Date:3 June 2008
Entry Number: 1
Quote/Page: "In his day he was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow... Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure." (Page 4-5)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it shows weak Okonkwo thought his father was. It shows and teaches me how, many of the clans that are shown in this novel show respect to those who are strong, powerful, and have a name and a title for themselves. This quote may also relate to how some people in today's society feel about their own parents. People with parents who are not exactly rich can be embarrassed and ashamed of them. In the clans, people show respect to those who are hard workers and show no respect to those who are like Okonkwo's father, Unoka. Okonkwo shows a great depth of hatred and embarrassment towards his father and shows how he wants to be the complete opposite of who his father was and what he represented. Okonkwo did this buy being a great wrestler, showing no signs of weakness or emotion, earning titles, assembling his own farm, obi, and other homes, and having many wives and children.
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 2
Quote/Page: "And so when Okonkwo of Umuofia arrived at Mbaino as the proud and imperious emissary of war, he was treated with great honor and respect..." (Page 12)
Reflection: I was moved by this quoted in such a way that if I met Okonkwo, he would literally give me shivers up my spine. Okonkwo made such a name for himself and by being the complete opposite of who his father was, that his name and him in general are known in other places other than Umuofia. Especially with his well-known strength, many might have feared him, which is why they treated with "great honor and respect."
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 3
Quote/Page: "It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father." "... to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved." (Page 13)
Reflection: This is yet another quote showing Okonkwo's deep detest towards his father, Unoka. This quote interested me when it said that it would fear Okonkwo if he would resemble his father in any way. This quote is so strong on how Okonkwo does not want to be anything like his father. There is not a lot to say other that he just does not want to bear a resemblance to anything that Unoka stood for or to how he was. The second quote pulled me close as well because it shows Okonkwo just wants to be the complete opposite of who Unoka was. Okonkwo hating everything that his father loved is quite a challenge. Being the complete opposite of Unoka made Okonkwo the strong and small-hearted man he now is. Okonkwo is now one of the highest men of the clan which is something that his father never was. Okonkwo was never in debt because he had his own farm unlike his father. Unoka showed that he was not a wealthy man by always being in debt and by not having many wives, which having many wives is something that Okonkwo has.
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 4
Quote/Page: "Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had. He did not inherit a barn from his father. There was no barn to inherit." (Page 16)
Reflection: This interested me, yet again, because it shows how Okonkwo was really affected by his father. Okonkwo did not grow up with much and did not inherit anything from his father, Unoka. As a boy, there might have been a possibility of jealousy since many grew up with things that Okonkwo did not. With the way Unoka was, it made Okonkwo grow up at an age that may be young to us. Because he hated everything about his father so much, it made him realize that he did not want end up like that and that he would have to grow up on his own. Okonkwo could not depend on his father because Unoka could barely depend on himself. As a father in this tribe, he should teach his children how to be, but Unoka could not teach Okonkwo since he had nothing to offer him. Okonkwo had to learn everything on his own, which is probably why he is known to be a tough person to others.
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 5
Quote/Page: "He presented a kola nut and an alligator pepper..." (Page 19)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it shows how responsible and prepared people of any age in this culture are. At this time and at his age, Okonkwo was already making an effort to be a better man than his father was and it shows how determined he was to reach that much more further than his father. Reaching a high level or having a high title in this culture, to me, is somewhat equivalent to being a wealthy and well-known person anywhere in the world. This also shows me how they have to work hard and be determined in order to get what they want and to succeed in their lives. This quotes shows us how young ones give full respect to their elders by always presenting them with a "kola nut." Okonkwo seems to show great respect towards the elders because he seeks to be in a level as high as them one day.
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 6
Quote/Page: "Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy--inwardly of course." (Page 28)
Reflection: This quote both interested and surprised me because despite his lack of emotion towards others, Okonkwo was growing attached to Ikemefuna. In the novel, it does not say things about Okonkwo being fond of his own son. The reason for that is because the way Ikemefuna is described is much like a younger version of Okonkwo, or at least strong for his age and will then grow up to be a great person and someone to look up to. What he read of Nwoye is nothing like that. In Okonkwo's eyes, he probably still sees a kid or someone who is not strong.
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 7
Quote/Page: "Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping." (Page 38)
Reflection: This quote made interested me because it seems like beatings towards a man's wife seemed like it was often or as if it was a normal thing to do. Of course the women, like in many cultures, cannot do anything about it, because if they did, it would lead to unpleasant circumstances. In their culture, men probably thought that beating their wives was a right thing to do because it showed that they were the man of the house and that everything had to go there way. In present-day in the United States, women may have the right to press charges on husbands that are abusive whereas the women in the novel most likely have no rights to do anything like that. This also teaches me that many of us, even myself, should cherish the freedom that we have.
Date: 5 June 2008
Entry Number: 8
Quote/Page: "Is that me?" Ekwefi called back. That was the way people answered calls from outside. They never answered yes for fear it might be an evil spirit calling. (Page 41)
Reflection: This quote interests me because it shows how their religion and beliefs really impact on their lives. Answering in the way that Ekwefi did shows how they really fear the evil that they believe in and how by saying that, it would protect them from those evils. This quote also shows me how different their religion and beliefs are different from others religions and beliefs from all over the world. People might be doing the same thing except with a different answer than, "Is that me?" With only that as an answer to other people, this can also show how they have even more answers to other people in order to be safe from evil spirits or just because their religion is different.
Date: 6 June 2008
Entry Number: 9
Quote/Page: "Nwoye's younger brothers were about to tell their mother the story of the accident when Ikemefuna looked them sternly and they held their peace." (Page 43)
Reflection: I was interested by this quote because it shows how Ikemefuna is affectionate towards the people or the "siblings" he grew up with. Obiageli would have gotten into a lot of trouble if Ikemefuna did not look at Nwoye's brothers the way that he did. Ikemefuna probably knows what would happen and that Obiageli would go through so much of they told the true story. This, again, also shows responsibly of an older sibling towards their young siblings and how they should look after them. In this type of culture, families and family members seem to be pretty close and stick together in order to keep each other out of trouble, which is what Ikemefuna did for Obiageli.
Date: 6 June 2008
Entry Number: 10
Quote/Page: "No matter how prosperous a man was if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man." (Page 53)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it completely describes Unoka, Okonkwo's father. It was hard for Unoka to support his children and his women and in their culture, having many women showed your wealth, but Unoka did not have many women. With not being able to support his family, it shows that Unoka was not really a man. This quote also plays as a complete opposite towards Okonkwo. Okonkwo has a good amount of children and women. He can easily support his family, which shows us that he is a man. Because of his past, he grew up and became the complete opposite of his father. Okonkwo, as a child and until now, is determined to be everything his father was not and to be better than who his father was. Unoka played a big role into making Okonkwo who he is now.
Date: 6 June 2008
Entry Number: 11
Quote/Page: "Yes, Umuofia had decided to kill him... But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you his father." (Page 57)
Reflection: When I read this quote from the novel, I was surprised and shocked to see if they were really going to kill Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna seemed like a great person and someone who can be like Okonkwo one day. Okonkwo was also fond of Ikemefuna and treated him like the rest of his children. If they did end up killing him, I would say that it was for a wrong reason. Ikemefuna came their as a punishment of a killing, but he should not be killed for something that he did not do. Living in Umuofia for three years was enough punishment for someone his age and for not even committing the crime. This quote also made me sad when it says, "He calls you his father." Getting comfortable with the place and even calling the one who took him in his "father" really shows us how Ikemefuna got attached to the place. It would be wrong for Ikemefuna to be killed for something that he was not responsible for.
Date: 6 June 2008
Entry Number: 12
Quote/Page: "Nwoye is old enough to impregnate a woman... No, my friend, he is not to young." (Page 66)
Reflection: This quote caught my attention when it said, "he is not to young." Okonkwo's purpose of saying this is probably to say that he wants Nwoye to be just like him. Nwoye has the advantage of being a wealthy man in their clan, since he was born with a home, farm, etc. Those were things that Okonkwo did not have as a boy which made him work hard to get in order for his own children to have in the future. Okonkwo wants Nwoye to start becoming responsible by becoming a man, which brings up the topic of impregnating a woman. With Okonkwo as his father, Nwoye has high expectations to achieve and to live by. To Okonkwo, it is normal for him to think that his kids should be responsible at a young age since he had to in order to support himself.
Date: 8 June 2008
Entry Number: 13
Quote/Page: "No women ever asked questions about the most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan." (Page 88)
Reflection: This quote caught my attention because it showed me how the women did not really play a big role in the powerful associations within the clan. It the novel, it clearly shows the men are the dominant ones in the clan and the hows the women are just there for household labor. It is obvious to the readers and I of
Things Fall Apart that most women were not a part of the powerful associations when the quote says how none of them asked about the cult within the clan and when it says, "most powerful and the most secret cult". Knowing that it was a secret towards the women, we can figure out that they would not be a part of it. The task of a woman that is a part of this clan is equivalent to a stay-at-home mom these days, except perhaps more difficult.
Date: 8 June 2008
Entry Number: 14
Quote/Page: "... When she was pregnant, he beat her until she was miscarried." (Page 91)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it shows how the men of the clan can be so violent towards their wives. Some of them do it as if its a normal thing to do and to do it because it makes them feel more important and the "man of the house." Being beat during pregnancy would definitely put someone away in jail during these times, but in their culture, that probably would not be known since the women might have been scared to speak up. This quote shows to me that even if they give their daughters away to get married, the families of those women are still there and will protect them. In this part of the novel, the woman's blood family came to rescue her from her violent husband and was there with her during this trial. This quote reminds me of what my mom and others might say as well, that, "blood is thicker than water," meaning that blood, or family, is the only one you can trust that will be there for you, while water, or friends, may not. This quote shows, again that the families in this novel are tight-knit families and stick together to protect each other from harm.
Date: 8 June 2008
Entry Number: 15
Quote/Page: "It is not bravery when a man fights with a woman." (Page 93)
Reflection: What is said in those quote interested me, because it is true. When a man beats a woman, that is not bravery. It does not show that he is better than the woman either. In fact, in a woman's eyes, she might see someone who she once that was strong, but is now shown as someone weak. Beating a woman shows that there is only violence pumping through the veins and that the only way that the man solves problems is through fear. So it does not show bravery if a man fights or beats a woman, but it does show that the man solves through fear, lives through fear, or maintains his place in the house by giving fear to others. Beating a woman does show a man's weakness through the eyes of others and can lead to others thinking of the man as an abusive person.
Date: 8 June 2008
Entry Number: 16
Quote/Page: "When they had all taken, Tortoise also took one. He was to be called
All of you." (Page 97)
Reflection: This story that Ekwefi tells her daughter, Ezinma, really interests me. This is because it shows how lessons and and problems are taught and answered through story telling. Story telling must have been part of tradition in their culture as a way to teach lessons or how people should or should not be. In the story, it shows how Tortoise was very cunning, intelligent, and how he always found his way around others. Tortoise was always planning something in order to get what he wanted. This quote also interested me, because it somewhat reminds me of Odysseus and how he was cunning as well. In Odysseus' story, he told the Cyclops, Polyphemus, that his name 'Nobody' and so when Polyphemus was injured by Odysseus, other cyclopes asked who injured him and he replied that 'Nobody' was the one who injured him. Back to this quote, it reminds me of Odysseus' story because they both cunningly changed their names in order to follow through with the rest of their plans.
Date: 8 June 2008
Entry Number: 17
Quote/Page: "I am following Chielo," she replied and disappeared in the darkness. (Page 103)
Reflection: I was interested by this quote because it shows the deep connection between a mother and her children. Chielo already stated that Ekwefi must stay and that Ezinma and herself were to go alone. But because Ekwefi decided to go, it shows how a mother and a child are really close. It might also be the fact that Ezinma is Ekwefi's only child and that, because Ezinma is her only child, she does not want her to be in any harm that could possibly lead to death or to Ezinma becoming ill. Ezinma is all that Ekwefi has, so it is her duty as a mother to protect Ezinma from anything.
Date: 16 June 2008
Entry Number: 18
Quote/Page: "We are giving you our daughter today. She will be a good wife to you. She will bear you nine sons like the mother of our town." (Page 117)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it is another quote that I have read that shows their traditions in the novel. When it comes to weddings and getting married in the novel, a man and a woman do not look for each other and become each others spouses. Instead, they are set up by their parents and go through so many traditions that are stated in within the novel. Being paired up by parents to be married is seen in many movies, which is another reason why this quote caught my attention, but being paired up in the present is pretty rare. Now, a person finds the one that they want to be with and the one that he or she thinks is right for them. Being paired with a spouse under their parents is something in the past and is something that I have seen in a movie that took place in the early 1500's.
Date: 16 June 2008
Entry Number: 19
Quote/Page: "Men stirred on their bamboo beds and listened anxiously. Somebody was dead." (Page 120)
Reflection: This quote interested me because of the way the people in clan tell how somebody was dead. Language and communication plays a big role in this novel through words in their language, through storytelling, and through instruments. For this quote in the novel, communication was through instruments. Another reason why I thought that this quote was interesting was because if they were ever in any danger, they have a both a different language and instruments to communicate with one another without other strangers understanding private strategies. I thought that it was cool how they would understand how somebody in the clan was dead. Language and communication is their strength and can come to their advantage.
Date: 16 June 2008
Entry Number: 20
Quote/Page: "Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years." (Page 125)
Reflection: This qoute amazed me on how everything in the clans go by tradition. Unlike going through trial and seeing both sides of the story, the one who caused the act (Okonkwo in this case) does not complain and understands what he must do now. Because it was an accident, Okonkwo will be gone for what is probably the minimum. What amazes me is how they just decide if the crime was an accident or if it was really meant and, from that, how they automatically decide what punishment the person gets. That is nothing like how it is in these days since we decide on the punishment based on everybody's side of a story.
Date: 16 June 2008
Entry Number: 21
Quote/Page: "But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland." (Page 134)
Reflection: This quote caught my attention because this is true to many things in the present. When a child is in need of affection and adoration, he or she often look to their mother more often than their father. This is probably because when you think of a father, you do not see weakness, the act of being frightened or showing much affection. Yes, fathers do show affection, but they have their own way; not the ways that many mothers can. So from this quote, it shows me that in the present, children do look up to their mothers for this reason; because they do not want to look weak in their father's eyes. In the novel it also shows the deep connection a mother has with her child. An example is the connection that Ekwefi has with her daughter, Ezinma. When Ezinma was taken away, Ekwefi ran after her to see if she was safe. When Ezinma was ill, Ekwefi was always there, because the thought of Ezinma dying would devistate her.
Date: 19 June 2008
Entry Number: 22
Quote/Page: "They must have used a powerful medicine to make themselves invincible until the market was full." (Page 139)
Reflection: I found this quote to be both interesting and ironic. Many people in this novel may have thought the same thing in which the "white men" used medicine to be invulnerable, but we (the readers) know that that is not the case. We know that they were increasingly advanced compared to the people in the market. This quote shows the "white men's" side in being advanced and the Nigerians side to believing more upon a "belief" level where there is somewhat of a supernatural meaning to everything.
Date: 19 June 2008
Entry Number: 23
Quote/Page: "That is the money for your yams." "I shall do that every year until you return. But I thought you would need the money now and so I brought it." (Page 142)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it shows how devoted a friend can be to another in this area. The friendship of many people seem to be strong since the clans seem to go by tradition together. Even with the difficulty Okonkwo is in and what people may think of him now, Obierika still keeps his close friendship towards Okonkwo by helping him with one of the most important things as a part of their culture; Okonkwo's farm. Obierika is shown to be a devoted friend because he was willing to do this for Okonkwo, sell the yams, and give him the money. Not only that, but Obierika is also willing to do this for every year that Okonkwo is not there.
Date: 19 June 2008
Entry Number: 24
Quote/Page: "And he told them about this new God, the Creator of all of the world and all the men and women. He told them that they worshipped false gods, gods of wood and stone." (Page 145)
Reflection: When I read this quote, it intrigued me on how the newcomers could just intrude on the clans' ways of life and try to destroy what the clan and built for so long. What the clan believes in and the traditions that they have are a basis of the clan that keep them together. If the white men continue to demolish their lifestyle, then it will eventually lead to the loss of the clans customs and beliefs. In addition, the quote interested me because of something a friend of mine stated a few years ago. She said that the reason why some of the past wars existed was because of religion. That is true, and it makes me wonder why people would want to commence a war when they could just live in their own ways. Without war, there would not have been another start of a dilemma when you could have just let others believe what they want and just be untroubled.
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 25
Quote/Page: "It was said that he wore glasses on his eyes so that he could see and talk to evil spirits." (Page 149)
Reflection: I basically thought that this quote was humorous. I thought that it was funny on how they assumed that the men wore glasses in order to see the evil spirits. But then again, I cannot judge, because there are so many beliefs in the Philippines that possibly sound like this quote. While I was reading this quote, it reminded me about some beliefs that my mom would tell me, because as she said, "there are so many beliefs in the Philippines", which leads me to thinking that their can be a belief or a purpose in anything that happens. I recently went to my aunt's house and my baby cousin was sick. When I was holding her, I saw that something the size of a tiny ball was wrapped in the inside of her shirt and I was like, "What exactly is that?" I asked my aunt and she said to me, "Don't worry about it. It's just a belief from the Philippines." My dad was there too and he said the same thing. They did not tell me exactly what it meant, but it
was a belief!
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 26
Quote/Page: "Nwoye did not fully understand. But he was happy to leave his father." (Page 152)
Reflection: I found this quote to be interesting. As a son of Okonkwo, Nwoye has expectations to live up to. From what we learn of Nwoye in the novel, we know that he does not live up to those expectations that Okonkwo wants him to in order to gain respect and to be a real man. To Okonkwo, Nwoye did not resemble Ikemefuna and in some ways, it seemed like Okonkwo wanted him to. Ikemefuna was the type of son that seemed like Okonkwo would be happy to have. To know that he was never really close to his father and how he probably disliked how he was being treated, Nwoye must have been happy to leave his father. Nwoye did not completely understand the new religion, but it seems as if he wanted to go along with it to leave his Okonkwo and to start over doing things his own way instead of following Okonkwo's way.
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 27
Quote/Page: "He had fallen ill on the previous night... His death showed that the gods were still able to fight their own battles." (Page 161)
Reflection: I thought that this quote was interesting because it shows the people in the clan that they can still have a reason in believing in their gods. Okoli, who was said to have killed the sacred python, was the one talked about in the quote that grew ill. Because he died the day he became ill, it can act as a reason why the clan can still believe in their gods. A way that they can think of it is because Okoli was known to having killed the sacred python, the gods would have probably punished him by making him ill and then putting him to eternal rest. With Okoli's death, some of the people in the clan must have changed their minds in believing the white men and the religion they brought to them. The people in the clan would know that what they initially believed in was true all along.
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 28
Quote/Page: "An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsman to scratch him." (Page 165)
Reflection: I chose this quote because I like what it represents. In my opinion, I believe this quote means that having family is better than having anything else, such as wealth, because you will always have someone there for assistance and guidance when necessary. Blood is always thicker than water and wealth will not take you anywhere if you are on your own with it. At least with family, you can discover the true meaning of love rather than lust, and learn the true values that life can bring to you through happiness. I believe that friends can be as close as family, but there are times when you have to know when and who to trust. This quote also reminds me of my own family. That is because we can have the worst fights at any time, especially with my sisters, but even though we have those fights, we put that aside when it is necessary. We through a lot through thick and thin, but we are always there for each other.
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 29
Quote/Page: "I say it because I fear for the younger generation, for your people." "An abominable religion has settled among you." (Page 167)
Reflection: This quote interested me because it shows how the once very close friendships of the clans are now being destroyed. With the new religion, people start to change the traditions and then in the future, new traditions will be made with the old ones forgotten. This quote also interested me because of something that my mom always says that somehow relates to this quote and how it is true today. My mom (and possibly many others) say that our generation is growing to be something new and is slowly changing and becoming more unpleasant than past generations. With all the new technology and all the new things we learn about other topics than just knowing what we were taught, we start to leave and forget about the past. Being surrounded with many religions or thoughts that may be negative towards religion also begin to change all of us. All of the parents in this generation may notice these changes and, like my mom, are not to happy with it.
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 30
Quote/Page: "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (Page 176)
Reflection: This quote interested me because I think that this is where the title finally comes to part. When it states "He has put a knife on the things we held together," It is like the knife is the new religion that the white men have brought and the things that held them together was their own religion and beliefs. With the new religion changing some of their people, their own culture, religions, beliefs, and traditions are slowly falling apart hence the title,
Things Fall Apart.
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 31
Quote/Page: "New churches were established in the surrounding villages and a few schools with them." (Page 182)
Reflection: I was interested by this quote, because it shows how the place that was not exactly civilized is now becoming more civilized and modernized with churches and schools or at least a type of building not made out straight from natural things were being built. In the novel, it shows how the villages in this area are starting to drastically change and are slowly losing their culture. They do not do much about this probably because they know that the white men can possibly do some harm to them. Ever since the men came to their villages and did things that the clan's culture thought was not safe, like staying in the Evil Forest without dying, this probably showed some of the people that what they believed in was false and made them want to change religions and be with the "real God."
Date: 20 June 2008
Entry Number: 32
Quote/Page: "Okonkwo's return to his native land was not as memorable as he had wished." (Page 182)
Reflection: I wanted to write about this quote because it made me sorrowful towards Okonkwo on how he was definitely not expecting to return back to the clan that changed so much while he and his family were gone. Okonkwo wanted Nwoye to hold a title in Umuofia and for everything to be as it was before he had to go to his mother's land. He wanted to build his
obi, the other houses for his family, and his barn, and to be respected as he was before he left. But ever since he left so many things, like religion, has changed and people believing in their beliefs and traditions began to decrease. It made me sad that he was a great leader that caused a accident and when he was finally done with his punishment, he would not be looked up to the same way, because of all of the changes.
Date: 23 June 2008
Entry Number: 33
Quote/Page: "The six men were handcuffed and led into the guardroom." (Page 194)
Reflection: This interested me because the most powerful and strongest men of the clan were being held under the watch of the white men. Ever since the arrival of the white men, the people of the clans began to lose strength. Especially since many of the younger generation and others shifted from the beliefs of the clan to the new religion the white men brought. This shows that although they were extremely strong men, this meant nothing to the white men because of religion differences. The clansmen that were once strong are now being overpowered by new people and everything that they believed in is now slowly being abolished. Not even Okonkwo, who is his lifetime, was a very strong man who goes by with what he says, is now dictated by these strangers.
Date: 23 June 2008
Entry Number: 34
Quote/Page: "We shall not do you any harm," said the District Commissioner to them later, "if only you agree to cooperate with us. We have brought a peaceful administration to you and your people so that you may be happy. If any man ill-treats you we shall come to your rescue. But we will not allow you to ill-treat others." (Page 194)
Reflection: I chose this quote to elaborate on because it interested me on how the white men would just come to the clans' land and act as if it is completely their territory. They came there and asked if they could have a piece of land to reside on and then they start building schools, churches, and markets. Those strangers are now telling the clan how to live and what to believe and I thought that that was wrong. They introduce the clan to a new God, and I am Catholic (and people always say something like spread the word of God), but I do not want to force others to stop with what they believe in. Others with different religions do not effect me so I do not understand why the white men are bothered with the clan believing in their own gods, beliefs, and traditions.
Date: 23 June 2008
Entry Number: 35
Quote/Page: "The white men whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop... Okonkwo's machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his uniformed body." (Page 204)
Reflection: I was surprised by this quote because of how Okonkwo just beheaded the man and left. Okonkwo used his strength in order to keep his clan the same as it was in the past. His anger of how so many things were changing lead to this and others most likely understood why he did it. The clan is loosing control of the power of their clan because of the whens men's invasion on their land. Now, because Okonkwo killed the man, it would definitely stir problems between the two groups of people. In this point of the novel, you can tell that things were not going to change anymore and how the people in the clans would slowly be persuaded to the new religion that has entered their environment.
Date: 23 June 2008
Entry Number: 36
Quote/Page: "That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog." (Page 208)
Reflection: When I read this quote, it really surprised me. What happened in this part of the story and what was said in this quote brought so much irony to the novel. It was ironic how Okonkwo was a great leader with so much strength and how most people would think that he would die with great honor and respect, but instead kills himself and will be "buried like a dog." It was ironic how you would think that the novel would end with the clan winning, but instead the white men dominated the land. Now we see how the title kicks in to the novel. Okonkwo wanted everything to stay as their tradition and to have everything like it was, but with one change (religion), you start to see throughout the novel how what held them together (like religion and tradition) began to
fall apart. Okonkwo probably new that things would just get worse and that everything that the clan stood for would all disappear, so with that, he had nothing else to live for.
