Great job to those of you who are
pulling examples from the text and limiting your own opinions. Wonderful! We
are nearing the end of the book and quite a bit is and will continue changing.
I am enjoying all of your posts and am excited for our in-class discussions!
This post has quite a few questions, so please remember to respond to each
part.
We only have 2 posts left! I am
expecting thoughtful and complete answers submitted ON TIME! Thanks for all of
your work thus far.
***If you have missed a post, please
go back and complete it ASAP.
Keep reading! If you are still having issues posting- NO WORRIES! Just email me your response for now. You will still get full credit.
~Mrs. K
Discussion Prompt #4:
We have not read a lot about Nwoye in
the past several chapters. Think back on the beginning chapters and recall his
relationship with his father. Okonkwo often beat Nwoye for being lazy and weak.
He believes that Nwoye was positively influenced by Ikemefuna, but Nwoye
retreats into himself after Ikemefuna's murder. His confusion and reluctance to
accept the values of his culture turn into pure embitterment.
How do the Christian Missionaries
affect Nwoye? Was this expected?
How does Okonkwo react to Nwoye's
decision to leave the family? Was this expected?
Lastly, discuss your thoughts as you
read about the Missionaries and the changes that are occurring in Mbanta and
surrounding villages as a result of their coming.
Nwoye seems to be more like his father than he perceives. Okonkwo hated his father and wanted to be everything that he was not. Nwoye hates his father and wants to be everything his father was not. They are alike in a obdurate way."It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him. He did not understand it. It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul-the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed." (68%) Nwoye is struck by the accepting nature of these missionaries. He is nonplussed by their unfamiliar views on life. These missionaries revile the idea of killing children. Nwoye was disgusted and unsettled by Ikemefuna's death and now he has found someone that shares his disgust.
ReplyDeleteThis reaction was expected. Nwoye was already questioning his father and now has found people and tenets that authenticate this suspicions. Naturally, Nwoye is drawn to this congregation.
Nwoye's fascination with this new development leaves his father furious. Okonkwo hates Nwoye for abandoning his upbringing. But soon Okonkwo resolves that Nwoye is a mere disappointment and has always been. Now Okonkwo is rid of him and is relived at that, but still perturbed that his other family will renounce him and their beliefs as Nwoye did.
Nwoye was not the only one to be intrigued by this missionaries and their religion. The entire clan and surrounding clans are fascinated by the fact that this church accepts outcasts. "These outcasts, or osu, seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations, thought that it was possible that they would also be received." (71%) The new church welcomes everyone, without exception. The biggest impact the church has on these people, is that they accept the outcasts and the twins and anyone who considers their words. This is a new idea for these people and they are all perplexed by the altruism of these people toward everyone.
The Christian missionaries intrigued Nwoye's mind because it sounded more forgiving and kind, unlike his father. Nwoye wishes to be his own person without his father scolding him all the time, and the missionaries way gave him that opportunity.
ReplyDeleteIn a way it was expected for Nwoye to stray from his father. We were constantly reminded of their differences and the little patience Okonkwo had for Nowoye as we read. Such as, "If you split another yam this size I shall break your jaw. You think you are still a child. I began to own a farm at your age." (Pg. 23-24)
After Nwoye goes to the missionaries Okonkwo claims that Nwoye is not is son. Okonkwoe shuns Nwoye, he is ashamed, embarrassed by his son and wants to keep his good name be disowning Nwoye.
This was also expected because Okonkwo wouldn't want to look weak, such the time when he, "Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak." (Pg. 43, killed Ikemefuna.
I thinkthat by the missionaries coming into the town the outsiders feel welcomed. People are intrigued, scared, curious, and amazed, especially when their prophecies are proven wrong by the missionaries. This brings new interests and experiences into the town. It is surely not the best for Okonkwo, but it may be a positive thing for the rest of Umofia.
The missionaries affect Nwoye by giving him the opportunity to start over and have a better life than the one that he had. In the book there are passages that tell of Okonkwo's feelings of disgust towards Nwoye because he saw him as being womanly. Nwoye feels a lack of love from his father, and he has watched as his father has beaten and cursed his family, and himself. In his heart, he knows that father's religion isn't right, and he believes that his father's religion has factored into why Okonkwo is the man that he is. Nwoye doesn't have a good life, and he is searching for something. When he finds the missionaries, he can see a future in their faith. He sees answers, too. The book says, ''The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul-the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed." (136) This new faith confirmed within him that the clan has done wrong. He is disgusted that the clan throws away innocent infant twins, and killed Ikemefuna. The missionaries have the same view. It says in the book, "These outcasts, or osu, seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations, thought that it was possible that they would also be received." The missionaries accepted and had compassion for the outcasts, and the broken people. Nwoye admires them and feels as though he can trust them.
ReplyDeleteIt was expected. People can only take so much before they break, and in this life you only have two options to choose from when handling relationships. You can forgive the person who has wronged you, and continue life with that person still around. But you can also forgive and then walk away. Both options hurt, and both involve forgiving, out of love for yourself and them. Through his new faith, Nwoye decides that he still loves his father enough to forgive him. But he has also found enough self-worth that he can see his relationship with his father is toxic. So he left. At first, I saw Nwoye getting involved with faith as an act of defiance. The book says, “Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day, he kept it secret. He dared not go too near the missionaries for fear of his father. But whenever they came to preach in the open market place or the village playground, Nwoye was there.” (149-150) He knew his father would be angry if he were with the missionaries, but he chose them anyway, as a way to defy his father.
Okonkwo didn't handle this well. Page 140 of the book talks about Okonkwo beating Nwoye because he knew he was with the missionaries. The only reason he stopped was because Uchendu commanded him to. He tells his other sons, “You have all seen the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother. I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people. If any one of you prefers to be a woman, let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him. If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck.” (172).
I expect this, but not only because of the type of man Okonkwo is. Now he is mourning, because though he often spoke against his son, he still loved him. When Nwoye choose faith over his family, he betrayed them. Okonkwo lost his son, like he had lost Ikemefuna. Being a tough man he hides sorrow behind anger. His anger makes him to beat Nwoye, and force his other sons to become as men and never leave his beliefs.
This religion brings conflicts and peace. The people can make choices for themselves. Those who don't understand or don't agree with the clan can leave. They can decide for themselves what is right/wrong. They don't have to be forced into thinking that the way the clan does/handles things are the best, because they have something to compare it to. I think that some of the people are angry, or happy, or just don't care about the new religion. It will cause tension, but I foresee it bringing happiness.
The Christian Missionaries affect Nowye by converting him. Converting him helped Nowye get away from his father. Nwoye never even liked Okonkwo. Nwoye felt a lack of love and support. It was expected after Ikemefuna's death that Nwoye was very sad and needed comfort and Okonkwo didn't give it to him. Nwoye didn't like that if twins were born they would get rid of them and kill them. The Christian faith didn't believe that you should kill twins and that comforted Nwoye. The Missionaries also helped Nwoye become happy and bring his morale up. Nwoye also didn't like that Okonkwo would always be beating someone. The Christians didn't do that and Nwoye liked that.
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo reacted by thinking that it wasn't that big of a loss. He thought that Nwoye would never be able to accomplish anything. He called Nwoye "degenerate and effeminate" and that "perhaps he was not his son." This was expected because Okonkwo never liked Nwoye and thought he was a let down. He had expected more from Nwoye because " at Nwoye's age Okonkwo had already become famous throughout Umuofia for his wrestling and his fearlessness." Okonkwo expected Nwoye to be a great wrestler and warrior, but he was not either of them.
The Missionaries impacted the lives of all the people in the villages. The new religion gave comfort to many of the villagers that were outcasts or those that didn't like the culture of their villages. The Missionaries gave peace to many of the troubled people. It changed the fact that the villagers usually did whatever the oracles and priestesses say. They now didn't throw away twins and the outcasts were now treated the same as all the other converts. This made the power of the oracles and priestesses dwindle and the other villagers didn't like it. After a while the villagers outlawed the converts from the quarries, the water, and the market. The new religion created a tension between the people.
The Christian missionaries had a great impact on Nwoye. The missionaries had similar beliefs as Nwoye, and Nwoye liked that. The missionaries didn't believe in killing twins, and neither did Nwoye. Nwoye felt almost connected with the missionaries. "Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day, he kept it a secret." (Page 149)
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo's reaction was expected just by the way he felt towards Nwoye. He always believed that Nwoye would be a failure. He didn't think it was such a big loss to have Nwoye leave the family.
I think the missionaries will greatly benefit Mbanta. I think there will be less killing and less commotion within the village if they accept the new religion. Even though the new religion is causing tension in the village, I think it will benefit in the end.
Nwoye is fascinated by the missionaries and their acceptance of things that were thought to be evil. Many outcasts and mothers with twins go to the church because of their circumstances. Nwoye never appreciated his father. His father had only liked him when he and Ikemefuna were working hard. Ikemefuna had been an inspiration to Nwoye. He was not himself after Ikemefuna was killed. This new religion would not allow that to happen, because of this he is drawn there. His father notices and says good riddance. He saw it as losing an unhelpful person. He compared Nwoye to his own father. He considered them both lazy and unusual to society. When Okonkwo goes back to his village he expected the new religion to be unsuccessful. When he had gotten there it seemed that they had taken over and the clan couldn’t do anything about it. They were unable to kill them or they would be charged with murder and exiled. They could try to chase them off but other villages had also tried and failed. The missionaries seemed unable to kill or enrage. This is shown when convert women go to the stone quarry and stream. They come back with their baskets empty. They tell the missionary what happened. They said that men were guarding those places and beat them with whips when they came close. Men converts grabbed their machetes and wanted to teach them a lesson. The missionary said no. “Every clan and village had its ‘evil forest.’ In it were buried all those who died of the really evil diseases, like leprosy and smallpox. It was also the dumping ground for the potent fetishes of great medicine men when they died.”(114) The church lay in that evil forest. Everyone thought they would be dead within a week. When they had not died people were astonished, and joined because they must have strong medicine. I see it as the Christians are taking over slowly and calmly. They came in as spies and got to know the people to the point where they are friends. After this they can gradually and slowly take over the population. In this way they become one of them.
ReplyDeleteThe Christian Missionaries and their loving, accepting nature affected Nwoye. He hated his father, and had an awful relationship with him. “Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day, he kept it a secret. He dared not go too near the missionaries for fear of his father. But whenever they came to preach in the open marketplace or village playground, Nwoye was there.” (Page 149) Nwoye knew showing interest in anything different than what his father believed or wanted was dangerous, yet he could not shut down the curiosity inside. I feel Nwoye was surprised at how easily the Christian Missionaries accepted any man. That is the one thing Nwoye yearned for, acceptance from man. It was expected of Nwoye to go where he felt accepted. Okonkwo is disgusted with Nwoye’s decision to leave the traditional ways and join the white man’s ways. He disowns Nwoye from the family in anger. With Okonkwo’s awful temper and strict hand one would have only expected this.
ReplyDeleteThe Christian missionaries were caring, loving, and accepting. That may be one reason he joined them. He yearned to be accepted by man. His father was very harsh and strict. They did not have a very good relationship. He was interested in joining, but "dared not go too near to the missionaries for fear of his father. But whenever they came to preach in the open marketplace or village playground, Nwoye was there." (149) He knew going was dangerous, but he could not stifle his curiosity. His father later beat him and disowned him. The only place he felt welcome was in the church.
ReplyDeleteThe missionaries struck Nwoye's heart. "It was the poetry of the new religion, something that felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul-the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul." (147). Nwoye had always been disturbed that Ikemefuna was killed and twins were abandoned. He was glad that he had somewhere to go instead of being trapped in the Ibo culture.
ReplyDeleteIt was expected. The relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye has never been harmonious. Nwoye never really understood the cruelty of the Ibo culture, and was drawn to the welcoming environment of the church.
Okonkwo was very angry. Throughout the book, Okonkwo made his temper very obvious. He did not know how an extremely masculine man like himself could beget "a woman for a son" (153). He pondered this until he decided that "Living fire begets cold, impotent ash." (153).
This, also, was expected. Okonkwo had always been disappointed in Nwoye. This was another thing to add to the list.
I think the missionaries make it so everyone can be prosperous. Because of the accepting nature of the church, the outcasts and poor have a chance to build a future. The upper class have no reason to leave the clans. They are wealthy and respected. What more could they want?
I think that the Christian missionaries gave Nwoye comfort. “He felt a relief within him as the hymn pored into his parched soul.”(pg.147). I think that Okonkwo likes the old way of doing things. He sees Nwoye as woman who is no longer his son.
ReplyDelete“And so Obierika went to Mbanta to see his friend. And he found that Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye” (pg.144). Since nobody thought the missionaries would catch on, it allowed them to actually get land and become a permanent part of their society. Since people laughed at the Christians and didn’t treat them like a threat, they became one to the people who still believed in their original culture.
The Christian missionaries are making great progress in their conversions. They have now built a church to with hold meetings and are preaching what they believe to a vast sized group. Okonkwo does not believe in anything the missionaries say, and he does not want any of his wives and/or children to be a part of their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteNwoye has tried to avoid the Christian church, but has been curious to find out what the church actually is. Later in the book he ends up going to church and leaving his family due to Okonkwos bad actions. I feel that I knew Nwoye was going to end up in the church. I felt this way because he is the odd-ball in Okonkwo's view. He was bound to reflect a different religion than the others. Obviously Okonkwo does not approve of Nwoye's decision to join the Christian church.
The day Nwoye decides to go to church is also the day he leaves forever. Nwoye comes home from his day at church, very secretly, to find Okonkwo in his hut. Okonkwo finds out that Nwoye went to church and beats Nwoye very badly. After the beating Nwoye runs away, forever. Nwoye's plan is to attend a Christian school where they learn to read and write. Okonkwo is a wicked man and in my opinion I knew Nwoye was going to get beaten. But what I thought could happen was, Okonkwo surprisingly accepting his son, obviously that didn't happen, well not at this part of the book anyway.
The Christian missionaries are very brave and confident in all that they do. The church in Mbanta is growing bigger and bigger. Mr. kiaga, the leader of the church there, is teaching the converts how to live righteously bit by bit. "Mr. Kiaga stood firm, and it was his firmness that saved the young church."(Pg. 157) The men, women, and children are now being taught the difference between multiple God's and Goddesses and one God. They are becoming strong and firm in their beliefs.
Nwoye was affected by the Christian Missionaries’ stories and beliefs. However, it wasn’t the way that many of the other people were converted or affected. In the book, it states, “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him. He did not understand it. It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul (202 iBooks version).” Nwoye was very close to his older brother Ikemefuna, and when Ikemefuna died, Nwoye was shocked and disturbed. He had been killed in a most non-comforting manner. No wonder he felt peace and relief when he heard that he could see Ikemefuna again!
ReplyDeleteI did expect that Nwoye would do something of this manner. Although he tried to be like his father, Okonkwo, he was just naturally different from him.There was just something particular about him that contrasted his father’s personality. Yes, Nwoye was a bit of a softie. That’s just who he was, just like his grandfather, Unoka. But the problem about this is that Okonkwo was so ashamed of his father, Unoka, that his life goal was to be the opposite of him, and that his sons should follow in his footsteps. So I can see why Okonkwo would go ballistic if his own son looked like his father. Okonkwo must be so mad, because he had spent his whole life trying to not make him like his father. It would feel discouraging that all of that talking, training, persuading, etc. was gone to waste. This, too, was expected. Of course Okonkwo would be mad. Who wouldn’t when the thing that you were dreading came to pass??
I think that it was an interesting choice of the author to put in the missionaries and their details. The people seem very skeptical to their religion. I can see why; all their life they were taught that there were many gods and therefore worshipped them all. But to see some strange men come and teach that there was only one god and he was “the Creator of all the world and all the men and women (198),” it must have been shocking to hear or even fathom such thing. There were also many traditions that the missionaries and their church had been “crushing.” For example, the church was built up in the Evil Forest in Mbanta and was supposed to be dead within the next four days. But they still lived, and “everyone was puzzled (205).” I can tell that all of the villages were set on traditions, and so when the church had broke those, there were mixed feelings all over the town.
I believe that the strongest example of how the Christian missionaries affected Nwoye was that he wanted to get away from Okonkwo. Obierika sees Nwoye with the missionaries and asks him, "What are you doing here?" Nwoye replies, "I am one of them." Obierika, not knowing what else to say asks, "How is your father?" To that Nwoye responded unhappily, "I don't know he is not my father." (66%). After coming home the first day after going to the church Okonkwo grabbed Nwoye by the throat and asked him where he had been (even though he already knew). After that Nwoye left and never came back. I did not expect that mostly because we have not talked about Nwoye for quite a few chapter.
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo acted with sorrow and disappointment when Nwoye left. It says in chapter twenty, "Then the tragedy of his first son occurred, but in the end Okonkwo overcame his sorrow." (77%). Then later Okonkwo brings in his five other sons and says, "You have all seen the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother." (78%). Okonkwo goes on to tell them that any wish to join Nwoye then they should go. I did not expect the sorrow but the disappointment was predictable.
I am not sure if the missionaries coming is good or bad. I feel that it is good to be introduced to new things and that the village has some very strange and sometimes horrible beliefs (such as throwing twins into the evil forest and the evil forest), but I know what will most likely happen to the village if the missionaries completely take over. All of those centuries of everything that took place in the clan would go "down the drain".
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ReplyDeleteI think Nwoye wanted an escape from his father. When the missionaries came, they were kind to Nwoye. The missionaries affected Nwoye by him realizing that he can have a better life and start fresh. I expected him to have a breaking point and say I'm done. He was just to hurt. It was going to happen sooner or later. When Okonkwo found out that he was talking with the missionaries, he got very angry. Nwoye came home that evening to find his father is such a rage. He even threaten to kill him! "answer me," roared okonkwo, "before I kill you!"(151) More and more people started to join the church. I think the missionaries being here will improve and stop the horrible beliefs of the clans. It will make people feel more welcome and like they belong.
ReplyDeleteIn this section, Christian missionaries (A. K. A. the white men) are introduced to us and Okonkwo's family as vicious savages that killed and murdered the people of Abame out of revenge. When some of the white men arrive at the village of Mbanta, all of the people had heard the stories, and were curious. Nwoye was extremely curious, and wanted to know the truth of everything.
ReplyDeleteThe missionaries claimed that they were right, and their one and only God was real, and that the clan was wrong, and that they worshiped false gods that were not real! "And he told them about this new God, the Creator of all the world and all the men and women. He told them that they worshiped false gods, gods of wood and stone." (145)
At first, everyone mocked and made fun of the missionaries, because of their foolishness. But as these Christians continued teaching their beliefs, some people and families started to believe also, and they converted to the ways of the white men. The counsil and Okonkwo believed these people to be stupid, idiotic, and traitors to their ancestors, but as time went on, more and more people became puzzled and curious, so they converted as well. One of these interested people was Nwoye. "It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him. He did not understand it. It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the morrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question"...."He felt a relief as the hymn poured into his parched soul." (147)
Nwoye wanted to make his father proud, but he disliked the way Okonkwo treated him and his family. These feelings formed when Ikemefuna was murdered by his own father. Nwoye wanted to be rid of his emotionless and tempered father. This was his chance! He was promised a safe passageway from his father, and that he would learn the truth, and how to read and write.
Although he wanted all of things promised to him, he was too scared to leave. So, he would only walk by the new Christian church, hoping to have a glimpse of what happened inside. I am not surprised, whatsoever, that he wants to convert. I think he has the right to have an enjoyable life without strictness of Okonkwo.
One day, as one of Okonkwo's cousins walked by the church, and saw none other than Nwoye, with the Christians. He went to Okonkwo immediately to tell him of what he saw. Later when Nwoye came home, his father was "suddenly overcome with fury, sprang to his feet, and gripped him by the neck." (151) Okonkwo was tempted to kill him if Nwoye didn't confess of what he had done. Nwoye was saved by his great-uncle, who commanded that Okonkwo stopped. When he finally let go, Nwoye simply walked away to convert and live with the missionaries.
I definitely expected Okonkwo to be extremely upset, and maybe hit Nwoye, but I had no idea that he might kill him. I think that if Okonkwo could go back in time and change the events, then he would not have been as threatening. I believe that this is a huge turning point in the book, and that we will see Nwoye, whether if it's when he converts his family, or he leaves the new religion. I believe that this is the biggest turning point in the entire book, because we lose a main character, and have no knowledge of what will happen to him.
At first, when the missionaries came to the village of Mbanta, everyone thought that they were crazy and mad, except for Nwoye. Later on in the following chapters, the villagers turned out to be the foolish ones. They gave the white men or the missionaries land in the Evil Forest. The villagers thought that Mr. Kiaga and his partners would be dead soon. However, they did not. When the missionaries first arrived, and Nwoye started to believe in their words, no one really knew about it. One Sunday, Nwoye snuck out of his obi, or house, so he could here the words of the white man. While this was taking place, one of Okonkwo's cousins was walking by and saw Nwoye near the house of the missionaries. He told Okonkwo this news. When Nwoye returned home, his father was "suddenly overcome with fury, sprang to his feet, and gripped him by the neck" (151) Okonkwo was tempted to kill him, but nwoye was saved by his great-uncle. After all this had taken place, Nwoye simply walked away to live with the white men. The missionaries definitely changed the lives of the village of Mbanta and the other villages near by. The missionaries slowly started to convert a lot of the villagers. Okonkwo wants to force and fight the white men out of the villages, but the new religion has a lot of members now. A lot of sons and daughters have joined the new church, so trying to kick them out of the village would be foolish.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Missionaries came to Mbanta their goal was to get the clan to worship God and not the gods that were named. They knew it was going to be difficult because the clan thought they were crazy to want them to leave their gods. The main person it really got to was Nwoye. It was not only a way out, but a way to get away from his dad and start over. They way it affected Nwoye enough to join the Christians was unexpected. "One morning Okonkwo's cousin, Amikwu, was passing by the church on his way from the neighboring village, when he saw Nwoye among the Christians. He was greatly surprised, and when he got home he went straight to Okonkwo's hut and told him what he had seen. The women began to talk excitedly, but Okonkwo sat unmoved." (pg. 151) The reaction of Okonkwo when Nwoye got home wasn't that shocking because he has always beaten Nwoye. "Answer me," roared Okonkwo, "before I kill you!" He seized a heavy stick that lay on the dwarf wall and hit him two or three savage blows." (pg. 151-152)
ReplyDeleteOnce the Missionaries had built the church in the Evil Forest it had gradually became stronger which worried the people that weren't part of the church. After awhile men, women, and children started to attend the Christian church. The village outlawed the church, so they can't go to markets or go to the stream and get water. Okoli died made them realize that the gods can fight back.
The Christian Missionaries intrigued Nwoye and he slowly but surely started to accept them. The book says, “There was a young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye…”(147). He was dismayed at Ikemefuna’s death and it definitely turned him against their culture and could’ve soon got over it if the missionaries didn’t come. Albeit it wasn’t expected, the book illustrates the shock of the matter with this sentence “Amikwu, was passing by the church on his way from the neighboring village, when he saw Nwoye among the Christians. He was greatly surprised…”(151). When Okonkwo was informed on this he didn’t react well and when he saw Nwoye, he strangled him to hear from Nwoye himself if he had been at the church. Okonkwo was so mad he probably would have killed Nwoye if it weren’t for Uchendu. No this wasn’t expected Okonkwo should have been accepting of his son’s beliefs. The missionaries started getting successful and in a few years might start changing the culture of the people.
ReplyDeleteNwoye was very much effected by the Christian missionaries. He had listen to many to many of there speeches behind his father's back. He did this because he was afraid of his father. This was expected to happen. Nwoye has a relationship with Okonkwo very much like the relationship Okonkwo had with his father. Nwoye hates everything his father, and Okonkwo felt the same way about his father. It was only natural for Nwoye to find the feeling of being excepted in the new religion. Okonkwo is very angry with Nwoye and his decision to leave the family at first. Then his feelings changed from anger to self pity. " Why, he cried in his heart, should he, Okonkwo of all people, be cursed with such a son? He saw clearly in it the finger of his personal god or chi. " He was not worried about his son he was more worried about why he was so cursed. This was expected because Okonkwo was not very happy or compassionate about Nwoye. I think the missionaries are doing more harm than good. They don't respect the culture of the clan. From the very get go they told the entire clan that they were believing in false gods, and that they were stupid for doing so. They are also very hypocritical. They say all are welcome to this new religion, but when the obominations don't want to cut their hair the Christians force them too. They also are very rude. "Three converts had gone into the village and boasted openly that all the gods were dead and impotent and that they were prepared to defy them buy burning all their shrines." The changes in Mbanio are all happening very quickly and have a lot to do with the missionaries and the new customs they bring to the clan.
ReplyDeleteThe missionaries affected Nwoye by helping him figure a few things out. It said in chapter 16 that the hymn that was playing answered the question of Ikemefuna's death which had probably still been bothering him for quite some time. They also affected him by converting him to their religion. In my opinion I thought this was expected because Nwoye isn’t mean and actually listened to the missionaries with the intent of learning something, not because that’s what the rest of the village was doing or because the white men were so interesting to look at.Okonkwo doesn’t really even react to Nwoye leaving the family. It does say that Okonkwo was furious and wanted to kill all the people with the church but then reasoned it out by telling himself that Nwoye was not worth fighting over. Yes, this reaction from Okonkwo was more than expected. It definitely didn’t take this long in the book for me to figure out that Nwoye wasn’t Okonkwo's "golden child". Okonkwo is often comparing himself at Nwoye's age to Nwoye. I even felt that when Ikemefuna was living in Okonkwo’s house that Okonkwo liked Ikemefuna more than Nwoye. So yes, this reaction from Okonkwo was more that expectable. I think what the missionaries have caused a whole lot of unwanted trouble for the villages. First they brought fear to the villages. Now that they are converting people the villages are becoming more and more split up. Some of the changes they have brought have been good like I the people being more reasonable and kind but I think they have brought more trouble than help and feel that if the missionaries stay things will get a lot worse before they get better.
ReplyDeleteThe missionaries coming somewhat surprised me. However, Nwoye rebelling against and joining them did not. Nwoye always had a mind of his own and had his own opinion on things. He was really confused about his life during this time and the missionaries seemed to answer his questions. It was the poetry of the new religion.... The hymn about the brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul' (67%)
ReplyDeleteAt the same time the missionaries seemed very arrogant and expected the people to except there religion. I think the missionaries offended the village. 'Your gods are not alive and cannot do you any harm... They are prices of wood and stone.' (67%) in this way the village and church already had a sort of rivalry and this grew as the missionaries built a church and converted the villagers.
Okonkwo didn't necessarily hate the church until Nwoye joined. In fact Okonkwo almost killed Nwoye. Okonkwo threatening to kill his own son seems normal at this point in the story, we've had many examples of his violence.
Missionaries coming in and somewhat taking over some villagers has changed a lot of things including Okonkwo's opinion of his mothers homeland. When discussing what the people should do he 'ground his teeth with disgust.' (73%) This shows his dislike for the Christians.
Nwoye was captivated by “the poetry of the new religion." (147) The church comforted him, something that his father never did. He liked the fact that the new church did not believe in throwing away twins and killing children how they killed Ikemefuna. He did not believe that these things were right from the beginning. The church relieved him from his troubles.
ReplyDeleteIt was expected that he went to the new religion. It helped him escape from his father. It was a way of comfort for Nwoye. At first Okonkwo was furious, but then he realizes that Nwoye was never going to be like him because he hadn't even accomplished the things that Okonkwo had accomplished at Nwoye’s age. "And immediately Okonkwo's eyes were opened and he saw the whole matter clearly. Living fire begets cold, impotent ash." (153) He then denies that Nwoye could ever have been his son in the first place. "Then the tragedy of his first son had occurred. At first it appeared as if it might prove too great for his spirit. But it was a resilient spirit, and in the end Okonkwo overcame his sorrow." (172) It was expected of how Okonkwo reacted, because we have already learned that he is a very violent man.
Many people did not like the missionaries, but some did. They changed the customs of the clans. Many were now not throwing away twins and not doing many of the things they had been doing. The new religion gave comfort to many and put everyone on the same level. In my opinion Mr. Kiaga was a huge role model for the members of the new religion. "Mr. Kiaga stood firm, and it was in his firmness that saved the young church. The wavering converts drew inspiration and confidence from his unshakable faith." (157) The new religion made a huge change in the clans. It made the convert's lives better. I think it definitely changed everyone's lives that even listened to the missionaries. I think that this is a huge turning point for everyone in the book.
The missionaries give Nwoye hope and they intrigue him. The missionaries are interesting to most of the clan, but to Nwoye they show a kindness from the men that he has never known. “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him. He did not understand it. It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul- the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul. The words of the hymn were like the drops of frozen rain melting on the dry palate of the panting earth. Nwoye’s callow mind was greatly puzzled.” (147) When they started to talk about missionaries converting clan’s men I expected that Nwoye would be converted. From what the missionaries told the clans people they never would have killed Ikemefuna and Nwoye appreciated that. Okonkwo was saddened to lose Nwoye at first, but then he decided that he was better off without Nwoye as a son. Okonkwo always blocks out his “unmanly” feelings and you would expect him to disown Nwoye and that is exactly what he did. I think its kind of rude that the missionaries just barged into their towns and started to create governments and make the people follow their new rules. I can understand why the clan’s men would be angry that they were ordering them around. I also think its rude that the clans people won’t let the converts buy their food or get water from the river. I think that they should all just be civil to everybody and make peace.
ReplyDeleteMy perspective of Nwoye is that he has low self-confidence from the negative impact his father has put on his life. I feel as if he believes he doesn't fit in, in his father's house. When Ikemefuna joined the family Nwoye felt a sense of belonging and pride in his father and felt loved. But after the murder he became confused and questioned why his father could do such a thing. He crept back into his old self. I think the Christian Missionaries impact Nwoye by making him feel loved, welcomed and like he belonged. I think this was expected because he needed to find comfort and peace in his troubled mind. "the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul." (147) I knew that Okonkwo disliked the new religion and figured he would be angry with his son but not that Nwoye would leave the family. Okonkwo seems as if he is fine with it because he disliked Nwoye anyway for being lazy and weak. Nwoye is better off with his new life. I didn't expect for his decision to make things so dramatic. The changes in Mbanta and the surrounding villages are intriguing becuase the conflict between the two make me wonder why they don't except the change of the new "white man".
ReplyDeleteThe Christian missionaries showed Nwoye a much kinder and more accepting way of life than his own religion and father. The Christians appeal to him in a way his father and tribe never could. Okonkwo only showed Nwoye dissaplin and hardship trying to form him into a man when all he needed was some love, and the Christians showed him that, and it made him happy. Happy to leave his father, and go with the missionaries.
ReplyDelete"But he was happy to leave his father"(pg152)
This was to be expected from Nwoye. A person can only take so much.
Okonkwo was mad about Nwoye's decision. He wordered why this had happened to him and what he had done to deserve this, he even thought his wife had had an affair and he wasn't his child. He was also sad that he lost another son.
I think Okonkwo wanted his son to become like him in life, and not choose his own way.
This was also to be expected.
The missionaries coming was a big and unexspected change. It tested their faith when nothing happened when they built their temple in the forest and nothing happened to them. I think this will be a good change for the people. It will teach them to adept to other religions and people.
-kyrin rice-naylor-
I thought that it was expecting for Nwoye to want to look in on the new religion. Also how he reacted when they came he seemed interested in the white people. The effect on Okonkwo's reaction to Nwoye leaving the family to be with the Christians and how he reacted was rational because of how Okonkwo was trying to raise him right and Nwoye kept it a secret and it surprised him. That mad Okonkwo make sure his children where not going to turn out like Nwoye. The missionaries are making a bunch of changes in their religion and the life of thE people. They do that by taking the twins and saving them which is hard on the people by changing the people that live their because they think that they are evil.
ReplyDelete“I am one of them” (144). Nwoye’s declaration to Obierika of joining the church was a twist to the story, but not necessarily a surprise. Nwoye had never been like his father, whether he had wanted to or not. “Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell” (53). He had grown to be more compassionate than his father, yet still hid it so as not to be abused. As time went on, Nwoye must have realized that he, in fact, did not want to reflect his father, for he questioned subjects like the twins left to die in the forest. When the missionaries arrived, Nwoye’s questions were answered and he found others that felt the same as he. This was what he had unknowingly searched for throughout the years. He was also very curious about this new faith. He didn’t understand many of the things that he heard, and this was another reason he became part of the church. Because of Nwoye’s beliefs and curiosity, it wasn’t very hard to predict that he would soon have something to do with the new religion.
ReplyDelete“A sudden fury rose within [Okonkwo] and he felt a strong desire to take up his machete, go to the church and wipe out the entire vile and miscreant gang” (152). Okonkwo was livid when he heard that Nwoye had joined the church. He completely believed that the leaders of the church were mad and that they taught nonsense. Okonkwo was easily angered about trivial things, and now he was especially enraged at the thought of Nwoye, his son, believing this rubbish. This would reflect poorly upon Okonkwo and his family. Okonkwo’s feelings of anger were foreseeable. However, it was a bit surprising when he basically just let Nwoye go. “But on further thought he told himself that Nwoye was not worth fighting for” (152). It would have been less surprising if he had went after Nwoye and punished him, based off of earlier behavioral patterns. To Okonkwo, Nwoye was a curse, and with this latest development, Okonkwo felt it justifiable to disown him in his mind. Overall, Okonkwo was now only concerned that his other children would run to the church as well, leaving no one to pay their sacrifices and worship him after he passed on.
This new church is a huge change for the villages. The problem is that people generally are afraid of change and fight it, whether it is good or bad. The church brought new beliefs such as accepting everyone, even twins or an osu. They defied the prophecies made by the oracle. The oracle was a major part of the villages and had much respect. People were amazed that the Christians had not died yet, and started to become more curious. Still, the church brought many contentions into the villages. The Christians believed and supported a new government, and they began to enforce it without permission in the villages as well. The coming of the church could have been seen as good or bad, but the people put up much resistance to the change, creating the bad feeling that many of them felt. “Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart” (176).
The Christian missionaries had a very strong influence on Nwoye. It seemed to answer a lot of the questions that Nwoye had been asking himself inside. The missionaries also said that all of the gods of the clan were false. This helped Nwoye to see why Ikemefuna was killed. I had expected Nwoye to leave his father or find some way to stay distant from him because of what happened to Ikemefuna and the many beatings he had in his youth. Okonkwo`s reaction was very harsh. He was very angry with Nwoye for leavingthe family and because he thought that Nwoye was weak and woman-like. He had thought that over time Nwoye would turn into a man and when he joined the church it made Okonkwo very angry to the point of wanting to kill him. Okonkwo`s reaction was expected because of the aggressiveness and violence he has shown from the very beginning. Another reason that Okonkwo was angry was because he thought that the new religion was evil and that there was no way that it could be true and so he despised Nwoye because he looked weak through Okonkwo`s eyes.
ReplyDeleteNwoye was very welcoming to this new Christian religion. "But there was a young lad who had been captivated. His name was Nwoye, Okonkwo's first son. It was not the mad logic of the Trinity the captivated him. He did not understand it. It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul--the question of the twins crying the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed." (147) This led Nwoye to go to some of their preaching sessions in the market-place. He kept all of this a secret from his father in fear of what he would do if he found out. This all worked until Okonkwo's cousin saw Nwoye listening to them preach and told Okonkwo about it. As soon as Nwoye got home, Okonkwo beat him harshly and almost strangled him to death. It was Uchendu who saved him.""Leave that boy at once!" said a voice in the outer compound. It was Okonkwo's uncle, Uchendu. "Are you mad?"
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo did not answer. But he left hold of Nwoye, who walked away and never returned." Nwoye went and joined the church immediately afterward, eventually causing Okonkwo to disown him as a son and brother to his children. It wasn't hard for me to guess the things that would play out because of both of their attitudes. Nwoye only really was the kind of son Okonkwo wanted him to be when Ikemefuna was mentoring him. It struck a huge blow to Nwoye, especially since it was his father who did it. Okonkwo has always had that kind of personality. He beats his kids at an early age and tries to make them believe the same things he does, being very strict with their punishments if the don't. The Christians and their lifestyle caused quite a stir when the came to Mbanta and the surrounding villages. At first the people believed them to be of no threat and thought that they would die quickly. This was not true. I think that as time goes on the Christians will continue to be a problem to them and possibly overtake them.
Nwoye was very intrigued by the new religion. It was expected because he never liked his father "I don't know. He is not my father." (66%) This was different from his fathers beliefs. Okonkwo was very angry and tried to hurt Nwoye. It was very expected because Okonkwo wanted his sons to have no weakness and be perfect.
ReplyDeleteI think that the missionaries are helping them make better decisions like not killing children like Ikemefuna. I don't think that making a government was a wise decision.
Nwoye has been lost since Ikemefuna’s death. He has been scared of his father and has been in deep despair. When the missionaries come to Mbanta Nwoye feels like he finally has his answer to what he needs to do. He said “The words of the hymn were like the drops of frozen rain melting on the dry plate of the panting earth” (pg147). This reaction was greatly expected. Nwoye was lost and us as readers were just waiting for him to find his way. This new religion gave Nwoye the guidance he needed.
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo reacts very harshly to Nwoye joining the Christian faith. It says “{He} sprang to his feet and gripped him {Nwoye} by the neck (pg151). Okonkwo was furious with his son. During their exchange (pg151-152). Nwoye didn’t say a word. This further infuriated Okonkwo. Okonkwo was used to being obeyed and getting his way. When Nwoye both went against Okonkwo’s religion and refused to answer him, he lost it. This was an expected reaction because of the fact that Okonkwo feels as if he is high and mighty and he should be bowed down to.
When I started reading the book I thought that the Ibo culture was very harsh. They killed innocent people and would outcast those that didn’t live up to what their Gods wanted. I still don’t agree with their ways. When the missionaries came I thought it would be a good change for the clan. Although hard and long I knew some of the clan would be converted. Although the new religion had a harsh justice at times I think it was a lot better than the clan’s. The Christians started fights multiple times and may not have been the best thing for the clan. You could say that the missionaries coming just caused more contention among the clan. Is the contention worth the many people saved from the Ibo traditions?
ReplyDeleteAs we began to read Things Fall Apart we learned of Okonkwo’s abject relationship he had with his father. Okonkwo “had no patience with unsuccessful men…his father was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow.” (4) Some of these same qualities that Okonkwo saw in his father growing up, he also begins to see in Nwoye. Afraid that Nwoye may become quite like his own father, Okonkwo beats him so that Nwoye may become stronger.
Ikemfuna helps Nwoye to find the strength that Okonkwo has been searching for. Pleasing his father helps Nwoye to grow. After Ikemfuna is murdered, Nwoye cannot grasp his strength for very long before falling into a depressed state.
When Nwoye learns of the Missionaries, he realizes that there is more to life than what he has been taught. Nwoye does think about the effects of joining the Missionaries will have on his family. On one occasion, “Nwoye passed and repassed the little red-earth and thatch building without summoning enough courage to enter.”(150) After thinking about it, he realizes he should probably just stay with his family. When the missionaries are not harmed by the spirits, Nwoye becomes more intrigued than ever. He wants this gift that the missionaries have, and the only way to get it, is to join them.
Learning of Nwoye’s actions with the church, Okonkwo becomes outraged. Nwoye seeks comfort with the missionaries, knowing that they will comfort and protect him. Okonkwo comes to a conclusion that Nwoye is not worth fighting for, and in Okonkwo’s eyes, is a terribly cowardly son.
The missionaries have already spread through many of the villages in just two years, and will continue to spread, gaining many members. There will still be lots of people who do not agree with the ways of the missionaries. In coming years, the church will continue to prosper gaining more and more members to help their cause.
When Nwoye heard the Missionaries, he was captivated. "It was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the morrow. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul" (pg. 108) He liked what they were saying, and it gave him a reason to leave his father. At first, he was afraid to tell his father his choice, but soon, he just left all together.
ReplyDeleteNwoye's decision was unexpected in his family. His father was upset, his family in awe. Everyone had mixed feelings.
Okonkwo's reaction to Nwoye's leaving the family at first, was sadness and anger. Eventually, he didn't mind as much, chose not to talk about Nwoye, and told the rest of his sons to basically never join the Missionaries’ church.
In a way, this was expected. Okonkwo chooses not to speak about things that are displeasing to him. For example, his father. Now, Nwoye as well.
My thoughts during the Missionaries’ arrival, were that things are going to be difficult for them both. Most of the people will not want to change their lives around. The missionaries will have a hard time living and being there, because of the rumors about them. There is now a little bit of conflict. When some of the people joined, those who did not join could not fight the Missionaries and the others, because they are still their people. This new religion is tearing the clans apart. "But what of our own people who are following their way and have been given power? They would go to Umuru and bring the soldiers, and we would be like Abame." (pg. 128)
Nwoye did not understand the “mad logic of the Trinity” (147). It was the hymns the missionaries sang that captivated him. He described how the hymns answered the question of the twins in the forest and Ikemefuna’s death. He had been troubled about those two incidents and the new missionarie’s hymns helped him. Nwoye said “He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul.” (147) It was expected that Nwoye would join the new church. The missionaries spoke against the traditions of the Ibo people. Some of these traditions also troubled Nwoye, so he joined the church. Okonkwo however, did not understand why Nwoye joined the church. Okonkwo thought that Nwoye’s action was an abomination. For Nwoye to abandon the God’s of his father to go worship a fake God, was a despicable action. This action caused Okonkwo to disown Nwoye as his son. We already knew Okonkwo had a temper so his attacking Nwoye and disowning him was not unexpected. Okonkwo had always followed the traditions of the Ibo people and was astonished that Nwoye had abandoned them.
ReplyDeleteThe missionaries are tearing apart Mbanta and the other villages. I think that some of the practices of the Ibo people are wrong, but I also believe people have the right to practice their own religion. The missionaries in a way are slowly forcing the Ibo people to quit practicing their religion. It is sad to see how families and villages are being torn apart. It would have been better if the missionaries had not enforced their “Kotma” on those who were not a part of their church. I think this would have helped maintain peace.
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ReplyDeleteNwoye was always different from the rest of Okonkwo's kids. He rebelled against his father often and so he was punished much and called names like weak and lazy. It was easy to see that Okonkwo and Nwoye didn't see eye to eye, and so when the Christian missionaries came and taught to Nwoye I did expect him to be more accepting to their beliefs. Nwoye had struggled with his tribes religion throughout most of his life and the Christians helped him to see that there were other options than just the tribes religious views.
ReplyDeleteWhen Okonkwo heard that Nwoye was visiting and joining the Christian church he was infuriated, to him he had lost a son. To me this too was expected, Nwoye had been quite the disappointment in his eyes and when Nwoye left he decided he wasn't worth fighting for. It was terrible to see their relationship fall apart but it was probably for the best. For if Nwoye had stayed they would have torn each other to pieces.
The Missionaries have started to cause a lot of trouble and have driven families apart since their arrival. But they've merely tried to show the tribes new options, new opportunities. I hope that things may become better between the two cultures and they can learn from each other and get along. But am I hoping for too much?
At first when the missionaries arrived, the people thought that they were mad and crazy. The villagers gave them land in the Evil Forest thinking they would die in just a few days. However, they didn't die and started to convert people in the village into christians. Nwoye, being one of them. one Sunday, Nwoye snuck out of his obi so he could go listen to the white man's words. ONe of Okonkwo's cousins walked by the white man's church and saw Nyowe and told Okonkwo. When Nyowe later returned home, Okonkwo was waiting for him in his obi. Okonkwo was, "suddenly overcome with fury, sprang to his feet, and gripped him by the neck," (151). Okonkwo was going to kill him, but Uchendu stopped Okonkwo before he could. After this, Nwoye left to live with the missionaries. The missionaries changed the lives of many of the villagers, and started to convert them to their religion. Soon the missionaries had converted many new people into the church .
ReplyDeleteWhen Nwoye became a convert or one of the missionaries it was not expected. When Okonkwo’s friend, Obierika, saw that Nwoye was with the missionaries. “‘I am one of them,’ replied Nwoye.” (144) When Obierika heard that he immediately went to his friend, Okonkwo, to find out the story. “It was only from Nwoye’s mother that he heard scraps of the story.” (144) Okonkwo was very upset when this happened and would not talk about his son Nwoye to his friend when he came to ask about Nwoye. “Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye.” (144) Nwoye also kept his liking to the new religion a secret and nobody knew that he liked it. “Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day, he kipt it secret.” (149) After Nwoye joined the christians and never came back Okonkwo became overwhelmed with fury. “A sudden fury rose within him and he felt a strong desire to take up his machete, ho to the church and wipe out the entire vile and miscreant gang. But on further thought he told himself that Nwoye was not worth fighting for.” (152)
ReplyDeleteWhen the first missionaries came into Mbanta they were made fun of and given the “evil forest” for the land that they could build on. “‘ Your buttocks understand our language,’ said someone light-heartedly and the crowd laughed.” (145) “‘Let us give them a portion of the Evil Forest. They boast about victory over death. Let us give them a real battlefield in which i]to show their victory.’ They laughed and agreed. and sent fro the missionaries, whom they had asked to leave them for a while so that they might ‘whisper together.’ They offered them as much of the Evil Forest as they cared to take. And to their greatest amazement the missionaries thanked them and burst into song.” (149) The people of Mbanta did not expect the missionaries to take the land and were very surprised when they took it. “‘They do not understand,’ said some of the elders.”(149) The missionaries then started to build all of their churches in the Evil Forest and the people were waiting for the missionaries to die of the diseases which were in the forest and for the gods to destroy them. The missionaries were supposed to be dead in four days but all of the days passed and they did not die. Finally the people of Mbanta decided that the gods would come and destroy the missionaries on the twenty-eighth day that the missionaries were their. “At last the day came by which all the missionaries should have died. But they were still alive, building a new red-earth and thatch house for their teacher, Mr. Kiaga. That week they won a handful more converts.” (151) The christian church from then on grew very rapidly. At first many people did not listen to the missionaries then after they had stayed alive from the Evil Forest many others joined.
Nwoye grew up hating his father, especially after the death of Ikemefuna. He tries to be as different from his father as he can. In a way, Okonkwo and Ikemefuna grew up the same way; with hatred of their fathers. And, they are both just trying to be what their father was not. Nwoye joined the church not only because of his new faith, but to spite his father too. I expected Nwoye to leave the family even sooner then he did, he was just so unhappy. Nwoye isn't the only thing changing though. The Christian church affected the whole town in many ways. Firstly, they converted plenty of people from the original religion, and they also showed that there is no evil in the evil forest.
ReplyDeleteNwoye still hates his father for the death Ikemefuna. Then when the missionaries came he started to wonder and become curious. He started top question the faith of his clan. His curiosity got the best of him, so he went to the new church and saw what it was about. He liked it there, but when his father Okonkwo found out he was going there he got very upset. Okonkwo started choking him and hit him with a big stick and threatened to kill him. He probably would have killed him but Uchendu stopped him. After Okonkwo stopped choking him, Nwoye left his mother, father and siblings to go and have the same faith as the new church. Nyowe said he was leaving then, but he would be back to convert his mother and sibling to the faith.
ReplyDeleteNwoye was a very changed man after the missionaries came to the village. i wouldn't say that they were a bad thing or a plague but they changed the way of life fir some of the families there. Okonkwo was very surprised to hear that Nowye was leaving his family and tried to convoke him not to leave.
ReplyDeleteThe Missionaries affected Nwoye because i personally think that he was starting to question some of his clan’s beliefs. He was most likely mad at Okonkwo for killing Ikemefuna. Nwoye went to the new church and after a while he started to like it there, but when Okonkwo found out he was going there he got very mad. So because of Okonkwo getting mad, he began to choke him, hit him with a big stick and threatened to kill him. After all this occured, Nwoye decided to leave all of his family to go live by the same faith as the church.
ReplyDeleteNwoye was very interested in what the missionaries had to say. He would never go in the church but it says that "whenever they came to preach in the open market place or the village playground, Nwoye was there” (149-150). I only started to expect it when he got interested in it. At first Onkonkwo was first furious with him, but then soon realized he'd always has been a disappointment. It was expected because Onkonkwo hates when people did this kind of stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think as a result if the missionaries coming, they stirred up trouble. They caused fights and a lot of things that could have been prevented. Of course it helped bit it also was bad.
nwoye was very intrigued by the christian missionaries and knowing that he could start over. okonkwos reaction to this was not so nice. Where have you been?”“Answer me,” roared Okonkwo, “before I kill you!” He seized a heavy stick that lay on the dwarf wall and hit him two or three savage blows. to me this reaction was expected because okonkwo always looses his temper and turns to violence. my thoughts on the missionaries is this, if they wouldnt had come okonkwo might have still been alive.
ReplyDelete("although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day, he kept it secret." pg.149). It affected Nwoye by making him second guess his gods and make him love there god. This by the way he was being treated and the way he was seen as by his father made this expected. Okonkwo react first not surprised then when Nwoye comes back from hanging around the Christians Okonkwo lost his temper and beat Nwoye with all his fury and anger ("It was late afternoon before Nwoye returned. He went into the obi and saluted his father, but he did not answer. Nwoye turned around to walk into the inner compound when his father, suddenly overcome with fury, sprang to his feet and gripped him by the neck." pg.151). This reaction was expected from Okwonkwo when he found out that Nwoye was going to possible leave the family but with the way he treated Nwoye before and just now made this reaction expected and made his leave a set decision ("Okwonkwo did not answer. But he left hold of Nwoye, who walked away and never returned. He went back to the church and told Mr. Kiaga that he had decided to go to Umofia" pg.152). Also my thoughts about the missionaries and the affects of there coming is everything was just fine until they came along and now everybody is all freaking out and wondering if there gods are real and if there faith is really a good faith. (" To abandon the gods of one's father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very depth of abomination " pg.153).
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