TFA_+MOJournal2

The last four chapters that I have read was interesting how the author made connections to the Ibo culture to lead the readers through Okonkwo’s success. At first, Okonkwo wasn’t successful at all, and he tried his best to achieve and prove that he is different, or in other words opposite from his dad. As I read through this, I thought, “ You would have to give up something for what you want to achieve really badly and to complete success.” As for Okonkwo, he does not want to show any of his weakness, and he does not show or express any feelings except for when he is mad. Or would I say, give up to express his feelings. He seems to care about his children, or a least for Ikemefuna, I don’t think he doesn’t have any feelings inside him, and his heart. Maybe he is a kind of person that doesn’t express, but has deeper meanings inside him self for good. It wasn’t easy for Okonkwo to start on his farm life. He even asks for help to the head of the village, Nwakibie for help to start on his success. Now, from the help from the oracle, and Nwakibie, he has three wives and several children. Just like students at school, students that understand the concept that to truly become successful as an adult, you wouldn’t have much time to socialize, you would rather read books. Connecting this idea to the world, during wars, or conflicts, nations had to betray or back stab each other if they had to for their own nation and its benefits.

Chinua Achebe, the author of this book describes and introduces Ibo culture with the flow of the story. He uses some terms to show how beliefs and oracle was important to people living at that time. As I read, I can see that many people (even Okonkwo) gave sacrifices to the oracle or the spirits for their success in living. Also, traditions such as drinking the palm-wines and planting yam were a big part of Ibo people’s lives. There was even a feast of New Yam that showed how important harvest was to them. I assumed that in their culture, really depended on what the priestesses of Agbala said, and relied deeply in agriculture and harvest. Their dependence in agriculture and harvest was so important that the society would not go on without the goddess of deity. There were also division of labor between different genders. It seemed as if men were doing most of the energy-consuming work, and women were mostly being a housewife, making dinner, and caring for the children, This might relate to the Ibo traditions!

There were several questions that just popped up when I was reading tonight’s assignments. I was really curious of Okonkwo was really feeling and living a happy life? Is he satisfied with it? Is the author trying to show the father-son relationship between Ikemefuna and Okonkwo as well as Nwoye? Is it going to be a dominant theme throughout this story? What would happen to Ikemefuna if anything happens to Okonkwo's family and economic status?