Both situations include the rules of society and how not following them could lead to exile. We can see the importance of following rules especially if one wants to survive. 2.In the future I think Okonkwo will have to live with another one of his relatives for a couple of years. There, I think he will meet another family and make close relations with them. He will have to prove himself there again, however, this time not with strength but of integrity and kindness. This way, Okonkwo would learn a lesson about what a “real man” should be. 3.Why is the punishment for killing one another banishment? Why not a fine or jail? And why is again, different for women and men? Shouldn’t the murderers have a trial?

Journal Entry #4
1. I could relate the strong relationship between mother and daughter in the book from chapter 11 to real life situations. Ekwefi, the mother, was terribly worried when Chielo, the priestess of Agbala came and took Enzima, Ekwefi’s daughter, away. Ekwefi desperately followed the wild priestess in the dead of night alone, feeling almost indifferent to the dangers that surrounded her, driven by the passion of saving her daughter. What made this more astounding was that the Ibo culture had a strong discrimination of gender. For a woman to be following a sacred priestess in the dead of night alone was to be unheard of. There have been many instances in real life as well where parents would do anything, which even meant costing their lives to save their children. For example, I have heard numerous accounts of parents giving up everything they had to kidnappers just to get their child back from them on the news and on the television. I believe that this relationship is truly beautiful and shows how strong love can be!:)

2. The whole three chapters had a common theme of myth and traditions concerning gods that dictated peoples’ everyday lives. Even in a simple case of trial, a huge ceremony took place in honoring their judges who were the //egugwu// of the land. **I wonder why myths, gods, and fables were such an important part of peoples’ lives and their actions.**

Q Parkk: In our technically advanced society, we use science to prove how a particular phenomenon happens. However in the old days like that of the book __Things Fall Apart__, they didn't have such science for explanation, so they often thought it is a great power of God or a mystical existence. Because humans always want explanation of some sort, that is, why God is used to be representative who has almighty and undeniable power who causes all those miracles; whether they are punishments or blessings, they were greatly appreciated. Other medias, such as myths and fables, are just another example of a replacement of a logical reasoning. Another reason that God was so appreciated, which continues to these days, is that God gives us rest and peace mentally. The people are mostly strong physically, but they are often weak mentally because they didn't get so much education. In such condition, God can be better than any medicine existent on Earth. God is playing the role of explanation as well as dependable father of our minds in the society of Igbo: that is why it is so important in their everyday life.

Austin's Answer: I think that gods and myths were so important because it explained things. People are naturally born to be curious and want to find answers. I agree with Kyu's answer in that people use gods to explain natural phenomenons. However, I would like to add that people also consider god to be a thing to look up to. People, a lot of times, rely on god and ask for help to god. This is why I believe that people create and believe in gods, myths and fables.

Respond to Minae Kwon by Andrew: Two of the responds above are absolutely correct. Well, I do not want to restate nor summarize what they have been stating. This is kind of a new idea but religion and deities were also used as a justification. First in the early societies, when new rulers arose, their justification was that they were chosen by God. This also happens in the future. For instance, in France during the 18th century the kings claimed that they have been chosen by god and if anyone goes against the monarchs, they are going against god as well. Since the royals emphasized religion so strongly it was hard for the peasants to rebel. Also, in the ancient chinese empires, whenever people wanted rebellion to overthrow the present government, they claimed that it was the ‘mandate of heaven’.

Jay Jeong's answer: In a time like this, and in a place like Africa, people are very superstitious and rely on gods very often. They are mostly polytheistic, and have weird rituals and traditions. Also, they don't have as much technology and education as we have here in Asia or most other continents, so they reason with god instead of facts. An example of a ritual is a corn dance or in this case a "yam" dance, they sing and dance around corn and pray to the gods for a good year in harvest. When a storm breaks out, they say the gods were mad.


 * Michelle P's Answer:)

Ever since ancient times, relying on gods, myths, and fables were things people did. In a highly unindustrialized society, people really had no choice but to rely on gods and deities. If the year's harvest went wrong, then the people would pray to the gods, asking them what went wrong. By having the belief that gods looked over the people, they would have a feeling of being protected and would help the stability of the society. **

3. RESPONSE TO CLAIRE YANG'S QUESTION Q: What is it about Ezinma that leads Okonkwo to reveal his other face – the caring father?

I believe that Ezinma has two unique qualities that make Okonkwo reveal his caring and loving side. Ezinma first of all is very lively and very hard working which are traits that Okonkwo absolutely love. Ezinma brought fish to Okonkwo, saying that "he hasn't eaten in two days, and that he must eat some food."(63) Consequently Okonkwo thought "she should have been a boy"(64) instead of a girl due to her sharpness and diligence. Especially considering the fact that Ezinma is a girl, and can do better than most of Okonkwo's male offspring brings a huge significance in her that could help Okonkwo realize the equality of men and women.

Secondly, Ezinma is a very special case in terms of his second wife's children. All of her other numerous children before Ezinma have all died within a couple months while Ezinma was the only exception that occurred. According to the legend, the //ogbanje// took pity on Ekwefi and decided to stay. This makes Ezinma all the more precious and special.

Journal Entry #3
1. I could relate Okonkwo to myself when he killed Ikemefuna while trying to hide his weakness. When Ikemefuna came running to Okonkwo, he “drew his machete and cut him down”(61) to hide his fear. The same happened with me, although it wasn’t as serious of an example. A couple years ago, I too, tried to hide my weakness and my true feelings by ditching my younger sister when she needed my help in cooking dinner, to go play with my friends. I wanted to hide my feelings for my sister in front of my friends, and absentmindedly agreed to play on. Consequently, I felt the same guilt and uneasiness that Okonkwo felt when I got back home. In conclusion, I think it is a wiser choice to speak one’s thoughts out loud, and make the right decision even though it shows one’s weakness.

2. “At first, a fairly small swarm came. They were the __//harbingers//__ sent to survey the land. And then appeared on the horizon, a slowly-moving mass like a boundless sheet of black cloud drifting towards Umuofia. Soon it covered half the sky and the solid mass was now broken by the tiny eyes of light like //__shining star dust__//. It was a tremendous sight, fill of __//power//__ and __//beauty//__.”(56)

Context: The locusts were descending upon Umuofia in numbers too large to count. It seemed to please the people of the tribe.

Key Words: Connotative- __//power//__, __//beauty//__, __//shining star dust//__=suggesting that the Umuofians liked the locusts and were amazed by the incredible sight. Denotative- __//harbingers//__

Literary Terms: a. “a slowly-moving mass like a boundless sheet of black cloud”= simile b. “tiny eyes of light like shining star dust”= simile c. “tiny eyes of light”= personification

Question: Why did the locusts come out only once every few years? What made the people so happy about the locusts?

3. If Okonkwo put his display of manliness as his first priority over the life of another, would he do the same thing to his actual family as well?

Journal Entry #2
1.In the book, I could make a connection with Okonkwo with Oprah Winfrey. Both of them had the hard will and determination to get their life from rags to riches. For example, in the book, Okonkwo “did not have the start in life which many young men usually had without a barn to inherit.”(16) However, through Okonkwo’s determination in not to have the same results as his father had, he toiled his way up the social rank by tirelessly working hard on Nwakibie’s field, then starting a field of his own after getting Nwakibie’s trust. In a more modern context, Oprah was born into a poor family. She grew up with having to deal with family problems, such as being sexually abused and problems from her peers. However, she excelled in her studies which eventually got her to the top position from a student, to a reporter for a local radio station, to her own talk show famous worldwide.

2. I noticed that the Ibo culture honored and worshiped their chis and gods very much. For example, when the time of planting came, they paid extra attention to the goddess of the earth, Ani so the whole village could get a good harvest. They even made a “sacred week” where no one in the village could show violence or harm to neighbors. Furthermore, whether events turned out pleasantly or not, the Ibo people based it off of the luck with peoples’ personal chi. I found this very similar to the ancient Greek culture, where they had different gods for different matters and was a big part of the Greeks’ lives. For example, both cultures offered offerings to the gods to worship them or in cases or need or forgiveness.

3. Okonkwo was such a great member of the village, especially since he had gone from rags to riches, why didn’t he participate in the village wrestling tournament?

Journal Entry #1
Things Fall Apart Minae Kwon

The book was very interesting for me since I could learn about another culture and how the people of that land carrie out their lives. It was very different from the one in Korea, and I can infer that this story took place very long ago, for it was not very civilized. I found their traditions such as marrying a lot of wives or growing yam very interesting. Although, I have a question about the fact that he is so stern. There can be many other ways that the main character can express hatred towards his father. I do not think it is necessary to hate everything that his father liked. I think that in the future, the almighty will come across failure and lose his status. Through this, I think he will learn a valuable experience which will transform him into a better person.