Something that is bugging me about this novel is how the author wants the reader to feel sorry for Okonkwo. The author keeps writing about how Okonkwo's father didn't leave him anything and how he had to do things for himself. I know that in his life things have not come easily for him, but he has made success for himself. Isn't that the best kind of success? The kind that you earn through hardwork? He has much more to be proud of than those who have been handed a barn or the yam seeds.
The Oracle that they mention is kind of like a psychic, but they take it much more seriously. Didn't we learn about something called The Oracle in either the Greece or Rome chapter?
I thought it was interesting that when Okonkwo's father died of the stomach inflammation that they sent him into the woods to die. I guess they were just so scared of what they didn't know that they had to get rid of it, but I wonder if any of them tried to find out what was causing the problem. I remember the medicine people they had, but I assume they did not have much knowledge at all.
I noticed that the author makes a ton of animal and nature references. I really liked "a toad does not run in the daytime for nothing" (20). I am going to guess that it means a toad would be at risk of being eaten or something so if it is taking the chance that there must be a really good reason. Anyone else have ideas?
I looked up the word dregs because I didn't know what it meant and they are the sediments of liquids; lees; grounds. I also looked up tubers they are a swollen, fleshy, usually underground stem of a plant, such as the potato, bearing buds from which new plant shoots arise.
Farming is very serious business in this novel. The book said that someone killed themselves when the weather was not cooperating. I guess that farming would be the only thing that they could do, but there must have been other things.
3 comments:
I think that could be what the toad quote is about. I don't think that the author is trying to get sympathy for Okonkwo; I think that is more to show that Okonkwo has strength and strong will. I could be wrong only. I get the idea that farming is their life. At one point, it said that the yam was a crop grown by men. I think it might be like wealth to them. So if a man doesn't have a good farming season, he might see himself as a failure and want to kill himself.
I'm not so sure I agree. Okonkwo is a prisoner to his own doings. This book is a tragedy as I pointed out the first day, and you know in Okonkwo is in fact doomed as it were.
His father's lifestyle made Okonkwo into the man he is. Generations inside families affect each other. He's so bent on not being weak like his father that he's falling into a trap: The fear of being weak is in itself a weakness!!!
Yes, Okonkwo is successful, but it has come at a cost. Ask his wives what type of life they live. He's all but traumatized his real son.
Oracles pop up in many cultures in some form of an archetype. It seems to be a link between the ancient and the supernatural. And yes, the Oracle of Delphi in Ancient Greece served much the same function. Sort of a go-between for mortals and Gods.
Their understanding of science and medicine were very limited, as were many primitive cultures. Modern medicine hasn't really evolved until the past 100 years really. Some American Indian tribes do the same when a sick elder is dying, they wander off into the woods and die alone. Very sad.
Your "toad" guess seems logical. Predators eyes are attracted to motion, so if the Toad moves, he runs a risk of something seeing him.
I like how you are looking up words that you are unsure of. This is always encouraging from a teacher's stand point. Keep doing it if you need to, as it will help you get more out of the novel and from life in general. ;-)
Farming for primitive societies such as this is EVERYTHING. They can't go to Giant Eagle and buy bread for their family. So when things go bad with their crops or whatever, its a serious matter. That might help to explain their connection to farming?
Keep up the good comments,
Mr. Farrell
A lot of the animal comments may be because this is africa and animals are everywhere. This is a farming economy, so they will be out in the fields all day noticing weird animals and plants and whatnot. I agree with Alaina that the book isnt trying to make you feel sorry for okonkwo but rather see what a success he is going to be. I mean he is going to go from absolutely nothing to almost everything.
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