Wednesday, January 30, 2008
TFA Chapter 17
The missionaries ask Mbanta for land to build one of their churches on. The tribe offers them part of the "Evil Forest" because they knew no one would ever accept that offer, but in surprise, the missionaries took the land. They began to clear out the forest and the tribe expected them to be dead after 4 days, but days passed and they never died. Nwoye didn't want to go near the missionaries, because he was still afraid of what Okonkwo would think. The missionaries explained to everyone that they wanted them to go to the church every Sunday. I guess one Sunday Nwoye kept walking back and forth in front of the church debating on whether to go in or not, he never did. The book then says that the peoples "gods" would let 28 days pass allowing a men to defy them. The tribes started to get worried after 7 weeks. The last day came, and the Christians didn't die. Nneka was the first woman to join. When they talked about this in the book I was relieved that finally a woman stood up for what she believed in. I'm happy for her. Then i heard some bad news about her that made me sad. She had four pregnancies and all of them were twins, so immediately at birth they were thrown away. I think this is sick, just because children are twins they were killed? that's soooo stupid. But then the story continues with Amikwu who was Okonkwo's cousin .. and he saw Nwoye at the church. When Nwoye returned home Okonkwo beat him hard with a stick. Nwoye then leaves Okonkwo and returns with his mother, brothers, and sisters. I am happy for Nwoye at this point because he does not deserve to be treated like that. It's crap.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I was so excited when Nwoye left. He totally deserves better than Okonkwo. I liked when he said that Nwoye converted the rest of his family. Then Okonkwo would be all alone just like he deserves.
Notice the irony of the "Evil Forest" thing, because it sort of shattered their illusions of the superstitious powers over man. They kept waiting for the Church and the whites to get swallowed up by the evil forest, and yet the church thrives.
Nwoye does end up converting, which drives Okonkwo crazy. This is yet another form of Karma that comes back to haunt Okonkwo.
Nneka was very brave for joining, and eventually others will soon follow. Peer pressure is a tough thing to challenge. I agree with your applauding her for taking a stand. She proved to be a strong willed woman.
The twins thing is also strange. How anyone could do that I don't know.
Mr. Farrell
I also thought that it was funny that Nwoye left his father. And I completely agree with Lisa, when she says that he deserves better.
Post a Comment