Okonkwo for the longest time dispised his son Nwoye because he did not act like a man. After spending so much time with Ikemefuna, Nwoye begans to show more signs of masculinity. With this new change, Okonkwo begans to accept his son. He evens invites the two boys into his hut to talk about their masculine stories. I think that Ikemefuna was the one who brought Nwoye around from hearing the twin babies' crys from the Evil Forest when he was younger. That was the first time he was disappointed with mankind, but Ikemefuna brought him around from his disappointment and helped Nwoye see the good in the world. When Okonkwo took part in the death of Ikemefuna, I think that Nwoye is going to lose all of his respect for his father. It might even drive him to feel the same way as Okonkwo did about his father. Nwoye might pledge to never become anyting like Okonkwo. I think that when Okonkwo took part in Ikemefuna's death, it showed his desparation to be an elder of the community. He showed that he will do whatever it takes to be respected.
I am still not completely clear on the Oracle. I get that it is like a "god" and that there is a priestess who conveys the prophacies from the Oracle, but is the Oracle a god or some kind of presence. I understand that if a person wants to get advice from the Oracle they must go to a cave, but what exactly does the Oracle represent in their culture? Anytime the Oracle is mentioned, I change my idea of what it is. I just want to clear that up.
1 comment:
Ikemefuna is a great character, and
He is the son to Okonkwo that Nwoye struggles to be.
I really liked your insight, when you wrote:
"I think that when Okonkwo took part in Ikemefuna's death, it showed his despiration to be an elder of the community. He showed that he will do whatever it takes to be respected."
I kept wondering in my head, what would make him willingly kill his own step-son in such a barbaric act! You really put together an interesting M.O. there, and it sort of makes sense in a deranged sort of way.
After this scene, I ended up hating Okonkwo for the rest of the story. In my opinion, the rest of the book is his Karma, or punishment. The worse things got for him, the more I felt he brought it on himself.
Achebe creates an Anti-hero of the book, who I really had a hard time growing to like.
Oh, an Oracle must be a spokesperson, or medium between Gods and mankind? Maybe that's why they take them so serious. I think they need to question what types of yams these people must be eating! :-)
Mr. Farrell
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