Things+Fall+Apart+1



Type a tag name. Press comma or enter to add another. |||| Cancel || Adrian Grech 10-20-09 Honors English HW
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1) The proverb “When a man says yes his chi says yes also” means that when a person has strong resolve, they can do whatever they want to do. The way I see it, according to Okonkwo, chi is equal to one’s will power. A person can say yes from their mouth and by thought, but it’s their actions that really say yes. It doesn’t play a huge role on his destiny because he has a huge amount of resolve and will-power. Whatever he says, he does. He has brought his success upon himself and stopped at nothing to obtain his status. He did not let anything change his destiny. He worked hard and reaps the rewards.

3)The book can be considered a response to European thoughts of African culture. It shows that African culture is not as savage as many Europeans believed. There are parts of the culture which I believe aren’t fair, such as Okonkwo having to leave the village for a crime he didn’t even commit (his gun exploded and killed someone). Violent murders may happen often in that region, but it also happens in Europe. Also, their culture allows polygamy. While Europeans don’t generally believe in it, it doesn’t mean that polygamy is essentially wrong. I personally don’t believe in it and believe it’s wrong, but it’s normal in their culture so whatever, let them be. The media over blows things and makes them seem like slobs who run around and sleep with different people every night.

5) My reading experience while reading this book has thus far been a good one. The book is very well written and really displays the major aspects of the Igbo culture. My response to the exposure to this different culture, I think is acceptable. There are some aspects of the culture that I find disagreeable with, for example, polygamy and their “unreasonable” punishments such as banning someone from the village for an accident. They are a bit obsessive with the rules in my opinion. I also disagree with how one must follow gender stereotypes in order to fit in with society. The issue with the latter disagreement, however, is found all over the world. As an open minded person, I just keep on reading and remember to respect their culture, even though I have disagreements. I’m also interested in other cultures besides my own, so this book is a good way to learn about the Igbo culture.