TFAJournal+Kyu

Things Fall Apart Journal Entries

Chapter 1-2

=
The most interesting thing that I have realized while reading the book is that the the unique names and traditions of the Igbo people are quite easy to remember. There is a conflict that is introduced that I think is interesting yet sad. The conflict between Okwonko and Unoka shows the conflict between son and father due to different perspectives and priorities. However, as I was reading the story about his father, I was rather disappointed by Okwonko’s inability to understand his father’s good traits, simply hating everything that his father liked. If one’s social status is not determined by his father’s ability, then why does he have to hate his father so much? In such society, I doubt that the debt is passed down too, then there isn’t a reason for him to hate his dad, would he? It isn’t a duty of a parent to leave anything for their children, even giving them birth is a great bless. Looking at Okwonko’s conflicts with his dad, sooner or later, he would suffer from his hot temper and hatred. ======



Chapter 3-6

Tradition-Wrestling

Question: Was the gunshot that he aimed towards his wife actually intended to miss, or was it by luck she didn’t die?

Should One Really Call That Manliness?

From chapter 3 to 6, there are many scenes that describe Okwonko’s mad feelings that are often uncontrollable and unreasonable. He has came to believe that being soft is not manly, or he wants to think that being soft is not manly because he is a man who has too much pride to accept that his lifestyle, which he had created abundance out of nothing from his young age, that he would not accept the fact that living black or white may be wrong. He is too strict with his children and his wives, that it seems to be almost impossible to even imagine such scenes in our society. Shooting his wife because she just said that he sucks at shooting? Man, that is more feminine and narrow minded than any man standing on Earth. However, I believe that this hardness doesn’t have a real evil intent. It may be a simple reaction to how he has lived the world, he had nothing, and tasted the bitterness and misery as a weak person. Therefore the strong and firm personality must be simply to cover up his fear of weakness.

Wrestling is the Fight of Intelligence, But Why?

Wrestling seems to be a tradition or custom that is extremely popular and occasional in the Igbo society. The Igbo people all gather up and prepare so much for the wrestling match. Wrestling seems to be a match to require most of physical strength, but from the story, I learned that it also need great tactics. This might show that Okwonko is not only physically strong, but also mentally intelligent. However there are many ironic evidences that state that Okwonko is not as mentally strong. Even though Okwonko is really good at wrestling, he can’t farm nor can he control is violent behaviors in his everyday life, even to his own wives. He even beats up his wife during the week of peace. What I have concluded from these evidence, I believe that Okwonko is a weak man who is just so stiff who is only prepared to the problems that he necessarily needs to deal with, or has to face it. That is probably the reason why he was a successful young farmer of yams, and why he was able to wrestle well. But in such situations where he doesn't necessitate such wit, he seems to fail. I believe Okwonko, who is now prosperous, should have some leisure and should give some freedom to himself, so that he can act as intelligent as he plays wrestling.

Chapters 7-8

Question: What did Okwonko sacrifice by killing Ikemefuna?

Worthy Sacrifices vs. Foolish Sacrifices

Not many things are able to be obtained together, especially those which are positive and beneficial. There was one part in the story where the oracle orders Ikemefuna to be killed. Okwonko had several choices. First of all he could have chosen to not go, like his friend. Why would Okwonko deliberately go to watch a child that he has treated like a son die? It is because of his pride, his fear of looking weak. But, was that sacrifice worthwhile? No one would have blamed him for not going. Maybe they might have thought that he has a loving heart, but that's not so bad. He should have realized that by choosing to go with other people to kill Ikemefuna, chances are going to be that it is he, himself who will have to kill Ikemefuna. He had no choice, at one point but to kill him when he was begging for help in such fear. Such bloody and cruel action that any man, no father can choose to do. He has sacrificed his conscience, and his paternal instincts for what? To look strong and cold blooded. As I have read that part of the story, I agreed to his friend. It was foolish to follow. It truly is a sin that should be punished... No sacrifice is worthy for one's child, because nothing can replace them.



 Chapters 9-11

(I responded to Minae Kwon's Question)

Question: Was the judgement of //egwugu // reasonable? Why or why not?

Judge on Humanity and Conscience Itself

These days many of the debate issues linger on the topic relating to laws. Such laws are often discussed by thousands of people. which make a stalemate stance. However in the small clan, where there aren’t as many people as the world that we currently live in, the nine spirits who have great respect and authority judge the wrong or right of a particular case and creates necessary judgements according to some logic. Logic, that is what has surprised me. Throughout the whole book, with the crazy characteristics of Okwonko and overly-religious concepts of the clan, I thought they would do everything according to their supposedly God. However, the section of the book that deals with the case of Uzowulu, was pretty logical. Moreover, I was surprised by both side’s story’s honesty. Nowadays people would lie to make a superior stance of themselves, especially when there aren’t so many tangible evidence. However, both of the sides didn’t lie, and accepted the result. It might be their conscience and humanity, or even fear of the spirits that htey do not lie, which makes their court as effective as ours. Hopefully one day, our court would become less complicated like theirs, with us not lying in front of the court. I wonder if one of the reasons for the "honesty" is because everyone seems to know your business. The fact that both sides have other people who know the character of the parties, I think helps. Maybe if we were a smaller society? -- Ms. Porter (Nice thinking shown.) 

The judgment of egwugu was reasonable because he is a smart guy.

Chapters 12-14

Question: Do you think unintentional crimes such as Okwonko's should be punished as well?

Local Punishment of Igbo People After Okwonko has killed a child unintentionally with his gun, he was expelled from the village for 7 years. It is a reasonable, punishment,considering the fact that the penalty was based on the fact that the case of killing was a mistake. Compared to our society, we could compare the 7 year expulsion as a term spent in jail, and the permanent banish as life imprisonment. Though it is a sad fact that Okwonko has to return to his motherland, there should be someone responsible for the child’s death too. One shouldn’t be allowed to get away after such crime. There was also a thinking of one of his friends about the usefulness of the punishment, which Okwonko caused as a mistake, but I disagree with him. Even if it is a mistake, one should be punished for creating such tragic event. Because whether it was in purpose or not, it doesn’t change the fact that the child is laying cold on the floor; therefore, it is a reasonable penalty for Okwonko. Overall, I was impressed by the decision that the Igob people made, and their systematical punishment according to one’s fault.

Prediction

The marvelous speech that Uchendu gave seemed to be very effective. As a great orator, I believe Uchendu has conveyed the message that he wanted to convey to the muscle head Okwonko. Therefore, Okwonko would probably regain his power and enthusiasm towards work like before. It is interesting indeed that Okwonko changed so much in his old days: such as losing his happiness in working and liking to sleep. However, as he is getting old, we are also discovering his soft, warmhearted, and in some way cowardly side of his conscience. By the end of the story, I believe he would return to the village as a man stronger than before, with a wise, caring, warm heart.

Chapters 15-19

Question: What is one thing that never changes over time, is there such thing in first place?

Sometimes New Things Do Dominate the Old

One of the biggest issues discussed within the 5 chapters is Christianity. I see christianity in text as a significant change in the Igbo peoples' lifestyle, due to the sudden creation of Christian churches and believers. The Missionary is supposably extremely respected, because they came from an outside land, and ignored all the bad taboos that the Igbo people have believed for centuries, and survived in without problem. To recall my experience, I also had a similar experience in which a new person was superior over the original people and became unexpectedly popular within a few weeks. I had a Singaporean friend called Wei-An. I didn't like him so much at the start, because he was too cocky and overflowed with self confident when he was just a new student. But the thing is that there were so many special attributes of him that deserved respect. He bragged about being good at soccer. Yeah, he kicked others' butts. He said he's good at playing games, and he was good. There was nothing else I could do but to admit that he was good at everything (even his looks were pretty attractive I guess, got 6 girlfriends in a single year), and had to see my prior friends like him better than me. Gradually I started to dislike him more and more, until one point, which is pretty recent that I have admitted that he is good, and started to adapt to the situation where people like him. //Well, I wish Okwonko and the elders would also get some better sense, sense of adapting to the situation, and sense of threat towards their culture.//

Is Okwonko Changing?

Okwonko of part 1, and Okwonko of part 2? To me it seems like a furious cat gradually becoming tamed by nature and time. The nature, or coincidence of accidents made him more careful, in term of action that he does. Before, he would beat up his wife, even at the week of peace, but now, he won't even beat up his own son, Nwoye, who is devoted for christianity. I believe more changes took place because of time. As time passes, he has lost his passion towards working (which is also because the loss of his previous farm as he got banished), and he seems to start to enjoy festivals, as well as talking. Undeniably, as time passes, his priority does seems to change, and whether he is noticing or not, he is gradually becoming like his father, whom he have hated for so long, and vowed not to be like. Maybe its a process of learning that physical weakness is not something to be afraid of. I am glad though, that he is improving his personality towards his surroundings. By the time he goes back to his town, he would be greatly respected once again.

Did Okonkwo make the right decision? (Did he have any other options? What should he have done?)

Okwonko has made the right decision, both for the clansmen, and for himself. If he were not to commit suicide, it would have definitely created an awkward stance among the clansmen. Looking at the reaction that they have showed after Okwonko has killed the messenger, it is evident that they didn't want to fight, and that they didn't understand either the importance of tradition or the hatred towards the white men. However, Okwonko with his high rank in the clan, would have definitely caused an turmoil in the clan if he insisted to fight, but with his suicide, there weren't so much future consequences that they had to deal with. Not only for the clan, but also for himself he did good. He is a man, who didn't change himself so much over the whole story, nor was he a man who would adapt to the surrounding environment. Therefore living in such a white-man-based society, he would never be happy, with his son Nwoye changed into a christian. So, even though the suicide was a offense against the Earth God, it did much good than harm.