Response to Others

I think that everyone had similar ideas, but we all just analyzed them differently. I responded to Sarah's and Lisa's posts. Lisa's made me laugh because we both used a quote from Shakespeare's As You Like It. I mean that is what I thought of when I was listening to the guy speak so I blogged about it, and I guess she was thinking the same thing. Sarah and Lisa both talked about the black being like the devil, but they thought that the Hindu religion did not include the devil. I guess I think that their devil figure is Shiva, the destroyer.

I really find the religion interesting, and I think it is interesting to read all the different responses everybody has. I guess Hinduism really is an open ended religion that allows its people to see things in their own way. I think that it is good that the religion is that open to letting its people develop their own thoughts, but I think it would be hard to follow the laws of Hinduism. I mean, how do people understand it? I can hardly get the basics under my belt. If it came to getting becoming free from the reincarnation cycle, I would never get there. I would be stuck being reborn one million times. I know now that it might be fun to learn about Hinduism, but I will never become a Hindu. The religion just goes right over my head.

English Blog

If you are looking for my short story blogs, I made a separate website for English. The link can be found under "My Other Blog."

Mythology of Hinduism #2

Wow, Hinduism is confusing. It makes sense that everything in the world can be seen as black and white. I mean there is always a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing would of course be white, and the bad thing is black. I mean there is life vs. death, good vs. evil, spring vs. fall, rain vs. drought, etc. I agree with Hinduism when it says that it is necessary to forget the unity that joins the blacks and whites in the world in order to view the world clearly. The Hindus really do simplify life. If they view the world as black and white, then the gray area that is present in most of our minds does not exist to them. That really has to eliminate some of the stress that results from having to make a decision because there would be no "what ifs" in your mind. I also agree with the Hindus when they talk about looking outside the enclosed space. I laughed when he talked about the white background on a black sheet of paper, and then he stated that it could be a black background on a white sheet of paper. I have thought about that concept myself. I have always wanted to know what way it was, but I guess that the Hindus do not try to figure that out. I think that the reincarnation is a little extreme. I believe in life after death, but I do not believe in reincarnation. I think that you only get one life to live, and then you move on to eternal life. The idea of a kalpa fascinated me. I mean the Hindus believe that Brahma acts as us because he forgets who he is for 4,320,000 years and then, wakes up at peace for another 4,320,000 years. It is like the life and death of the human race. I find it really weird that they believe there is a period of time where people forget who they are and act as others. The Hindus believe that people act as other during one life, and William Shakespeare hinted on this idea when he wrote As You Like It "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players."

Final Thoughts

Overall, I liked the book, but it is not one of my favorites. It was like a rollercoaster ride with Okonkwo. One moment, I like him and agreed with his thoughts, but the next moment, I thought he was a cold hearted person. In the end, I did like Okonkwo's character because he lived by what he believed in until the end. He never second guessed his religion or beliefs. I liked Achebe's writing style, but I didn't like how short he made the chapters. I would have liked longer chapters because I think that longer chapters allow the book to flow better. I have learned about some of the African customs and am glad I read this book.

Chapter 25

I thought that Okonkwo was going to commit suicide in the end, but I would have thought he would have done it on his own ground. I feel bad for Okonkwo because everything he worked so hard for was lost because of two events. I don't think that is fair. He might have come off as cold, but he really did love his family and work hard for everything that he got. One positive thing is that he did not become anything like his father. His father would have never rebeled against the white men. I would actually guess that he would convert over to christianity. I feel really bad for Okonkwo's family because they were hurt just so he could die with his honor. I don't think its right that the District Commissioner plans to write a whole chapter in his book about Okonkwo's suicide. I mean isn't he a christian man, and suicide is just as big of a sin in christtianity as it is in African culture. I guess I really don't like him because he seems like a hypocrite to me. I definitely would side with Okonkwo in the end because I feel so bad for him. His life truly fell apart.

Chapter 24

Okonkwo returns from the jail with whip marks on his back. He is now convinced that war is the only solution to this problem. When a meeting is called, Okonkwo gets his war dress ready. This shows that he really wants things to return to the way it was before his exile. The leaders of all the nine villages are at the meeting to decide on a course of action. The leaders know that if they do go to war that they will have to spill the blood of their clansmen. Messengers are sent by the christians to end the meeting. Okonkwo's anger get the best of him and kills one of the messengers. I knew in the end, his anger would get him in trouble. I could even see this coming in the last few chapters. I found it hard to believe that the leader did not support Okonkwo on fighting the white men. I would have thought that after what they did to the African leaders, they would have supported fighting. I don't believe Okonkwo will stand for letting the white men take him into custody again. I think that Okonkwo will want to die with his dignity and on his own land. I doubt he will run from the village because the last time he was so unhappy with his motherland.

Chapter 23

I don't think that Okonkwo is really that happy. I mean the village is now on its guard, but the christians are still there. I have lost respect now for the missionaries. They tricked the African leaders into leaving their weapons and then arresting them. The christians plan on killing the leaders unless bail is payed. I think this action was a huge mistake on the part of the missionaries. Before the African people were separated on the issue, but this event will probably reunite a large group. I think that there is going to be an uprising because I have a feeling the white men will not honor the bail and keep the leaders in jail or kill them anyway. If this does happen, I think the old warring nation will return, and the christians will have a fight ahead of them. I knew that white soldiers would be brought in after the church was burnt down. Okonkwo is going to lose his temper and do something that is going to get him in a lot of trouble. I think that he will kill a white missionary, and the soldiers will come to take him away to be killed. I doubt Okonkwo will let them do that, but how he avoids this I am not sure yet.