Whale Rider
16 years ago
Imperial Federation Map
This is a map of how the world looked to Britian in the 1880s
Monday, September 28, 2009
Living in Exile/Okonkwo Flees to His Motherland
After being forced to leave Umuofia, Okonkwo takes his family to live in the village of Mbanta with his mother's people. There Okonkwo is welcomed by his cousins and his mother's brother Uchendu. It is Uchendu who helps Okonkwo accept the circumstances of his exile and to find the strength he needs to support and protect his family. It is Uchendu who also provides the wisdom and experience both Okonkwo and Obierika need to understand the difficulties the clan will face as they confront the coming of the European missionaries and colonists. Think about some of the stories and observations Uchendu shares with the men. Consider what he tells them about how the men of their generation no longer know their neighbors, his use of the story of Mother Kite, Daughter Kite, and the duckling, and even his saying, "There is no story that is not true." You may even consider how it is Uchendu who stops Okonkwo from killing Nwoye after he learns about his involvement with the white church. Obviously, the foundation for the coming cultural conflict is established in Part Two. Based on what you've read, what potential cultural conflict do you see and why will it not be easily/responsibly resolved? Please support what you say with evidence from the text.
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The potential cultural conflict that I see with Okonkwo and his son Nwoye is that Nwoye went to Christiania and it shows how lazy and laid back he is. Okonkwo doesn’t like the fact that he’s taking after his father and Okonkwo wanted nothing to do with his son. Okonkwo believes in pride and will do anything for it, for when his son doesn’t like the idea of killing someone just for pride. Nwoye does not want to be like his father and he believes in peace and not killing people. It can not be resolved because Okonkwo says he has no son and Nwoye says he has no father now. Since they believe now that they have no relationship between each other there is no reason for it to be resolved.
ReplyDeleteThe cultural conflict that I see coming is Okonkwo’s people taking Okonkwo’s side and the whites taking Nwoyes side. Okonkwo is upset because he feels that the white peoples religion is getting to his son’s head. Its been a big thing to Okonkwo that men aren’t suppose to feel weak and he feels as though his own son is doing just what he did not want him to do. His son had always been like that, seeing the “weaker side” of things. For Example, when Okonkwo was telling Nwoye and Ikemefuna his war stories Nwoye wouldn’t really enjoy it. He liked his mothers stories better. They stories about animals, and happiness. He didn’t like the hurt and sadness. “Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stores that his mother used to tell, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children.” This would not be able to be easily resolved because Okonkwo is very protective and when his temper is lost he resorts to violence and this seems to be a red button that was pushed.
ReplyDeleteBased on what I have read so far, I believe there will be many cultural differences, and conflicts the two different groups will have to deal with. The first major conflict they would have to deal with is the language barrier. One of the first few times the Ibo people got a chance to speak with the white men, the Ibo people thought the men were referring to themselves by using “my buttocks” instead of “myself.” Another big problem that people today still fight about is the religions. The white men brought their religion, traditions, and customs with them, but at the same time, the Ibo people had their own religion, traditions, and customs. Not many people wanted to sacrifice what they knew to blend with another group of people, only Nwoye. Although Okonkwo was in exile, he heard the news of his son’s religious shift through Obierika. When he heard, he was not happy and whenever he was asked about it, he chose not to answer. The Ibo people were not happy about the missionaries taking over their land. They wanted them gone and they would fight any way they had to in order to get them to leave. I have a feeling both groups of people are very hard headed, and would fight until death, which isn’t good when they must live amongst each other in the village.
ReplyDeleteThe potential conflict I chose to write about is the conflict between Nwoye and Okonkwo. Okonkwo went into exile for seven years. Obierika comes to visit him and delivers some bad news. Obierika tells Okonkwo that Nwoye has joined the missionaries. Okonkwo gets very upset and beats Nwoye. I think this is not going to be easily resolved because Okonkwo wants Nwoye to be in his religion. Nwoye went against his fathers rules and joined another religion.
ReplyDeleteThe potential cultural conflict I see is the Christian culture starting a fight with the African culture. The missionaries are starting to convert the Africans into Christians. The rest of the clans who are staying with their culture are starting to turn against the converts. For example, when the converted villagers tried to get water, clay, and chalk, the villagers chased them with whips. They also prohibited the Christians to go into the market. It will be hard to resolve because the new church is showing the new converts that their old religion isn’t as strong as they thought. For example, Kiaga told the new converts to cut off their hair to show them that they won’t die if they do. He also saves twins and shows them that he won’t die by doing so either. Another cultural conflict is between Nwoye and Okonkwo. Okonkwo is ashamed of Nwoye and is disgusted. With Nwoye leaving, Okonkwo and his family are torn apart. Okonkwo now feels like when he dies, the rest of his family will become Christian, and they will not give sacrifice to him and they will forget all about him. It won’t be easily resolved because Okonkwo is stubborn and Nwoye doesn’t understand his father’s feelings. Okonkwo just thinks he no longer has a son, and he doesn’t want anything to do with Nwoye anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe missionaries coming to Umuofia is causing major cultural conflicts within the village. Rather than the Native Africans sticking together through this time, they drift apart with some of them converting to christianity and the church. Father/son relationships are falling apart with Okonkwo's son Nwoye being one of the few who converted to the church. Family is very important to the villagers of Umuofia. With more and more Native Africans falling away from their original, religious beliefs, it is more difficult for the people of Umuofia to fight back against the missionaries.
ReplyDeleteA potential cultural conflict that may occur is the different religions of the people in the village and the missionaries. The white people are trying there best for the village people to convert to their faith. Many people in the village do not agree such as Okonkwo. It will not be easily resolved because the village people are true to their faith and culture and the missionaries have already made plans to build more religious places in the village. An example would be how Okonkwo reacted when he found out his son was interacting the Christians.
ReplyDeletebased on the story the potential cultural conflict that i think will happen is that when more and more convert to the new religion they will begin to enforce there religion on they natives with there government. soon the native will have tolorated enough and go to war with these foreigners
ReplyDeleteThe potential cultural is that okonkwo dont like the white missionaries and when he returns he is going to take back over the land and get his people back but his son Nwoye wants to be with the white missionaries he believe everything they sat he also believe that he's nothing like his father he want to bring peace and happiness to the religious and he think the white missionaries are doing that.
ReplyDeleteBased on what I have read the potential cultural conflict I see are the Christians starting a dilemma with the Africans about their culture. The missionaries are starting to convert the Africans into Christianity. I believe there will be many cultural differences, and conflicts that the two different groups will have to put up with. For one dealing with the language barrier is going to be hard enough as it is. And to add insult to injury, the Ibo people got a chance to speak with the white men, the Ibo people thought the men were referring to themselves by using “my buttocks” instead of “myself.” Then their different religion doesn’t make things anything batter. The white Christians brought their religion, traditions, and customs with them, however, the Ibo people had their own religion, traditions, and customs. Another cultural conflict is between Nwoye and Okonkwo. Nwoye changes his religion and Okonkwo is not happy about it in any way. It won’t be easily resolved because Okonkwo is to strong minded and he already disowned Nwoye.
ReplyDelete