Dauz Christine
Mrs. Bosch
English Honors 10
11 August 2008
16 June 2008
Entry number: 01
“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements” Page 3
Okonkwo must be the protagonist of the story. He is pretty well known supposedly. Right now I predict that the novel is about how a poor boy who becomes a rich man. Since the very first sentence shows that he is well known for his personal achievements. So that must mean he started up poor and worked his way up to fame. He also becomes a chief in one of the villages. My other prediction is if he doesn't turn out to be a chief that the book is about how he was at the top of the ladder of fame, which by the end of the story tells how he fell back to the very bottom of the ladder. So right now that’s what I think will happen in the book just by reading the first sentence
16 June 2008
Entry number: 02
“Unoka had a sense of the dramatic and so he allowed a pause, in which he took a pinch of snuff and sneezed noisily, and then he continued: ‘Each group there represents a debt to someone, and each stroke is one hundred coweries.’” Page 7
Right now I think that Okonkwo’s father is a bad for owing people a lot of money. He has serious debt problems. So when he dies does someone still have to debts or do they just disappear? It’s not like those people are going to forget that Unoka owed them money. They are going to have to go to someone to get their money back. Unoka is somewhat of a hustler I guess. Unoka just seems like a loser to me. He should’ve set a better example for his children. They will look back some day and say my father was a poor man who owed a lot of money to people that isn’t going to go well when they tell their children about him.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 03
“On great occasions such as the funeral of a village celebrity he drank his palm-wine from his first human head.” Page 10
I think that is disgusting to do. It is pretty weird to see someone who will drink wine out of a humans head. That seems so gross and unbearable. Those heads used to be part of a body. Hopefully they wash the head out. Their people must look up to those who drink out of human heads. That makes me wonder what happens to the rest of that persons body. Do they go and become cannibals and eat them? Even though it gives me a bad feeling in my stomach I would like to know what happens to the rest of the body. Or maybe they just dumb it some where and let it rot and become part of the earth. That’s something that creeps me out a lot.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 04
“But his while life was dominated by fear the fear of failure and weakness. It was deeper and more intimate then the fear of evil and capricious gods and magic, the fear of the forest , and the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw. Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself ”Page 13
This quote stands out to me a lot because it shows that Okonkwo has a weakness in him. Being a failure would kill him. I wonder what would happen if the author lets Okonkwo become a failure. I think if he did become one he would try and commit suicide or something along those lines. I don’t think I would be that surprised if that happened. Okonkwo is strong though so I don’t think its going to happen in this novel. That also makes me wonder if one of his kids turns out to be a failure, what he will do. Would be kick them out of his house or tell then to shape up. I want to see if anything like that will come up.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 05
“Okonkwo was ruled by one passion—to hate everything that his father Unoka loved” Page 13
I don’t think that he hated everything his father Unoka loved. He liked palm-wine and those kola nuts which his father loved so he doesn’t completely hate his father. He should love his father though because Unoka taught Okonokwo how to work hard things. So his hatred was like his drive. It motivated him to move on and become better. It strengthened him more then it hurt him. But I see were he should be mad or angry with his father, which Unoka never really provided them with a good home. Unlike Okonkwo who managed to have three wives and more then seven or right children. I think Okonkwo should be happy and thankful for how his father made or shaped him to be who he is now.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 06
“When a man was afflicted with swelling in the stomach and the limbs he was not allowed to die in the house. He was carried to the Evil Forrest and left there to die.” Page 18
I would feel bad for the people who they left in the evil Forrest just to suffer and die. It is not far to them. And they would probably end up haunting the living or something like that. I believe in ghosts so that is why I am saying they will come back to haunt them. So what is going to happen when it does? I bet the villagers would then pray or offer some sort of peace for them. They wouldn’t want them to haunt and go after them. Or they should at least cremate the body like they did in the medieval times. So that they wouldn’t have a gross rotten forest.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 07
“But I can trust you. I know it as I look at you. As our fathers said, you can tell a ripe corn by its look. I shall give you twice four hundred yams. Go ahead and prepare your farm.” 22
How does this man know he can trust Okonkwo? They do not even know each other. So the man is giving technically just giving away his seeds to some random stranger. But I guess he can trust Okonkwo because it is not like he is going to run away with them, be cause he cant go far. So I guess the man is smart plus he can always have his sons check up on Oknokwo to see his progress in growing yams. That is not a bad idea, it is pretty smart actually. Just hopefully Okonkwo isn’t a bad guy and wont screw him over.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 08
“Unoka was like that in his last days. His love of talk had grown with age and sickness. It tried Okonkwo’s patience beyond words.” 25
I don think Okonkwo should be mad or annoyed his father is about to die. He should spend time with him. And treat him with love and care because Unoka is his father and he will never see him again. He should also thank his father for shaping him into such a strong man. If not for Unoka actions Okonkwo would surely end up like him. So Unoka played a big role in shaping his son into a strong warrior of the village. I think that Okonkwo is taking all of it for granted and wont do anything when his father is actually gone and is never coming back.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 09
“‘This meeting is got.’ The men who had contradicted him had no titles. That was why he called him a woman. Okonkwo knew how to kill a man’s spirit” 26
Right now I think Okonkwo was being a jerk to that man with no titles. Just because he has three doesn’t mean anything. Yes, he achieved to be one of the most successful people or men in the village but it does not mean the other man is not worthy of them. And talking down to people is just rude in my opinion. Okonkwo should take others feelings into consideration before saying something mean or rude that can hurt someone emotionally. But it was a smart idea for the man to contradict him because that means he is smart and uses his brain.
16 June 2008
Entry number: 10
“The New Yam Festival was thus an occasion for joy throughout Umuofia.” 37
The New Yam Festival sort of reminds me of the Apricot Fiesta. Everyone gets together and they all eat and hang out. And its when they harvest or start growing there vegetables or fruits. So it is sort of the same. It probably goes on for a couple of day just, like the Apricot Fiesta. I would want to see what they do for their activities and other stuff. I wonder if they have the queen and or pageant thing like here. And a big parade too. It also reminds me of summer and hanging out with my friends, just walking around and eating good food.
18 June 2008
Entry number: 11
“He grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season, and was full of the sap of life. He had become wholly absorbed into his new family.” 52
I think having Ikemefuna there is good for Okonkwo’s family. Everyone seems to like him. And he is a good influence among Nwoye. He can teach him lots of things since they are around the same age group. At first I thought something bad was going to happen if Ikemefuna was there but it turned out to be okay. He helps around the home and learns a lot from Okonkwo. It may seem like Okonkwo may not like him but he does if he is talking after him. I think that Ikemefuna will stay for a while and wont have to pay for his fathers actions. But its too early to tell right now. I just like the fact that he is fitting in well with the family.
18 June 2008
Entry number: 12
“Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it.” 57
I think that is so screwed up that they decided to kill Ikemefuna. He was fitting in so well and I liked who it was going, but now this just upsets me. I thought he would live and it would be all good but no. If he dies then who’s going to be the role model child for Okonkwo’s family. He helped out so much. I do not see why Okonkwo is not trying to stop them from doing it. If he knows that Ikemefuna is a good kid then why does he stand up for him? He should try and stop the oracle but he just lets it be. I think that is mean and unfair. Ikemefuna does not deserve to die or be killed. They wont getting anything gout of it for killing him. If they keep him around maybe it will do them good. He has only been there for three years he should have more so he can prove himself.
18 June 2008
Entry number: 13
“As soon as his father walked in, that night, Nwoye knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of tightened bow.” 61
I feel so bad for Nwoye. He had looked up to Ikemefuna; they were like best friends and family. It sucks to have heard what those men did to him. Okonkwo should have never gone with those men to see Ikemefuna be slaughtered like that. Everything in the novel right now is unfair and uncalled for. I liked Ikemefuna’s character. He made the novel better in my opinion. I wish Achebe didn’t do that to him. It just makes me sad; it also makes me not want to read the book right now. It makes me wonder how everyone else in the family is going to feel. I think it will eat at Okonkwo because he was there to witness it, which seems so mean. But it seems sort of caring as well because he came to comfort Ikemefuna even though it was fast and horrible.
18 June 2008
Entry number: 14
“‘When did you become a shivering old woman’, Okonkwo asked himself, ‘you, who are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war? How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you have become a woman indeed.” 65
I was right that the death of Ikemefuna would affect Okonkwo so greatly. He regrets having Ikemefuna killed. That is something he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life. I do not think he is being a woman or acting like one. He is just in mourning and so is everyone else. I think Okonkwo needs to take some time and cry a little bit. It never hurts to cry so then it will be all good. Also in the novel it never explains Oknokwo crying so I want to hear that or read it, but he never shows emotion to his family so I think it is a good idea if he cries, cause if he does then his family wont be scared of him in my opinion and then they would be a happy family.
18 June 2008
Entry number: 15
“In his way Akuke’s bride-price was finally settled at twenty bags of coweries. It was already dusk when the two parties came to this agreement.” 73
Arranged marriages are jank or screwed up in my opinion. I do not like the idea of it, or having to pay for a bride, like mail-order brides. That is that? I used to think that the idea was okay, but I totally disagree with it now. What if they fall in love with someone else? That is just going to be horrible to marry someone you don’t know or love. I think it is totally uncool. If I had the chance I would abolish arranged marriages and mail-order brides. It makes me mad just to think of it. Who among kids these days wants that, no one. I rather spend my life finding someone then being in an arranged marriage with someone I do not even know at a young age. Plus I think it is creepy in ways, cause what if they person is totally weird? That is not cool.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 16
“A woman fled as soon as an egwugwu cam in sight. And when, as on that day, nine of the greatest masked spirits in the clan came out together it was terrifying spectacle.” 89
I don’t quiet get the masked spirits. They seem weird and creepy. But interesting at the same time. I want to know what they do and if that is their titles for the rest of their lives. I would want to be on of then just to mess and scare people. It makes me wonder if their job or role is hard to fulfill. They probably have a lot to accomplish or do within a period of time. This means they work a lot maybe. If I were one of the egwugwu I would take advantage of it by making people do stuff for me since they would want to please the spirits and have their respect. They probably act like that and say to people “I want that” or “make me this”, they totally have it easy. I wish I was cool like them.=]
20 June 2008
Entry number: 17
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I find the nine egwugwu scary, because I think the text says they wear costumes so why wouldn’t you be fearful of them. They are also like the court that everyone goes to for trials, because in this quote they are trying to solve a dispute between a husband and wife. So I am guessing that Evil Forrest is the head judge and the other eight are the jurors. Even though I find it scary it is also cool because they deal with all the court sort of stuff and they also represent the spirits or gods the village looks up too. Which I find too be cool and interesting.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 18
“Okonkwo had not bought snuff from him for a long time, Idigo was the man who knew how to grind good snuff. But he had recently fallen ill.” 96
What if snuff? To me it sounds like drugs. I think that is bad. No one should ever resort to doing drugs. In ways its immature, because it makes you do stupid things. It also messes with your body and your brain. It kills brain cells and a whole bunch of other stuff. It is so dumb in my opinion. People mess up their lives doing stuff like that. Some successful people go from the highest spot or rank to the lowest. What does that show to the younger kids around then that it is okay, which it is not. If snuff is drugs I look down upon Okonkwo’s character because that just makes him seem stupid in my eyes.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 19
“Come my daughter’ said the priestess. ‘ I shall carry you on my back. A baby on its mother’s backdoes not know that the way is long.” 101
I think the Oracle is crazy! How does this god speak with her? Why does she allow it to take over her body? It is very weird and creepy. If she was sleeping in the middle of the night and it possessed her then she wouldn’t really know because she would be asleep. What will happen if she hurts herself while under possession? That gives me bad thoughts. I do not like that at all. That is why I don’t believe it. It is out of my element to believe it. It is booshaw, that word means like weird or something like that I got it from a TV show so I use it every time I think something is weird of creepy.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 20
“She was, in fact, returning. Ekwefi quickly moved away from her line of retreat Chielo passed by, and then began to go back the way they had come.”108
I still think Chielo or the spirit that controls her is crazy. In the middle of the night walking around all the villages with a child on her back. In other places that is considered kidnap, but it is the way their culture is. I just don’t see why she would have to be possessed during the middle of the night. Why not the morning, so Ekwefi would be worrying as much. I know if that happened to any other women in the middle of the night they would follow their children. Especially if it is their only child. She would not want to loose her baby at all. I feel bad for Ekwefi because she has to suffer too because of Chielo.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 21
“They sang songs as they went, and on their way they paid shot courtesy visits to prominent men like Okonkwo, before they finally left for their village. Okonkwo made a present of two cocks.” 119
I do not see why Okonkwo would give up two of his chickens to his friend’s son-in-laws family. It is not his daughter getting married so why give it to his friend. Till this point I depicted Okonkwo as a selfish man. I guess I was wrong because he is sharing his chickens with his friend and friend’s in-laws. Something else that stands out to me when I read this part of the chapter is that the whole village gets involved. I think that is pretty cool that they get involved and help out with the ceremony. I don’t get why they don’t have a big wedding type of thing. But everything is pretty much the same as a regular marriage.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 22
“The ancient drums of death beat, guns and cannon were fired, and men dashed about in frenzy, cutting down every tree or animal they saw, jumping over walls and dancing on the roof. It was a warrior’s funeral, and from morning till night warriors came and went in their age groups.” 121
The people of Umofia make a bigger deal of a death then of a wedding. Especially a death of a warrior. I do not think they actually kill everything that is in their way, well at least not human wise. It seems pretty crazy to have such a big ceremony for a warrior. There are a few days of mourning but that is it. In Umofia a whole lot of gun shots and cutting stuff down. I wonder what that is like. To run around and just take out all that anger and depression on animals and trees. But I think that it is all just men no women are allowed to join and shot animals and other stuff. The women probably just make the food and I think that is all they do for the death party or ceremony.
20 June 2008
Entry number: 23
“The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years.” 124
That sucks that Okonkwo has to leave the clan. I feel really bad for him. The murder was an accident. It is crazy that he actually killed a warrior’s son. That warrior happened to be his friend to and he has just passed away as well. I think it is crazy that it happened. Where will Okonkwo go now. He would surely have to go somewhere, where he has connections or a place where people know him and will help him out over the next seven years. I wonder how he feels. It must be horrible to have to leave your village for seven years, but at least he is not going to jail. Then again they did not have any jails. Still he is lucky that it is only for seven years. If they had jails he would serve like twenty-five to life. I find that insane, but that is just me.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 24
“They were hard and painful on the body as they fell. Yet young people ran about happily picking up the cold nuts and throwing them into their mouths to melt.”130
So it is raining and it is a hail storm. Those little pellets hurt sometimes. I do not think the kids who are putting them in their mouths know that hail is a form of acid rain. They can get sick from those. They do not even taste like ice they taste gross. I would know I have tasted them at one point in my life. They are not really healthy for them either. But they are having fun so I guess that doesn’t mean anything. Being in rain storms are fun, I like the way the rain feels. I just do not like it when I get super drenched in it. Hopefully those kids wash off after they are finished too because they can get sick if they do not wash off.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 25
“For whom is it well, for while it is it well? There is no for whom it is well. I have no more to say to you” 135
I do not think Okonkwo’s uncle wants him there. He will let him stay there in Mbanta but he should not get so comfortable. I do not know why I feel that way but it just seems like it. I just get the vibe that his uncle does not want him there. I get that feeling because he says he has no more to say to him. I guess it is because Okonkwo’s mother never got to visit her village after getting married or something like that. Maybe because Okonkwo has not been keeping in touch with his relatives. If Okonkwo wants to stay there he has to convince his uncle that he can help around the homes and stuff. But hopefully he does whatever his uncle wants him to do.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 26
“And so they killed the white man and tied his iron horse to their sacred tree because it looked as if it would run away to all the man’s friends. I forgot to tell you another thing which the Oracle said. It said that other white men were on their way.” 138
I find what the oracle said scary or intimidating, because yes you only kill one white man but there are others to come. That means to me that they will keep coming until something bad happens. Such as death. I think the next time around when another white man comes he will bring a lot more men with him. If they know about the death of the other white men then certainly they will bring backup. I know I would, if I when there be myself I know I would be gone. I think that the white men are very brave by the way, they walk or enter a place where people don’t know them or of them and they preach to them. It would be pretty scary. I would have ran back and stayed in
25 June 2008
Entry number: 27
“There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts.” 140
I don’t see how that is really possible to be scared of someone who shouts. I think that because some people who shout tend to be very scary. Some of them shout because they want to get into a fight and others shout just to get attention. But yes some people are just plan scary when they shout, because they shout some pretty mean things. I don’t fear people who shout because they usually are no the scary type of people unless they look like they want to kill you. Other then that quiet people are more safer then loud people. I guess it matters what your opinion is because someone can very well believe in what Achebe quotes others think the opposite. So I guess it is really up to the reader.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 28
“And so Obierika went to Mbanta to see his friend. And he found that Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye. It was only from Nwoye’s mother that he heard scraps of the story.” 144
I feel bad for Nwoye. It is like he is being exiled by his own father just because he converted to Christianity. If Okonkwo had never treated Nwoye that way when he was growing up then maybe he would not have left to go be with the Christians. The only person Okonkwo can really blame is himself for have been treating Nwoye that way. I think if Nwoye was treated differently he would have been a really strong individual. He would also have the same titles as his father did. Nwoye would have also helped his father more. Overall if Nwoye was treated differently then he would not have turned to Christianity.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 29
“The missionary ignored him and went on to talk about the Holy Trinity. At the end of it Okonkwo was fully convinced that the man was mad.” 147
I can see why Okonkwo sees the man as mad. He thinks he is crazy because he is preaching the gospel, which is something Okonkwo is not used to. The missionary is not mad he is simply just telling people about god. Everyone around him doesn’t understand him so they look at him with crazy looks. The missionary may look at everyone else the same way. He is probably thinking that the people of Umofia are weird and they have no religion or culture. So either way in both eyes they look weird and out of this world to each other.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 30
“He went back to the church and told Mr. Kiaga that he had decided to go to Umuofia where the white missionary had set up a school to teach young Christians to read and write.” 153
I think what Nwoye is doing is bad. He betrayed his father by going to the Christians. He doesn’t know how much leaving his family and culture really hurts his family. I know Okonkwo may seem mad but he may also feel very hurt. He feels that way because Nwoye is his first son, and Nwoye is supposed to be the example for his younger siblings. I don’t think Okonkwo will ever let Nwoye back into his house and if he ever sees Nwoye he will probably do something bad to him, such as beat him up or kill him maybe. Hey Okonkwo did it once he can also do it again.
25 June 2008
Entry number: 31
“It was going to be Oknowko’s last harvest in Mbanta. The seven wasted and weary years at last dragging to a close.”162
I know that Okonkwo wants to go home to Umofia, but he acts like he hasn’t learned anything while living in his mother’s homeland. He should appreciate everything his mother’s people did for him while living there. I certainly don’t think that the last seven years were wasted. The last seven years should’ve been resting years for Okonkwo, for him to think and reflect about his actions. It seems like he hasn’t changed at all and he hasn’t but he should get something gout of it. Okonkwo should take the time and thank his mother’s people for their hospitality.
30 June 2008
Entry number: 32
“‘I wish she were a boy,’ Okonkwo thought within himself. She understood things so perfectly. Who else among his children could read his thoughts so well?” 173
Ezinma is the daddy’s girl of Okonkwo. He gets along with her easily. Also he can talk to her about most things. I bet all men which there daughters that are close to them were a boy instead. But that’s how it goes, like there is a mama’s boy. So that means its ok for her to be a girl. Okonkwo is just going to have to deal with it. He can not go back and change it now. There is another reason I think he likes Ezinma so well is because she is he only mother’s child after many miscarriages. So of course he would take pity on her or be grate full for her because she is her only mother’s child. Since supposedly her mother was cursed with a baby that was always supposed to be reborn every time she got pregnant. She is a lucky child to be living.
30 June 2008
Entry number: 33
“He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”176
I get the idea of why the novel is called “Things Fall Apart”. It is how one man went from being rich to poor. Okonkwo had everything but he ruined it by committing a crime and being a jerk to everyone around him. So he had a knife which symbolizes his life and how it was perfect. By pulling out the knife it symbolizes how his perfect world fell apart by committing that crime and having one of his sons convert into a Christian. So this means it is almost the end of his perfect world and Okonkwo will be living poor or something. Sooner or later something bad will happen and he will regret it badly. For now though everything just seems peachy kin.
30 June 2008
Entry number: 34
“Your queen sends her messenger, the District Commissioner. He finds that he cannot do the work alone and so he appoints kotma to help him. It is the same with God, or Chukwu. He appoints the smaller gods to help Him because His work is too great for one person.” 180
Akunna is right. They are in ways the same thing. The District Commissioner helps or converts people in to Christianity and shows them the way to god. As to the kotma foe Chukwu. It is very similar. The little or mini-gods and the District Commissioner help lead or show the way to Chukwu and God. So the Commissioner is wrong about how he just shows them the way, because they both do the same thing, which is to direct people to the road of Chukwu and God.
30 June 2008
Entry number: 35
“‘Wait a minute,’ said the Commissioner. ‘I want to bring in my men so that they too can hear your grievances and take warning. Many of them come from distant places and although they speak you tongue they are ignorant of your customs.’” 193
Foreshadow! You can totally tell that something with happen to Okonkwo and the others. Even though they brought their machetes and stuff they should have brought more men with them. Six or so men aren’t enough to take on a rising power like the commissioner’s power. So they got owned by them. You have to admit it was pretty smart for the commissioner to bring in the extra men. I guess that Okonkwo was to into revenge to think of bringing extra men with him. O well maybe he will know the next time he tries to do something like this in confronting the commissioner.
30 June 2008
Entry number: 36
“When Okonkwo and Obierika got to the meeting place there were already so many people that if one threw up a grain of sand it would not find its way to the earth again.” 201
The novel had said this once before I think. It explained it at the part with the market place. I guess it was a foreshadow type of thing, but wasn’t really noticeable. I don’t really see what it has to do with the book, but it stood out because it had mentioned it before which means that it has to be important to be repeated one more towards the end of the book. I am going to take a guess at what it means. So I think that it means that people are ready to fight for what they believe in, which isn’t being converted into a Christian. That it what I think but I am not that sure.
30 June 2008
Entry number: 37
“Then they came to the tree which Okonkwo’s body was dangling, and they stopped dead.” 207
I find it so sad that Okonkwo committed suicide. I would have never though he would do that. You would think that what he would just go out and start killing all of the commissioner people, but that’s not it at all. I guess Okonkwo wasn’t as strong as I thought in the end, because he ended up killing himself. Or maybe he could not bear to see his village go on any longer the way it was going. I want to know what happen to Nwoye too because Achebe never spoke of him again after he had left for the school to learn. Maybe that’s why Okonkwo killed himself he couldn’t stand being a failure, which he was not at all. In his mind he probably thought he was because his son ran off to be a Christian and his village was falling apart. Such a sad ending too, I though tit was going to be happier and joy filled.
