"The heathen speak nothing but falsehood. Only the word of our god is true" (Achebe 157).
Part II - How is imperialismencouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/
racial superiority in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart / the past?
In this part of the novel, Mr. Kiaga addresses his stance on the on the Igbo beliefs. When a few osu from the village refuse to shave their heads, Kiaga tells them that they are afraid of divine retribution that doesn't exist. He doesn't even consider a single facet of the Igbo culture to be remotely feasible. This approach of problem solving does not work anywhere. No one is ever one hundred percent right, just as no one is ever one hundred percent wrong. Behind every belief there is a shred of truth, no matter how small. What sets the Christian beliefs above the Igbo as the absolute truth? I guess I am forced to accept that missionaries need to wholeheartedly believe that they are the higher belief, otherwise they wouldn't have a motivation to wipe out the natural beliefs of the people.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Ch. 15-17: DOMINATION!
"During the last planting season a white man appeared in his clan" (Achebe 138).
Finally, they got here! Well, now I can observe this clashing of cultures that I thought would happen. The friction is bound to send sparks flying, I'll wager two pages from now something bad happens between them. "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 call the man's friends." (Achebe 138). Well then, same page is a bit sooner then I expected. Oh well, there was a communication barrier, they are going to figure out how to get over it and come back. Yeah, this isn't going to be too bad! "And they began to shoot." (Achebe 139) Wow, they met one page ago, and women and children are already being senselessly slaughtered. Well, guess I can finally talk about what brings this on next.
Finally, they got here! Well, now I can observe this clashing of cultures that I thought would happen. The friction is bound to send sparks flying, I'll wager two pages from now something bad happens between them. "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 call the man's friends." (Achebe 138). Well then, same page is a bit sooner then I expected. Oh well, there was a communication barrier, they are going to figure out how to get over it and come back. Yeah, this isn't going to be too bad! "And they began to shoot." (Achebe 139) Wow, they met one page ago, and women and children are already being senselessly slaughtered. Well, guess I can finally talk about what brings this on next.
Ch. 13-14: It comes in parts?
"Your mother is there to protect you"
Here we are, part II! This is where the the real imperialism happens, right? Anyway, since I ran out of things to write a while ago, I'm just going to analyze this quote a bit. Sounds good? Alright. Okonkwo is as manly as they come. However when he is exiled, he goes to his motherland. Uchendu offers an explanation. He says that when things are good, sons like their fathers. But when the going gets tough, they go to their mothers for protection. In a way, I feel that this makes the woman stronger than man. After all, real strength isn't shown in aggressive displays but in desperate acts of protection. There isn't much that is stronger than a mother's devotion to her child. Maybe after this, Okonkwo won't beat his wives so much anymore.
Here we are, part II! This is where the the real imperialism happens, right? Anyway, since I ran out of things to write a while ago, I'm just going to analyze this quote a bit. Sounds good? Alright. Okonkwo is as manly as they come. However when he is exiled, he goes to his motherland. Uchendu offers an explanation. He says that when things are good, sons like their fathers. But when the going gets tough, they go to their mothers for protection. In a way, I feel that this makes the woman stronger than man. After all, real strength isn't shown in aggressive displays but in desperate acts of protection. There isn't much that is stronger than a mother's devotion to her child. Maybe after this, Okonkwo won't beat his wives so much anymore.
Ch. 11-12: There will be imperialism in this imperialism book, right?
"Agbala do-o-o-o!" (Achebe 100)
The Igbo have many traditions that seem strange and foreign to an outsider, especially one of European descent. Oracles, spirits, and medicines are not really present in the European beliefs system at any time, so they seem especially strange and foreign. And will there ever be imperialism? I'm grasping at straws here. I can attempt to draw more conclusions about the clash between these cultures, but I think I drew them all already. Can there just be some evidence of European influence so I can write about it? Seriously, anything at all will do. Please.
The Igbo have many traditions that seem strange and foreign to an outsider, especially one of European descent. Oracles, spirits, and medicines are not really present in the European beliefs system at any time, so they seem especially strange and foreign. And will there ever be imperialism? I'm grasping at straws here. I can attempt to draw more conclusions about the clash between these cultures, but I think I drew them all already. Can there just be some evidence of European influence so I can write about it? Seriously, anything at all will do. Please.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Ch. 9-10: Dominant Native Culture?
"He brought out a sharp razor from the goatskin bag slung from his left shoulder and began to mutilate the child. Then be took it away to bury in the evil forest, holding it by the ankle and dragging it on the ground behind him" (Achebe 78).
The native people of Africa have many superstitions, such as ogbanje and egwugwu. These traditions may seem strange to outsiders, and will no doubt horrify the the Europeans. But we have to ask, is there a right answer? Is it OK to let a witch doctor refuse your dead son a funeral because he is supposedly an ogbanje, mutilate his body, and drag him out to the forest to bury him? I don't know what comes first, but am inclined to believe that there is no correct answer. Societies should be left to discover their own answers about morality and what is right versus wrong. However, I doubt these people will receive the courtesy from their imperialistic assailants.
The native people of Africa have many superstitions, such as ogbanje and egwugwu. These traditions may seem strange to outsiders, and will no doubt horrify the the Europeans. But we have to ask, is there a right answer? Is it OK to let a witch doctor refuse your dead son a funeral because he is supposedly an ogbanje, mutilate his body, and drag him out to the forest to bury him? I don't know what comes first, but am inclined to believe that there is no correct answer. Societies should be left to discover their own answers about morality and what is right versus wrong. However, I doubt these people will receive the courtesy from their imperialistic assailants.
Ch 7-8: Dominant Culture?
"All their customs are upside-down" (Achebe 73).
In this quote, we see Okonkwo discussing with Obierika the customs of a nearby village. They think it is weird that the other tribe doesn't haggle bride price in the same way. These natural customs are varied heavily even among the people of Africa. When Europeans arrive, I can't even imagine the culture shock that will happen. The Europeans are hinted at towards the end of the chapter by the mention of the leper, but the locals don't seem to believe that the Europeans could even exist. The scene is set for a violent clash of cultures, and things don't look good.
In this quote, we see Okonkwo discussing with Obierika the customs of a nearby village. They think it is weird that the other tribe doesn't haggle bride price in the same way. These natural customs are varied heavily even among the people of Africa. When Europeans arrive, I can't even imagine the culture shock that will happen. The Europeans are hinted at towards the end of the chapter by the mention of the leper, but the locals don't seem to believe that the Europeans could even exist. The scene is set for a violent clash of cultures, and things don't look good.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Ch. 5-6 Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo Dominates?
"He trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue" (Achebe 42).
Part II - - How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart / the past?
In this quote, Okonkwo is shown reacting to the wrestling drums. When the drums beat, they fill him with burning passion. These feelings are at the core of imperialism. The European Invaders most likely feel this too upon seeing Africa. They don't respect the natural customs because they feel this same need to not only conquer, but to subdue the people. If they are allowed to practice their old traditions, have they really won? No, they need to prove to themselves that their culture is so superior that the natives can't resist adopting it. In this way, a need to subjugate leads to imperialism.
Part II - - How is imperialism encouraged by patriotism, religion, &/or a sense of cultural/racial superiority in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart / the past?
In this quote, Okonkwo is shown reacting to the wrestling drums. When the drums beat, they fill him with burning passion. These feelings are at the core of imperialism. The European Invaders most likely feel this too upon seeing Africa. They don't respect the natural customs because they feel this same need to not only conquer, but to subdue the people. If they are allowed to practice their old traditions, have they really won? No, they need to prove to themselves that their culture is so superior that the natives can't resist adopting it. In this way, a need to subjugate leads to imperialism.
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