Chapters+3-6

A Text to World Connection After reading the chapters in the book, I noticed how the traditions and behaviors of Umuofia closely resembles that of Korea. First, they seem to have an utmost respect for elders. In chapter 3, Okonkwo takes a pot of palm-wine to Nwakibie, one of the most powerful men in the clan. In Nwakibie's //obi//, where the palm-wine is drunk, the youngest man rushes to the center and pours out the wine, as if he was obliged to do so. Then, the wine is drunk in order of age: the eldest man drinks first and the youngest man drinks last. In this part of the reading, I really got the sense that they truly honor and respect their elders. This same tradition and behavior exists in the Korean society. As a country with its roots set deep in Confucianism, Korea places special emphasis on respect for elders. Therefore, Korea has similar customs shown in that of the scene above: when a family is at a dinner table, members of the family are not permitted to raise their spoons or chopsticks until the eldest member or the head of the family has done so. Second, the Feast of the New Yam in chapter 5 closely resembles Korea's New Year celebrations. Just as how villagers celebrate the festival by sharing new year specialties (yam fufu, vegetable soup) with relatives, Korea does the same. Moreover, the wrestling match on the second day of the festival reminded me of Korean new year games such as yut-no-li.

Response to Ibo Culture Villagers of Umuofia seem to be not only hardworking, but also very grateful and happy. I could see this through the village's numerous celebrations such as the Week of Peace and the Feast of the New Yam. To me, these celebrations did not strike me as odd or unexpected, as almost all cultures have some sort of celebrations in which they give thanks to their deity and appreciate their harvests. I think these celebrations serve a good purpose in the village and its people. I got the impression that the villagers work extremely hard during the rest of the year due to the amount of labor farming yams require. However, through these celebrations the villagers will be able to replenish their souls, bodies, and spirits.

Question: What is the Umuofians logic behind condemning other villages for casting away a man that dies during the Week of Peace into the Evil Forest but leaving Unoka in the Evil Forest to die?