Journal+5+JYP

Journal 5

When I read chapter 12, I noticed something different about Okonkwo. Although no one had noticed, Okonkwo really cared about his own daughter very much. Since he thinks that when he shows his feelings, others will think of him as a weakling. I think that it is the ibo culture that has to fix this problem on 'manliness'. Since all people think that strong men can't cry or be sympathetic, Okonkwo has been enveloped by those cultures; he never shows his feelings now. On the outside, I thought Okonkwo was a cold-blooded human that can 'shoot' his wife. However, when his inner feelings are described by the all-knowing narrator, it specifically says "Okonkwo was also feeling tired, and sleepy, for although nobody else knew it, he had not slept at all last night. He has felt... he had become gravely worried" (pg.112). We see these kind of people who act really cold, but are actually very benevolent and caring. They are all around us! One of my friend is like that; he never shows his true feelings because he thinks we'll be disappointing. However, his care for his friends are at top notch.

There are lots of things that had gone badly to Okonkwo. First, he accidently kills a man's boy! This was a crime against one of their fertility gods, thus Okonkwo was forced to leave the village. Also, his new farming business wasn't going well because the unusual amount of rainfall came. I think that these are foreshadows that will later isolate Okonkwo from his family, and ruin his life that he has cultivated. The white men will come and finish up what he has been trying to build; Okonkwo's dream will fall apart.

Question: Will Okonkwo be alright until the 7th year? - how will the arrival of white men affect his life? - Nwoye is different with Okonwo: liberal. Will he accept the white men?