TFA+(3-6)+Youjin+(Jenny)+J.

Requirements: a. Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection b. Paragraph regarding an Ibo cultural tradition mentioned in Ch. 3-6 c. A question in relation to either paragraph one or two

Achebe's narration is one that captures the reader's attention - but not in the usual way. The events Achebe describes in the four chapters are not dramatic or full of suspense, and are thus unlike the rising events of some other novels of this day. He takes more time describing the characters' emotions, the village people's culture and mood, and various aspects of Ibo culture (including a great variety of proverbs). Even though the plot is relatively simple, the reader wants to keep going; whether it is because of the strange connection we feel due to our own agricultural history, or whether it is because we are excited to understand a new proverb, it's hard to let go of the book.

The more I read on, and the more I learn about the Ibo culture, I become increasingly certain that there are definite patterns that form the basis of agricultural life in any country. As I have mentioned in the previous journal, //The Good Earth// by Pearl Buck is also a novel dealing with a man who has succeeded in gaining wealth from agriculture by starting from scratch. The main character, Wang Lung, also had a relatively laid-back, lazy father who was unproductive yet highly demanding. He is also a farmer who believes that diligence is the most important trait in order to achieve success. Although Wang Lung becomes more and more corrupted as he becomes wealthier, and therefore may be different from Okonkwo in that way, the two stories contain details that are too similar to ignore. They both explore the adversities farmers face that relate heavily with the weather, the dependence on fertility deities for better harvest, the customs of a patriarchal society, and the corruption or decline a man faces in the later days of his successful life due to characteristic defects.

In fact, these four characteristics are parallel even in the Korean agricultural culture, since Korea is also a country that holds a long history of farming. To elaborate upon some details, all three aforementioned cultures depend greatly on weather - just as Okonkwo fails in times of extreme drought or flooding, Korean and Chinese farmers fail to harvest in times of extreme weather conditions. Although I do not have enough information to cite evidence, there must be cases in both Korea and China of people committing suicide or feeling themselves unworthy of life due to the failures they encounter, similar to the event of a man committing suicide in Okonkwo's village. Due to this dependence on weather, it is natural that all three cultures worship fertility deities with the utmost respect. In a civilization that depends on agricultural surplus, the only thing that truly matters (besides diseases or social conflicts, of course) is being able to grow enough crops. Therefore, Africans like the Ibos have their own gods and customs of peace, such as the Week of Peace, Chinese have red-clothed gods they pray for before planting the seeds, and Koreans have ancestors and spirits that they bow to in their temples, or, in later periods, Buddha.

Another similarity is the division of gender roles. In chapters 3 to 6, Okonkwo is depicted as an authoritative man who openly abuses his wives, and receives the meals of all three wives in descending order. It is also depicted in the encounter with Nwakibie that women have to "bow" before their husband before taking a drink as a sign of respect. Like this, there is a definite sign of patriarchy. Seeing Okonkwo beating up his wife or talking harshly to them may be very new to some people, but for me (and, I believe, many others) it comes as something quite expected in a society where males dominate. There are also signs of gender discrimination when Okonkwo states that his daughter Ezinma cannot bring a chair for him, because it is a "man's work." Not only this, but the narrator constantly emphasizes that only the men were allowed to harvest and plant yam. Women had to do all the dishwork, take care of the children, prepare for every meal, and lend a hand in farming. The woman is not even allowed a night or an afternoon of her own, as can be seen in the whipping demonstrated by Okonkwo when his second wife failed to bring him his meal. The role is the same for Wang Lung and his wife, too. The wife accompanies Wang Lung in farming, takes care of his old father, looks after the children, and prepare food in times of festivals. In addition to this, both protagonists have more than one wife; a tradition that also present in the Korean culture.

Although I cannot talk much about the last part, the decline of the main character, since Okonkwo has not officially begun his decline (it's just my conjecture, which I have inferred from the text), I have one question lingering in my mind: What will happen to Ikemefuna if anything does happen to Okonkwo and his authority within the tribe? Why is it that he only lives "three years" in Okonkwo's house? Will he die before long?

There are so many questions yet to be answered.