Whale Rider
16 years ago
Imperial Federation Map
This is a map of how the world looked to Britian in the 1880s
Monday, September 21, 2009
Best Friends: Okonkwo and Obierika
After a careful reading of Chapters 7 and 8, we have a chance to compare Okonkwo to his best friend Obierika. Although the men are both well-respected members of their village, they don't always see things exactly the same way. Take a few minutes and think about the similarities and differences that you see when looking at the two men. Now, focusing on just two or three important areas/characteristics, take the time to compare and contrast the two men for our readers. Don't forget to include a few story details. It will make it easier for us to see the men just as you see them.
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Okonkwo and Obierika are different because when it came to the killing of ikemefuna. Obierika said that he would had just stayed home even if the oracle told him too.Okonkwo said that he only killed ikemefuna because the oracle told him too, and he was only trying to obey the oracle. Okonkwo and Obierika are similar because they both want to do good by the oracle and the way they feel about their culture is all the same.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between okonkwo and obierika is that like they both give and taken advice from each other like they both have each other back Like in chapter 8 he told okonkwo like that he shouldn’t never went to see the boy get shot because now it has a affect on him like he can't sleep or eat and that’s a very bad situation
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo and Obierika both go by the Oracle and what the Oracle says. They are considered powerful men in their village. Okonkwo is more worried about what the villagers see him as and cares about what they think of him. Obierika puts more thought into his actions and stays true to himself and his feelings. Although they are closest of friends and are similar in some ways, they are very different people in the way that they think.
ReplyDeleteThey are different because Oberika is a lot wiser and thinks things over all the time, he’s the type that thinks before he acts and a little more laid back then Okonkwo. On the other hand Okonkwo is easy tempered and acts before thinking, he always thinks showing affection is a weakness and being manly all the time is the way to go
ReplyDeleteI remember there was a part in the story maybe a couple days after Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna he had went to go visit Obierika because there was no work to be done so his mind was still on killing Ikemefuna and he had went there to get his mind off of it. He had asked Obierika if it was a good idea that he went and why didn’t he go with the men to kill him. He said he did not go because it wasn’t the right thing to do and he didn’t feel it was right. He kind of warned Okonkwo that what he did the earth goddess will not be happy with. Obierika had said, “But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it.” Okonkwo was arguing against him saying if the goddess told him to kill his son would be weak minded to refuse. But a man had come to tell him that they didn’t want him to be apart of it because Ikemefuna called Okonkwo father. Okonkwo had said, “But someone had to do it. It we were all afraid of blood, it would not be done. And what do you think the oracle would do then?” it seemed more like Okonkwo is more afraid of being seen as weak. The difference I see between Okonkwo and Obierika is, as Okonkwo says, being weak. He would kill his own son because he didn’t want to be seen as weak.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Okonkwo and Obierika is Okonkwo follows everything he’s told. When Ikemefuna was going to be killed, Okonkwo didn’t object. He allowed it to happen. Obierika is an independent thinker. He doesn’t go against the Oracle but he doesn’t always agree completely with their decisions. He said if it were his son he would’ve done something to prevent his death. He’s rational and more open to his opinions and feelings. Okonkwo keeps his emotions to himself. For example, when Ikemefuna died, Okonkwo didn’t talk to anyone. He stayed in his obi and did nothing. Okonkwo was very strict and had tough love. Obierika was more compassionate. The similarities between Okonkwo and Obierika are their feelings on tapping palm trees. They both agree that the ozo title isn’t right. They don’t like how they aren’t allowed to tap their own trees; they have to have inexperienced men do it and they make the trees die. They also agree on how a woman becomes a future bride. They think that other clans bargain or trade the woman like they do at a market with cows and chickens. They also feel that a lot of clans are greedy because the soon to be husband must continue to bring bags of money to the in-laws until the in-laws are satisfied. They feel this will cause disputes.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Okonkwo and his best friend Obierika are both well-respected members of their village, they don't always see things exactly eye-to-eye. Some time after Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, Okonkwo went to go see his best friend Obierika. There was no work to be done and Okonkwo’s mind was still on Ikemefuna’s killing, so he went to go redeem himself from his agonizing memory of Ikemefuna’s death and what he has done. Okonkwo asked Obierika why didn’t he go with the men to go kill Ikemefuna and if it was a good idea for him to go with the men. He said he did not go because he didn’t want to and the Oracle did not ask him to carry out its decision. Okonkwo had said, “But someone had to do it. It we were all afraid of blood, it would not be done. And what do you think the oracle would do then?” Obierika said “You know very well, Okonwo, that I am not afraid of blood, and if anyone tells you that I am, he is telling a lie. And let me tell you one thing, my friend. If I were you I would have stayed home. What you have done will not please the Earth. It is the kind of action for which the goddess wipes out whole families. If the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it.” Okonkwo was arguing against Obierika saying if the goddess told him to kill his son he would be weak minded to refuse. But before Ikemefuna’s tragic death Ogbuefi Ezeudu, the oldest man in that quarter of Umuofia, had come to tell him that they didn’t want him to be apart of it because Ikemefuna called Okonkwo father, it seemed like he was warning him I think Obierika was warning him, but it was already done. It seemed more like Okonkwo is more afraid of being seen as weak. The difference I see between Okonkwo and Obierika is being weak. He would kill his own son because he didn’t want to be seen as weak or he is self-conscious.
ReplyDelete