I think it is kind of ironic that when Okonkwo begins to show his true feelings for Ezinma, she becomes very ill. It is also ironic that Okonkwo is doing everything in his power to keep her alive, while he has appeared to give up hope on teaching Nwoye. I understand Ezinma is deathly ill, but Nwoye is the future of his bloodline. I would think Okonkwo would try harder to beat the laziness out of him. Instead, he has seemed to give up on his son after Ikemefuna's death. I think that Ezinma is Okonkwo's pride and joy, but he would never admit that because that is a sign of weakness to show that much attachment to a female.
I found the whole background on the ogbanje very interesting. The fact that the African people believe that a woman who has continual child deaths is plagued with an evil spirit of a child who continually returns to cause the parents great grief. When Ezinma's iyi-uwa was found, the problem was thought to be solved. An iyi-uwa is the ogbanje's connection to the physical world from the spiritual world. Even after the iyi-uwa was found, it could not end Ekwefi's worrys that her only daughter would die. I feel bad that Ekwefi has lost so many children. It seems that Ezinma is her last hope. If this child dies, Ekwefi will probably give up hope.
1 comment:
I think it is pretty clear now that okonkwo likes ezinma better than nwoye even though ezinma is a girl. weird for the culture, but hey, who knows. maybe he is overcoming his hidebound stubbernness.
The medicine men were cool with th ogbanje think, but also gross. the mutilation was really really disturbing. saw three here we come.
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