Walking....Debatable(R&W #3)

I hate annotating and it’s not even funny. I get that its a huge part of the process, but keep finishing part after part of this project and I feel like it's never going to end. I know that this assignment isn’t meant to be a walk in the park, but I’m getting frustrated with almost everything. Trying to connect my criticisms to one another, how they relate to Achebe’s writing, and what I’m getting from the novel itself. I just feel like I’m on overload, and I literally don’t want to deal with it anymore. But, I plan on walking so….guess I better get back to my paper.

Btw, the flute is supposed to represent my diploma.

Research & Writing #2

So not going to lie, I’m getting really frustrated with the General Introduction. I know it might seem weird, but there’s just so much going on between my novel, Things Fall Apart, and what I’m seeing in my criticism. At first I was having a really hard time as to rather I should or shouldn’t focus on a few topics. But as I did my writing, I realised that many of the topics im seeing in Achebe and my criticisms writing, often intertwine of relate to one another.    

Research & Writing #1

During my research, I found that my criticism had a lot more to offer than what I expected. Rhona Cobham opened up debates to several topics I didn’t even think of when reading the book. While she did talk about topics within the novel, she talked about how readers may have different points of view, and that WHO is reading the novel affects what they get from it. And that if a reader is from let’s say the U.S., the U.K., or even Nigeria, it will greatly impact how the preserve the novel.

https://www.amherst.edu/news/specialevents/commencement/speeches_multimedia/2015/senior-assembly

Are Things Falling Apart? #5

I’m not really sure what to think of this book right now. Because it's still fairly early on, and I’m at the first 6-8 chapters of the book; but I already feel like Things are Falling Apart. Despite only being introduced a few chapters prior, Achebe kills off Ikemefuna. He was originally from a different village, but was taken as a form of getting even, or an eye for an eye, after an Umuofia women was killed. Yet it isn’t until the Oracle has a vision that will result in his death. But what really throws me off most of all, is how Okonkwo disregarded the fact that he was asked not to take part in killing him. Ikemefuna, who had lived with him for three years, were practically like father as son; Ikemefuna even referred to him as father.

Did Okonkwo take part in his death in order to ‘protect’ him in some form of way? Or was he only protecting himself, out of fear of looking ‘weak’?

Things Fall Apart #4

The way Achebe illustrate the Umuofia women is both simultaneously complex, and straightforward to say the least. At first, when Okonkwo's wives are introduced, they are shown to be equal. All three live in a separate hut from him, and equally share duties and responsibilities in the household. Yet inorder to marry, a man must pay a ‘bride price’. At first, this reminded me of what would basically equate to a dowry, but in reality is quite opposite. Unlike a dowry, where a woman's family must pay the man’s family, a bride price is where a man pays a woman's family inorder to marry them. To me, by adding this to the story, Achebe is showing how women might hold different ranks in the Igbo society. That women from a wealthier family or who can be considered more ‘valuable’, will have a higher price. And that the amount of money a man were to use would establish a higher amount of wealth.

Do Things Fall Apart #3

Okay, so what I find extremely interesting is how most, if not all, of the women in the Village of Umuofia are treated the same, except for the Oracle. Just like Okonkwo’s wives, the women of Umuofia are expected to follow their husband's orders, and be obedient. Yet, the Oracle seems to be feared among the men in the village. Is it because she holds a ‘connection’ to the gods and the spiritual world?

Things Fall Apart #2

Achebe now gives a lot more insight to Okonkwo's past and childhood. Growing from poverty to become a lord of the clan. Okonkwo is respected for his success, despite him being brutal or harsh to less successful men. Another character names Ikemefuna, is introduced. But I’m still a little puzzled to what their relationship is. At first, Ikemefuna is scared on Okonkwo, leading him to what would be a failed attempt to run away.

What I also find interesting, is the role that women in the Igbo culture ave. While there hasn’t been much so far, they only insight that Achebe has shown is when one of Okonkwo’s three wives was questioning his actions, so he hit her. At first, I was really thrown off by this, because I wouldn’t expect that a women would stay with her husband if something like that were to happen. But from what did happen, its seems that women in the Igbo culture are supposed to obey their husbands, as they are the head of the household.

Things Fall Apart #1

While there isn't much going on in the first chapter of the book, Achebe introduces the main character, Okonkwo. Who seems to have a very strong personality, specifically when it come to honor and dignity, and is well known for his achievements. Yet, despite being what is considered very honorable in the village, Okonkwo seems to be extremely strict to his household, having a slight temper. Ironically, its very interesting, because I feel like throughout the first few chapters, he has moments he's somewhat affectionate to people. Even though there hasn’t been a lot going on, I’m really interested as to how Okonkwo’s relationship to the rest of the village will play out.

Things Fall Apart

When making the decision of what book I wanted to read, I wanted a topic I wasn’t fully familiar with, but still had an interest in. Yet, I truly had no idea what I was going to read. Ironically, after searching book after book, the one I ultimately chose a book I already had. Originally something we were going to read in AP World this year, I decided on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, a well known book from African literature. More specifically why I chose this book, is because I wanted a different, more personal view of Europe's impact on African ways of life and cultures.