Thursday, June 30, 2011

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Before addressing the following question, you should do a bit of research on the following concepts: colonialism and post-colonialism writing. Once you know what these terms mean, relate them to a discussion of the novel.

Once again, the novel Things Fall Apart can be very relevant to the world in which we live today. From conflicts created due to culture clashes to characters that are ruled by a force which ultimately leads to great strife and anguish, Achebe's novel has a bit of everything. What comparisons can you draw from the novel and current happenings in the world today. As always, support your response with ample textual support.

What is the greatest lesson to be learned from Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart and why is that lesson important for students in today's society to learn?

This novel is typically a "love it or hate it" read. What did you think? Why? It is always much easier to criticize a novel of this nature than defend its merit, but what redeeming qualities did you find? Why do you suppose this novel is on the AP College Board's Reading List? Why should it be considered a classic?

Symbolism is important in Things Fall Apart. Without consulting sparknotes or other sources, what objects, people, places, ideas, etc. do you think are symbolic? What might they represent? Note: The teachers DO compare student ideas with "resource support" cites like sparknotes.

128 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. believe that the most important lesson to take out of Things Fall Apart is the fact that everything is opinion oriented, and that what we are taught in school as fact, may not be exactly how it happened. Just as the Africans in different villages had their differences in opinions, so do we (as students) but we must be accepting instead of controlling, thinking there is only one correct way to live you life. The missionaries came in with a goal in mind to convert some of the "savages" they viewed them, into Christians, but quickly it drew to force and the Europeans did not view them as humans at all. The Europeans established their government and enforcement system, and when the African destroyed the church as was a reasonable punishment in their culture, they were taken to the European head quarters and punished. The Africans were forced to pay a large fine and were treated terribly with beatings and little food until the fine was paid. There was no negotiation between the two cultures, simply commands from the European side. The Ambassador of the European government in Africa said after Okonkwo had killed himself for his tradition and that he cherished was gone said, "Everyday brought some new material. The story of this man who had killed the messenger and hanged himself would make some interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him. Perhaps not a whole chapter, but a reasonable paragraph, at any rate. He had already chosen the title of the book, after much though: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the lower nigger." (pg. 179) That is how these African people were viewed as a lower group of people.
    It is important for us as a group of students to understand that not every situation and encounter is so black and white, a right and wrong side, both people had goals and reasoning, but the Europeans overcame them through brutal force. We as students should take this as an example and instead listen to each other and accept each other's differences as well as similarities.
    July 23, 2011 5:47 PM

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  3. I think that the most important lesson to be learned from "Things Fall Apart" is that you shouldn't always try to live up to idealistic standards. Okonkwo spent his whole life worrying about his image and what people thought of him. His exposure to his society's idea of what was right made him hate his own father. His father was not strong enough nor wealthy enough in Okonkwo's mind. Okonkwo wanted to be a hero to society, unlike his father. His dislike of his father even turned into a fear of becoming his father, all because of the environment he was in.
    When the word reaches Okonkwo's ears that he must kill Ikemefuna, he promptly agrees. As the reader, one realizes that Okonkwo has affection for Ikemefuna. Nwoye thought of him as a brother, and Okonkwo thought of him as a son! However, walking in the forest to kill him, Okonkwo "heard Ikemefuna cry, 'My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down" (53). Okonkwo didn't want the men he was with to think he was weak. We know that Okonkwo feels guilt because he doesn't eat for two days after killing Ikemefuna. Because he wanted to fit into society and uphold traditions, Okonkwo was willing to kill his own son.
    It seems as though Okonkwo wastes his whole life worrying about how good he looks. That is why I think it's important for students to realize that it's okay to not worry about what other people think of you all of the time. It's okay to not give in to peer pressure, to love people who aren't as fortunate, and to not worry about fitting into those size zero pants the girl on the t.v. is wearing. Things fell apart for Okonkwo because he wasn't a well-balanced person. Keep an open mind, a smile on your face, and just be you. You'll do great in life that way.

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  4. Paulina Devlin
    Things Fall Apart
    Original Comment

    I love Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart" because the root conflict is relevant to all people, no matter how familiar one is with the setting of the novel. Okonkwo’s personality is microcosm of the conflict of tradition versus innovation. I love reading about Okonkwo’s struggles because they forces me to think about similar contradictions in my life and in the world around me.

    One side of Okonkwo is unfalteringly good and progressive. It is impossible not to admire Okonkwo’s work ethic. The man built his life with his bare hands, one yam seed at a time, through weather blistering hot and resolutely soaked. He is unfailingly persistent and determined in his quest for respect and unwavering in his dedication to his elders and his Gods. From one angle, Okonkwo is the ideal contributor to society; humble and hardworking.

    Contrary to this ideal picture however, Okonkwo is the destroyer of society when examined from another angle. The same determination that drives him to success drives him to failure. Okonkwo is insensitive to his inferiors, as he is noted for his “brusqueness in dealing with less successful men” and more concerned with his reputation than his adopted son’s dying feelings (22). His success leaves scattered ill will in his wake. Okonkwo’s persistence prevents him from mentally and emotionally adapting to arising circumstances that he cannot control. Rather than peacefully confronting the task of living with missionaries in the clan, Okonkwo laments his peers’ lost bloodlust and commits suicide rather than adapt to the changing ways of the clan.

    This story boils down age-old ethical dilemmas and infuses both sides of the conflict into one man’s world. Okonkwo felt his inner conflict between success for himself and his tribe and the new demands of change necessary to meet this success, just as today, we struggle to balance medical or technological ethics with our desire to improve our well being, or make life easier. Okonkwo could not bear the struggle; the conflict was so escaladed in his small personal life that he could no longer deal. I love the lesson his story teaches; we must learn that as we approach similar challenges, our society must work together to discuss and bear the burden of the changes we face because even the strongest among us cannot do so alone.

    By the way, if you also belong to the “love it” camp, I recommend "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. It is similar to "Things Fall Apart" in that it is about missionaries in Africa, but it is told from the prospective of the missionaries and deals with their relationships and how Africa changes them. It’s a fantastic book and it was also on one of the AP lists, so it could even be helpful in May.

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  5. Paulina Devlin
    Things Fall Apart
    Response to Emily Lerner

    I find the lesson you drew from “Things Fall Apart” very interesting. You feel that Okonkwo always strived “live up to idealistic standards.” Contrastingly, as I was reading the novel, I thought of Okonkwo’s personality as untouchably strong. His sheer determination to succeed drives him through heat waves where “the earth burned like hot coals and roasted all the yams” and rains that “poured down in violent torrents” and caused the yam seedlings to wash away (19). Okonkwo was so assured of his personal dedication to his gods that he killed his adopted son because he thought it was the correct choice. He even takes actions outside those of his clan at the end of the novel when he violently killed a court messenger. Though many of his choices are questionable, these actions made me respect Okonkwo as a character so possessed by himself that his personality is utterly resistant to outside critique. Conflicted, he may be, but he seems very strong.

    Your interpretation of Okonkwo seems to starkly contrast mine, and after reading your suggestions that Okonkwo is deathly afraid of a weak reputation, I see many examples of this angle to his personality that I looked over. Combining both of our thoughts, I feel that Okonkwo’s strong conviction originates in his fear of weak judgement.

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  6. Paulina Devlin
    Things Fall Apart
    Response to Elizabeth K.

    The theme “not every situation is so black and white” was also very prevalent in “Things Fall Apart” to me. As you mentioned, the traditions and rituals of the African and European cultures were so dissimilar, that each group acted without spending time to understand the viewpoint of the other. I feel these actions are found at the beginning of many conflicts across all cultures and time periods. The examples are endless: Native Americans and Europeans several hundred years ago, Sunni and Shiite across the Middle East today. Each group refuses to see and appreciate the thoughts of the others, leading to deadly results.

    It is much more difficult to think of large scale examples of confrontations of opposing beliefs that do not end in violent fighting. One more civil approach to conflict is when opposing parties in our government place store in endless arguments. Political discussions are a step in the right direction, after all, they do refrain from physical fighting, but after reading “Things Fall Apart,” I wonder if they are a step far enough. Okonkwo’s clan and the Europeans show us the dirty consequences of blindly refusing to make concessions and deals with opponents. As a society, people need to recognize that understanding and compromise is necessary, and stubborn single-mindedness is inevitably destructive.

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  7. In responce to Paulina Devlin..
    I agree with you Paulina, it is men like Okankwo who build and tear down societies. Okonkwo had determination to not become like his lazy and looked down upon father, who leached off of people until his death landing in debt. In this determination he set off to make life for his children better. But this strong determination that could creste greatness also manifested grief as it was his character flaw. When the missionaries returned to Okonkwo's village to put a stop to the revolting and palnning of the native people, Okonkwo in his determination to not allow his people to succomb to the English power, killed a man. His determination and "moving forward" characteristics would not allow him to do anything different, even though he had only recently been allowed to re-enter his village after banishment for seven years. This determination finished driving the society into the ground, and without their best fighter, it is obvious the English took over that village as well as villages surrounding it.

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  8. In response to Emily Lerner...

    I love this theme, men trying to become what the society has demanded of him in order to become a respectable young man within his group of people. What a universal theme without the boundaries of time! All humans through all ages deal and have dealt with the struggle to not allow others to perceive us as weak of with some sort of flaw. Chinua Achebe uses great methods of psychology for the reader to understand what great distress Okonkwo was going through, believing that he must kill his adopted son to whom he has grown attached in order to show the clan how tough of a man he was. This is possibly also the reason that Okonkwo is so cruel to all of his wives, for his father was lazy and would not exert that much energy into anything, and must put something different between the two of them, even if it is something cruel and terrible. Okonkwo must also show his peers that he is strong enough and not in the least bit afraid to hurt the people he loves. "Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Neither of the other wives dared intervene beyond a tentative, now that's enough." (pg. 33) Chinua mentions several times throughout the book that Ezinma, the only daughter mentioned in the passage above as his favorite child and he does not stop to hurt her as well as a sign of strength. Today it can be compared to the men who work several jobs or carrying more than they can handle to show their peers they are a "man" as society expects them to be.

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  9. Original Comment

    I too loved this book! First of all, the information about the Ibo tribes traditions was great to learn. There just isn't enough time for our regular classes to teach us about African history, and to read and know that all of these traditions actually were held in high regards and done was very refreshing for me. Secondly, Achebe knew what he was writing about because he lived it. In the biography at the back of the book I read that he lived up learning about both the Ibo traditions and the Christian religion. I don't know about you, but the knowledge that the author lived the ideas of both instead of just researching them made the book more real for me. Thirdly, Achebe's characterization was incredible. He characterizes in such a concise, indirect way. For example, Achebe writes "He always said that when he saw a dead man's mouth he saw the folly of not eating what one had in one's lifetime".(2) This is in reference to Okonkwo's father Unoka. From this one sentence I can tell that although Unoka is thought of as lazy by his son, he is also a man who enjoys life and wishes to live it in complete full happiness. Unoka wants to live his life eating, as it were, all the good things he had and choosing not to worry about the bad things. How cool is that? I got that all from one beautifully formed figure of speech! Another example of how he characterizes so concisely is when he talks about Nwoye. "Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories his mother used to tell, and which no doubt still told her younger children (...)" (46) Not even a sentence and I can see that deep down Nwoye is a dreamer. He prefers those intricate stories to being the socially acceptable man. The same type of characterization happens with Ikemefuna and Okonkwo. Even still, the theme that Okonkwo bought to the story was refreshingly good: Don't be afraid to deviate from the social norm. It seems to me that Okonkwo spent so much time being his father's opposite that he almost lost sight of what really matters. I mean, think about it....Other than the issue of money and land that his father had, what was wrong with Unoka? Was it really frowned upon that much to show feeling once and a while and verbalize true love and affection for a son or wife? I don't think so. I think, that if he didn't spend so much time staying away from his father's ideals, he could have saved himself a lot of headaches and worries. Also, I found that the book was set up in a great way. Half of the book showed what life was like before the missionaries came and the other half, roughly, showed what life was like when they arrived. That was a good way to show an important contrast, if you ask me! The book even showed how the missionaries weren't all totally bad. Look at how different Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith are! Mr. Brown isn't a forceful man and he wasn't mean. He preferred to discuss religion rather than shove it down a persons throat as is seen through the discussion himself and Akunna. Mr. Smith however is the exact opposite, he is harsh and narrow minded. He believed that everything the African's did was wrong, as showed by his attitude when he discovered Okonkwo's body. I digress, though. The point is this: with all of these great things, the knowledge, the characterization, the contrasts and themes, is it any wonder that this book made the AP list?

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  10. Lauren Jones
    Things Fall Apart
    Original Comment
    In China Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart it is only natural that there would be a lot of symbolism because the entire novel deals with the spirituality of man and what happens when two very different religions and cultures (Ibo and European) collide. The protagonist, Okonkwo, constantly struggles between what he wants and feels is right to do and what his society tells him he must do to please the gods. As a result, a lot of symbols are forged because they indicate what type of society Okonkwo lives in and what type of man Okonkwo himself is.

    One main symbol in the novel is the yam. The entire Ibo society is centered on yams. They are the best crop and they symbolize power. The narrator writes, “Yam, the king of crops, was a man’s crop” (19). Thus, the yams are a big symbol of human masculinity and the power that all men strive towards. Yams are essentially a way for a man like Okonkwo to prove to all the rest that he indeed is a true man and a wealthy one at that. Yams are clearly just food, and yet they can symbolize a great deal more; they can represent things that are much more important, and help to shape people’s views of others. Okonkwo dedicates his entire life to farming yams and get a good crop output during harvest, raises his morale significantly. In Ibo society, yams are like the rulers of all crops, and they symbolize how much power a man has and just how much of a man a man truly is. Men can become obsessed with farming their yams to support their family just like how men can become power-hungry.

    Another symbol in the novel is Okonkwo’s father, Unoka. Clearly Okonkwo wants to forget about his dead-beat father because he does not want to be like him. He is ashamed of his father, as the narrator notes, “Okonkwo’s fear…was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father” (10). Unoka symbolizes the past that everyone wishes would be gone, and yet the past that no one can escape. Like Mr. Rochester’s Bertha in Jane Eyre or Frankenstein’s monster in Frankenstein, Unoka is a character that will always plague the protagonist’s mind. He is like the hatchet that refuses to be buried, and as a result, Okonkwo fanatically tries to distance his image and his father’s. The importance of Unoka being a symbol of a past that haunts someone is that it pushes Okonkwo to evaluate his life to figure out how to not be his father. It makes Okonkwo a better man, and yet, throughout his entire life he will always be haunted by his father—a past he can never escape, but only face and deal with.

    A third and final symbol are the white missionaries, such as Mr. Brown and Reverend James Smith. As the narrator points out, their arrival is very much like locusts. In fact, the missionaries symbolize the locusts. At first the Ibo society welcomes the missionaries because they are curious about the white men. When the locusts come, they are welcomed too because they are great delicacies to eat. However, like every good thing, some overstay their welcome. Locusts can damage crops if they congregate in large areas, and the missionaries, once they begin to stay in Umoufia and colonize and try to convert people, they, too, overstay their welcome. Soon the people want to rid their clan of the missionaries because they are questioning everything the clan stands for and believes in. In short, the missionaries symbolize locusts because at first they are a welcome change, but once they overstay their welcome, they become almost controlling and very unwelcome.

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  11. In Response to Lauren Jones...

    I have to admit, I looked over the fact that Unoka could be a symbol for the dark past that everyone has. I'm glad that you mentioned it! That piece of information has made me respect the novel even more. Not only is he well characterized in the story, but he stands for a symbol of the main internal conflict that Okonkwo has!

    However, I think that you may have gotten your last symbol mixed up. While the Ibo tribe does at first welcome the missionaries, but finds that they are more trouble that they believed them to believe, I don't think they "symbolize locusts". Maybe you meant to say that locusts symbolized the missionaries? After all, they came first as foreshadowing for the upcoming missionaries and it seems that they would just fit better as symbols. I think this because I can't see Achebe using a group of people as symbols. I have found that he uses people, like Unoka to symbolize and idea and I have found that he uses objects like the yams to symbolize manliness and wealth, as you have pointed out. I simply don't think it would be his style to represent a group of people as a symbol for an object like insects. It seems a little shallow for his style. Then again, perhaps they are both simply symbols for suffering.... Am I misinterpreting what you mean? Would you be willing to explain your idea of that last symbol further?
    Thanks for all the rest of your insight! It was good to see all of that pointed out! :)
    --Amanda LaClaire

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  12. I think this book can be easily compared to the war in the Middle East. If you view America as the missionaries and the Middle East as the savages, you'll see that the situation is very closely related, only on a larger scale. We have invaded and set up post in the east much like the missionaries did in Umuofia. I truly believe that the missionaries and our own country had the best intentions when they committed themselves to these causes, but I don't think that people always saw these intentions behind guns and bulletproof vests. Tradition and religion in the middle east is extremely relevant and holds a strong prominent place in their society, but these traditions have proven to be highly controversial in the United states and part of the reason, I believe, we invaded Iraq in the first place. What we view as cruel and harsh treatment of women, they view as tradition and complete normalcy. Likewise, the missionaries view the abandonment of twin infants as a heinous crime, but the tribe views it as a necessity to ward off evil and keep their god's happy. These cultural and religious conflicts carry on throughout the book. Examples include: the killing and eating of a python and the unmasking of an eqwugwu. In the minds of the missionaries, these things are meaningless and have no effect on one's life, but the clansmen view them as complete and utter disrespect. Couple these differences with the implementation of a new government and you have a recipe for disaster. Time and time again this happens throughout history. Countries, people's and nations go into to other territories with the intention of bringing enlightenment and sophistication to underdeveloped areas, but instead only end up bringing conflict and war. No one likes to be told that they are inferior or that your mind is superior to their own… So why do we continue to do this? As a Christian I understand the call to spread the word of Jesus Christ and when the protestant missionaries showed up I was excited and relieved, much like I felt when we invaded the Middle East. I was so enthused that the innocent and suppressed people of Iraq were finally going to be liberated, but almost ten years later I have the same feeling of disappointment as I did when I finished Things Fall Apart. I am disappointed in my country and disappointed in the missionaries for not realizing that force and fear do not bring about true change. As learned on Celebrity Rehab, in order for someone to truly change they have to want to change, and I don’t think either Umuofia or the Middle East ever truly wanted to change.

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  13. The novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, presents many insights and ideas to do with the colonizing of Africa. More importantly though, it demonstrates many lessons to those who read it. In my opinion, the greatest lesson to be learned from the novel, is that one should not force their beliefs or preferences on anyone. All too often in the world today we see conflicts started by cultural differences, both on the international scale and on the individual scale. In the novel, we see a, mostly, peaceful African society that is run and dominated by ancestral tradition. All is quite well and most of the people are genuinely happy. Then, the Europeans arrive and begin imposing their religion and political system upon the Africans. The protagonist, Okonkwo is among the to rebel against this encroachment upon his people. At first his people laugh at him and tell him that the white people will not harm them. However, the Europeans begin to destroy the African culture and out of distress Okonkwo hangs himself. At this point in the novel colonialism hits full stride. Soon after colonialism is in full swing, comes the enslavement of the Africans and many long years of conflict after. If the Europeans would have just gone into Africa with the desire to befriend, learn from, and teach the Africans then the whole mistreatment of the Africans would never have happened. Perhaps if students in today’s society would look back at our ancestors mistakes we could see that we can not impose our beliefs on people. We need to see that the people who have done so in the past have been terrible evil people. Hitler tried to impose his ideas upon the German people and as a result six million people died. Communists and Americans tried to impose their beliefs on people and as a result there were horrific wars in Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Korea. Our generation needs to not follow in the footsteps of the generations before us. Just because someone believes in something other than what I believe does not mean they are my enemy. Thinking in absolutes and not attempting understand others are traits of a truly ignorant populace.

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  14. I think that one of the key lessons that is taught throughout the book and throughout Okonkwo's life and that of his society is the constant struggle between fate and free will. Throughout Okonkwo's life we see him go from the lowest of the low in social class and strive to reach higher and higher in life and society only to be shot down time and time again. I think this lesson that we are not in control of everything is a very healthy lesson to learn. We as a society view our lives as "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" and then you can live a prosperous life. In reality though it can be very hard or downright impossible to live beyond and above your own social class. I feel that often life is very hard to view as out of our control as humans but there are forces working for and against us on a constant basis. Okonkwo proves to us as readers that his life will never be what he wanted but it is what his destiny has prescribed. Eventually he succumbs to this fact and dies but we as readers can learn that even if forces are working against us we must be able to continue on. When Okonkwo looks back on his life several times throughout the novel he knows that he has no future because his Chi has ruined his past parts of his life. That is what I learned from Okonkwo and what I think we all can learn to accepet we are not in full control of our lives and destiny.

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  15. Harrison Jones
    Things Fall Apart
    Response to Elizabeth K.

    I completely agree with Elizabeth on the idea that this novel is completely based on opinion and that this is a lesson that can be learned from this book. When thinking about how we learn from opinions and point of view it is critical to take into account what it means to live on either side of the book. Whether you are the people of Umuoafia or the missionaries trying to do their job, it is bound to be complicated. We as students growing up in a world of complications it can often be easiest for us to assume something is black and white. We ignore the grey because the grey area is complicated and often dangerous place to be when you cannot define anything as right ro wrong. Elizabeth hit the nail on the head when making it clear in her statement that we must as students learn that the way the situations between the two races played out must not happen in our lives.

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  16. Harrison Jones
    Things Fall Apart
    Response to Lauren B.

    In using the comparison to the middle east to describe the situation between the people of Umuofia and the missionaries I think you found a unique and insightful way of expressing that connection. Throughout the book I never made that conenction but i did make that connection to when European or "Westernized People" have entered other areas such as even in our own country when explorers came and threw the whole society of Native Americans into chaos and collapse. We as a people and society always view ourselves as better than some other group instead of equals and this plays out time and time again in history. When Lauren made the point that she was Christian and was happy to see the missionaries I had to disagree only because I knew the fate of Umuofia based on historical context. The reader could figure out that in the end the white man would win, even though the white man was not necessarily right. We as a society do this time and time again and until we realize we are missionaries and we see what we do, we will never change.

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  17. In response to Amanda L:

    Amanda, I loved this book for the same reason! I was intrigued by Achebe’s vivid description of Ibo culture, from their family lives to their ancestral court. Like you, I never had the opportunity to learn so much about African history, and I feel that what I learned about their traditions from the book surpasses what little of the topic I was taught in school. The book’s insight into the Ibo tribe gave me understanding and respect for their culture, however different it is from European tradition. It is unfortunate that we haven’t read more world literature throughout our time in school. I feel that it would greatly improve American students’ understanding of global cultures, and help them respect traditions different from our own. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”

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  18. In Response to Lauren Burkart...

    I'm impressed with your connection to the current world and Things Fall Apart! The middle east is a very relevant example! However, you said an interesting thing in your original post that caught my attention. You said that you were disappointed in the missionaries for bringing 'force and fear' to bring about change. I agree on two levels. On the student of literature level I know that Things Fall Apart is a post-colonial novel written by Achebe because he was disappointed in the other tales told about the colonization of Africa. In this way I feel, as you obviously do, that this book was very effective in bringing about a new perspective, although dark and depressing. Then on a personal level, I share your feeling of disappointment as a fellow Christian. I believe that God does not want us to shed blood for Him through warfare, but instead He wants us to send the message of His love and teach by example as Jesus had done all those years ago.

    Your post also made me think about why I feel so ashamed of those missionaries. First of all. I feel I should point out to you and other students that the brusqueness and cruelty did not come until after Mr. Brown died. Mr. Brown was an excellent missionary because he did not force his beliefs on the Africans. Instead he "came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith" (153). As a matter of fact, Achebe provides the readers with a scene where a great man named Akunna and Mr. Brown discuss their different view points. Mr. Brown never shot Akunna down, except for when Akunna said that he was the head of his church. "In this way Mr. Brown learned a good deal about the religion of the clan and he came to the conclusion that a frontal attack on it would not succeed" (155). Instead, he gave the African's schools and provided education for them if they wanted it. Mr. Brown is a small reminder to me, at least, that not ALL of the missionaries used force and fear as a tactic. Sadly, Mr. Brown was only one of hundreds of missionaries that decided against the use of 'force and fear'. That is what made MY disappointment so great in the missionaries. Why couldn't the others see things the way that Mr. Brown did? After all, you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar.

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  19. I would say that the greatest lesson to be learned from Okonkwo is humility. His quest to be everything his father wasn’t and more cause him to lose sight of the things in his life that really mattered. His family, his friends, and his household. He strove to be admired by all the people in his village, and this desire caused him do practically denounce his own father! He showed great disrespect through this. It is not inherently bad to want to be great and to achieve great things, but Okonkwo was trying to become great for the wrong reasons. He should have wanted to come out of his poverty for his family, not just his own personal gain. He should have realized then that glory and honor aren’t everything, and that his reputation as a good family man, one who knows how to work hard and have a family was just as, if not more, important. Once he achieved his high status in the village, Okonkwo thought he was invincible. He even killed his own step-son Ikemefuna, in order not to be perceived as weak in front of his peers. When he was banished from the village, it was a rude awakening for him. It showed us as an audience that he was human, and had flaws that he wasn’t aware of. Even when he returned to his home village, he thought he could become a great leader in the tribe again. He should have taken the time to look back on his life and ask himself if it was really worth it. I doubt if he ever thought about the struggle his actions put his family through. He should have built up his empire for future generations, but instead he left his family with not a whole lot of wealth, like his father had done. The irony speaks for itself.

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  20. Marianne Maresh
    Original comment

    The most important lesson Okonkwo learned was social status should not guide his life. Okonkwo feared that he would die a failure like his father. To combat this, he strives to be the strongest, wealthiest, most well known person in Umuofia. As his popularity grows, Okonkwo grows further and further away from his family. "His (Okonwo's) wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness." (page 10) The quote shows that Okonkwo is so caught up in being "a man" that he is willing to beat his wives and kids to prove himself to the village. While it was normal at the time to beat children and spouses, Okonkwo seems to lose his temper and hurt his children very frequently. He is obsessed with looking like a fearless man. Also, he does things for the wrong reasons. For example, Okonkwo is known for producing many yams. While most men in the town grow yams with the intention to feed their families, Okonkwo seems more concerned with growing to impress the village and make money. He even goes as far to kill his "son" Ikemefuna so he does not appear weak to his elders.

    This is a very important lesson for high school students to learn, because many students fall victim to its consequences. Getting caught up in being popular or looking cool in front of friends can be hard to avoid. For example, I know many people who purposely failed classes so their friends would stop calling them nerds. This is absolutely ridiculous, but understandable. It is hard to be made fun of for a talent that is not considered "cool". High school presents even more pressures, such as drugs and drinking. Time after time we hear students say they tried drugs to impress their friends, or got drunk so people would not think they're a wuss. Peer pressure is a serious issue every teenager is exposed to. Not only is it difficult to realize being popular is not important, but the effects of peer pressure can be fatal! Students can learn from Okonkwo that staying focused on what is important will get them much further in life than trying to impress. Had Okonkwo learned this lesson early on in life, he would have been much happier and not died a dishonorable death.

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  21. Marianne Maresh
    In response to Lauren Burkart

    Lauren, I absolutely loved your response! I too agree that the United States entered the Middle East with positive intentions, but we tried too hard to force our ways upon the people. While it seems absurd to us that women are treated so poorly in the Middle East, we have done very little to try to understand why they are treated as so. We jump straight to assuming the people of the Middle East are horrible and pick fights. Maybe if we took more time to understand the ways of Middle Eastern life, we could avoid confrontation. Pushing for unwanted change does not solve anything. It appears as though the Middle East does not want the United States involved in their issues. This could be for many reasons, but perhaps the Middle East has had enough of being forced to change to model America. I am not saying we should or should not be in the war, I am simply stating that force only brings more force.

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  22. Marianne Maresh
    In response to Elizabeth K

    I completely agree with Elizabeth when she says people do not always try to understand different view points. Teenagers are at a point in their lives where accepting opinions is crucial. Often we work on projects in groups, or take quizzes in groups. While it can be frustrating to work with someone who does not agree with personal opinion, it is important to try to accept their views. Many times putting both opinions together leads to new ideas that can be used to complete group tasks.

    I also like Elizabeth's idea that all situations are not black and white. There are very few problems that have a right and wrong solution. After the missionaries began to take over Umuofia, the villagers had to decide how to react. Should they just let the missionaries take over? Or is it better to retaliate and defend their culture? There is really no right answer. Chances are everyone in the village would react differently to the dilemma. Okonkwo, for example, became hostile and violent towards the missionaries. Other people in the village willing accepted Christianity and converted. Both reactions are understandable and neither right nor wrong. Personal opinion must guide the situations with no clear answer.

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  25. Carrie Shuler
    Things Fall Apart
    Original Comment

    Each novel written has a main lesson intertwined amongst the trials and tribulations of the characters. Often, the lesson that is derived by a reader is not exactly what the author intended, for people interpret text in many different ways. The lesson that I viewed as the greatest is the fact that changes in the traditions of a culture should only be brought upon by the people of that culture when they are ready for it. It is by no means the responsibility of outsiders to see this as their civic duty, as they often do not understand the way of life.

    Okonkwo and his people practice traditions that I would personally find to be quite disturbing if I were to practice them. The practice of abandoning twins after their birth or mutilating a dead infant’s body because it was the third or fourth child to consecutively die seem callous and heartless to me. Had I not continued to read the novel, I would have thought the tribes of Umuofia to be savage, as I had little understanding of their traditions and belief system. Much like my first impressions of the people, the white missionaries come to the villages and begin to judge them quite unfairly just by their first glance. They begin to save the twins and attempt to convert the natives to Christianity. The egwugwu are no longer the ruling voice in matters of the law; rather, the white men bring their courts and take over, disbarring any previous, ancient laws of the land. These thoughtless acts bring much chaos to the land.

    As the white men change the customs, the people of the tribe begin to turn against one another. Nwoye loses his father’s respect by becoming a Christian because he is turning his back on the traditions of his ancestors. The people of the village refuse to accept that they are the same people after they convert. Friends become enemies and family ties are disintegrated. Neither the traditionalists nor the new converts are ready to embrace the change and a great many misunderstandings arise. Okonkwo is ready to kill anyone who turns their back on his society and great waves of anger run through the people. Horrid rumors begin to fly about the Christians, saying that they killed the great python, and the loyal tribesmen burn the Christian church as retaliation. The white man’s court then beats the men responsible for burning the church quite severely and holds them in prison until the tribe can pay a fee for their release. This chaos would not have ensued had the white men not forced their way of life upon the village.

    Before the white man arrives, the village has a steady flow and rhythm in their way of life. They understand their customs and embrace them as their own. No one tells them what to do or how to do it, and they live in the way that their ancestors lived for thousands of years before them. When the white man do arrive, he has no understanding of the traditions or culture of the Ibo people. Their traditions are barbaric and senseless to him, so he takes it as his responsibility to save them in his own way. The forceful nature about which he goes to change their way of life stirs up fear and confusion among the Ibo people, causing a great chaos to ensue. Had the option of change been put up to the people, things would have occurred more smoothly, as it would have been their choice. They would have been making the changes through their own actions and decisions, rather than those of an outsider who had no way of even fathoming their ways of life.

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  26. In response to Amanda L:

    I must say that I really loved your response! I also found Achebe's biography very interesting. It made me realize why his writing seemed so historically accurate. My favorite point that you made was how silly it was that Unoka was so disliked because he was emotional. When reading the book I thought that a musician who was kind and caring wouldn't be so frowned upon in our society. The only thing people would dislike would be his constant money borrowing, but other than that, he seemed like an okay guy. If Nwoye were to grow up like Unoka, what would be the problem? As you said, Nwoye seems like a dreamer.

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  27. In response to Paulina Devlin:

    I understand where you are coming from. Okonkwo certainly was a hard working man. He had a yam surplus and plenty of wives. It is also true that he built everything up from nothing. He had no inheritance, which makes his social status even more respectable. I just felt that even though he did achieve such high status he was doing it for the wrong reason. It wasn't really because it made him happy, it was more to impress people and to not be like his father. It's good that you looked at both points of view in your comments, I enjoyed reading about Okonkwo through different eyes!

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  28. Lauren Jones
    Things Fall Apart
    Response to Harrison Jones

    Harrison, I really like the theme/lesson that you came up with for this novel, with the struggle between free will and destiny. With all of the other themes in this novel, I did not even realize this one until I read your comment. Yet now that I have read it, I truly see and agree with how it fits the novel and how we can learn from this important lesson. Sometimes life does not always go the way we want it and that is just life. Life is full of unexpected things, good and bad, and we should just go with the flow. In terms of the novel and this lesson, I see how instead of going with the flow, the protagonist, Okonkwo kind-of just checks out. When he sees that he will die just like his father (without a title) and how the white men will eventually control and convert his clan to Christianity, he decides to kill himself, rather than just adapt to the changes. I agree that we cannot control our destinies and that makes life interesting. If we got everything we wanted in life, and everything went according to plan, then life would be boring and have no meaning. Perhaps if Okonkwo would have just accepted that he would never have a title and that the Christians were there to stay, he may have lived a long, happy life. I think we can all learn from this lesson. When things do not go our way, we should just push forth and remember that life is not always easy. There will be good days when everything is perfect, and there will be bad days when it seems like nothing will ever be right. People should never just give up on life as Okonkwo does; instead, we should all live life to the fullest and take every unexpected turn with a newfound momentum for pushing onward into our future. We always have the potential to do better.

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  29. Lauren Jones
    Things Fall Apart
    Response to Amanda L.’s comment to me

    Amanda, I wanted to re-clarify what I meant in my original comment about my third symbol. I interpreted the symbol of the missionaries and the locusts as things that are at first welcomed, but then, sooner or later overstay their welcome. I do think I may have rambled in my description a bit that I worded the third symbol of missionaries and locusts in a confusing light, and I thank you for pointing it out. Rewording my third symbol, the locusts and missionaries are related in the fact that they represent things that generally overstay their welcome. I do not think that the orientation in which you describe the symbol matters (like the missionaries symbolize the locusts or vice-versa). Yes, the locusts foreshadow the coming of the missionaries, but anyone can take the symbol in their own way. I realize that when I describe the symbol that I made it sound like Achebe was making insects symbolize insects. However, I meant that both groups were symbolically-related under the theme of false impressions. Both groups seemed like good and welcome things at first, and later they were viewed as negative energies. Also, I do think that the locusts and missionaries symbolize, as you mentioned, suffering. At first the locusts and missionaries are seen as good things, however the indigenous people, like Okonkwo’s clan, do not fully understand how much potential damage both groups could cause to the clans. The locusts and missionaries are like silent bombs because the clans do not realize that these groups could be bad. This symbol of false impressions shows the readers that the indigenous people are ignorant to European ways and evil intentions. The indigenous people almost seem naïve, a bit. Thank you once again for prompting me to fully explain my symbol and hopefully this explanation clears up the third symbol a bit!

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  32. In response to Carrie Shuler:

    I found it interesting that the lesson you took from the novel is that cultures should not intervene with the customs of other cultures, even if the people view it as their duty. Destroying a culture because you want to impose your "superior" culture is completely stupid. But, should we interfere with another culture if basic human rights are being violated?

    I have no problem with the missionaries saving the twins. None of the children did anything to deserve being brutally murdered or left to die. Although that goes against the Ibo culture, the poor children are saved from certain peril. Also, the custom of abandoning them is not as significant to their political system or way of life as some of their other customs. I did have a problem with the unmasking of the egwugwu. The egwugwu lead the tribe, do not harm anyone, and are a significant part of the culture and community. The Christian who unmasked the egwugwu wanted to impose his own cultural beliefs rather than save innocent lives.

    Women around the world are subjected to domestic violence and honor killings. When women take part in activities that shame their families, like seeking divorces from abusive husbands, family members sometimes murder them. Although certain customs are relatively harmless, I do not think that anyone should have to live such a torturous existence. I think that organizations from other cultures should be allowed to protect women from their abusive families. I don't think we should take it upon ourselves to significantly alter other cultures, but we should let the wronged members of other cultures know that there are people who can help if they want it.

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  33. The relationship between the native Ibo people and the European missionaries shows us that a particular, “right” way to live does not exist, despite everyone’s belief in their own method. This lesson begins when the missionaries come to the village of Umuofia with the intention of “correcting” the Africans’ religion and culture. When the white men arrive with their African interpreters,

    [Mr. Brown tells] them about this new God, the Creator of all the world and all the men and women. He [tells] them that they worshipped false gods, gods of wood and stone….He [tells] them that the true God lived on high and that all men when they died went before Him for judgment. Evil men and all the heathen who in their blindness bowed to wood and stone were thrown into a fire that burned like palm-oil. But good men who worshipped the true God lived forever in His happy kingdom. (126)

    To the African people, however, this proclamation is absurd. From their perspective, the Europeans are just as strange and their Christian faith is completely backward. In fact, “[w]hen [the missionaries’ speech] was interpreted to the men…they broke into derisive laughter” (127). It shocked them to think that the white men could actually believe their mighty gods were mere wood and stone. Neither party willing to accept the others’ practices, conflict arises between the Europeans and the natives. Soon the missionaries establish an English court despite the existence of Umuofia’s ancestral rule of egwugwu spirits. The white men refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the natives’ justice system, simply because it is different from their own. Likewise, the missionaries also show that they have no respect for the Ibo tradition—the sacrilegious act of killing a python holds no merit to them. So, when a converted native named Enoch unmasks an egwugwu, the foreigners offer no apology to the shocked and devastated Africans. Ultimately, the missionaries destroy the tribe’s culture and religion, simply because they deem the Africans’ lifestyle to be “wrong.” Things Fall Apart serves as a reminder for us to respect our world’s diverse cultures because after all, that is what makes us so unique.

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  34. Response to Sarah Thorwall's comment on Carrie Shuler's post:

    I agree with Sarah Thorwall’s response to Carrie Shuler. Although, we should strive to preserve the diversity of culture, I believe we are responsible to intervene when human rights are threatened. I recently read an article on an organization that helped young women in India avoid forced marriage. Often times, these marriages are abusive, but usually the women face a worse fate if they refuse. The rejected suitor and sometimes even her own family will kill her to preserve their own honor. With the woman’s consent, the organization arranges for the woman to be escorted to a safe location, ultimately saving her from an abusive relationship and even death. In these circumstances, wouldn’t you choose to disrupt tradition to save a woman’s life?

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  35. I think that the lessons learned from Things Fall Apart are very relevant to the people of today's global world. I have received so many glossy brochures from colleges across the country and listened to admissions presentations at college campuses. All of the presentations and many of the brochures advertised their study abroad programs. Clearly, colleges must value cultural experiences. One of the pamphlets showed pictures of students with different majors studying and working in a variety of countries around the world. One picture had a student majoring in elementary education teaching a class in Africa, and another page had biology student conducting research in the rain forest. Both of those students need to know how to work with the native people and culture. Books like Things Fall Apart teach us about compromise, tolerance, and understanding. One does not have to be in a foreign country to use tolerance and understanding. We also learn about the negative effects that occur when outsiders try to impose their own culture on the natives. Not only do students use and learn these lessons while in high school or college, but later in life. There are so many global corporations and organizations nowadays. People from a variety of disciplines, like business, foreign language, archeology, and journalism, may spend some time working abroad. Furthermore, if someone works as a missionary in a foreign country, he or she would hopefully remember Things Fall Apart, consider the native perspective, and act more like Mr. Brown. Also, if a student cannot afford to travel abroad, he or she can still learn about other cultures and their lessons by reading books like Things Fall Apart. I find that this novel helps us work with other people in from our culture and others, which is useful for everyone

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  36. Kaitlin Aleshire
    Original Comment
    I believe that the most important lesson to take away from Things Fall Apart is that no matter how great you are, or how great everyone else things you are, you always have the possibility to let things fall apart. Okonkwo was thought of as a great man, one of the greatest in their village, but because he wanted to keep up his appearance he only let out his anger. He never wanted to be seen as weak, and therefore he lost everything he had because he never wanted to show any emotion. If Okonkwo had ever showed any emotion towards the people he loved, things may have changed for the better instead of him ending up committing suicide. I think that many people forget that by showing a little of affection can change someone’s idea of how you feel. It may have been frowned upon in their tribal culture, but I think that Okonkwo took his fear of becoming his father to an extreme.

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  37. Kaitlin Aleshire
    Response to Emily Lerner:
    I agree with you that it was foolish of Okonkwo to think that his appearance was more important than loving his family, or rather showing that he loved his family. The scene on page 53 of Okonkwo killing Ikemufuna is one of the most heart-stopping parts of a book I have ever read. I had to re-read the lines of "heard Ikemefuna cry, 'My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down" before I could believe what had happened to him. We later learn that Okonkwo feels a great amount of guilt for his actions, but he refuses to let anyone know because he is so afraid of being seen as his father.

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  38. Kaitlin Aleshire
    Response to Marianne Maresh:
    I agree with your statement that “Okonkwo feared that he would die a failure like his father. To combat this, he strives to be the strongest, wealthiest, most well known person in Umuofia.” This is my second time reading this book ( I read it my sophomore year) and both times reading it I came to the same conclusion that Okonkwo is quite a bit thick in the skull because he doesn’t realize that he could have changed the way his wives viewed him, and the way his children viewed him. If he had changed himself, he may have been able to have been a different man and to have been able to help himself.

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  39. Growing up in America has given me the opportunity to see and experience many different cultures. We are a melting pot. It is a fantastic thing, but every second our heritage is being watered down and meshing into one big "American" culture. It saddens me to realize this, and to also realize that people are constantly being swayed towards other cultures or changing each other. Some may not always respect other cultures and differences either. I did not agree with the tactics of the missionaries. I did not like the way they were spreading "Gods" word. I grew up in a strict catholic home and went to catholic grade school and the whole shebang, never were we taught in school or at home to force others into our religion. I was taught to speak it and teach those who want to be taught. You can't just ram into someone's life and use violence to change them. I definitely loved this book. I loved seeing other culture and how colonialism affected the tribal lifestyle. I do not agree with Okonkwo's ways of life, or his temper and degrading behavior. He did not treat his 3 wives with respect, or his son. He wished his daughter Ezinma was his son. He had a twisted point of view on reality in my opinion. Beating wives, and wrestling matches does not show someones strength and masculinity. This book is a classic because it can be very relate-able. Any book that I can relate to I automatically enjoy reading.
    The greatest lesson to get from Okonkwo is that change is part of life. Everybody has to deal with it, his life changed drastically. Also, we should learn that sometimes, it just doesn't always go your way. Okonkwo did not like that he never reached a supreme title, but hey that's how it goes. We need to learn how to accept defeat, and move on.
    The author grew up with in Africa, but was a religious man himself. He was educated and that is apparent in this book. I liked reading this book from the point of view from the tribe. It made me think, and I like books that keep me thinking after I am done reading them.

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  40. Through most of this novel, I loved it. However, once I got to the end. I hated it. I thought it was really interesting to learn about the traditions and beliefs of this particular clan and to see how the arrival of white people affected them. I was really disappointed at the end when Okonkwo hung himself. I am definitely one for happy endings and I did not like when this book did not have one, really for anyone. I loved Achebe's use of metaphor and personification.

    I think that this is on the AP College Board's Reading List because of its insight to another culture. It should be considered a classic for many reasons. It shows how we can feel as if we are doing something good, but we may not be just as the christian missionaries did. They thought they were bringing truth to a far land, but they just ended up splitting up a clan that was working very well on its own. It has very strong themes and uses a lot of description.

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  41. In Response to Anthony MichShaw

    I agree that an extreme flaw in Okonkwo is his pride. He should not have tried to be so opposite his father. He never realized that his father did have some characteristics that he should have tried to emulate. Okonkwo could not see the good in others, so how could he expect others to see good in him? Hi is very hypocritical.It was partly his actions against his father that made his own son take action against him and leave him to join the Christian church. Okonkwo was a very selfish person and very greedy.

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  42. In Response to Kaitlin Aleshire

    I disagree with your statement that Okonkwo let things fall apart. He didn't just let it happen. He fought against it with his whole being, but one thing after another happened in his life. It got worse and worse. I would be remiss in saying that he was completely without fault. He wasn't. However, it was not completely his fault either. He was just "dealt a bad hand" in his life. Things in his life were out of his control and, eventually, he lost the ability to handle it. This is when he commits suicide.

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  43. In response to Kaitlin Aleshire

    I do believe that Okonkwo's lack of affection was a weak part of his character. However, I do not believe it was this or any other weakness of character that lead to his death. Okonkwo was a man of morals in his tribe. When he made a mistake he paid the price gladly and in full. When he accidentally killed a clansmen he did what was required of him and left the village for his allotted banishment. This strength of character is what led to his death. He would not allow his brethren to be weak and passive against the white's. Then when he realized that his clansmen had lost their will to fight based on their morals, he was so ashamed and depressed that he hung himself. It was not the lack of affection that killed Okonkwo, but the strength of his character.

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  44. In response to Cassi

    I also found the discovery of a new culture in this novel to be very interesting and enlightening. However I loved this novel to the end. I found the death of Okonkwo to be a very valiant one. Although it is my belief that suicide is unforgivable, Okonkwo was morally abandoned by his clansmen and he was so disgusted by the moral weakness of his clan that he had no chance to gain honor or live in a world in which he had any chance to feel anything other than despair and disgust. He therefore so no point in humoring the white's with his life.

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  45. I think that the most important lesson to be learned from Things Fall Apart is that sometimes, no how hard you try, things are just out of your control. This is evident in how Okonkwo does everything in his power to stop the take over by the white man. He is strongly rooted in the traditional beliefs of his people, so when he sees a threat to their way of life, he resists it. The fact that the situation is out of his control starts to become evident when his own son leaves him for the white man's religion. Okonkwo finally figures out that he will not be able to make a difference in the changing of his society, so he would rather die than see it tainted by the white man. Most of the time we must accept the fact that we will not always get our way and that the times are constantly changing. In this novel, Okonkwo was too prideful to accept this, so he took his own life instead of having to live in a changed society.

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  46. In response to Marianne Maresh, I completely agree with her stand on Okonkwo's lesson. He is obsessed with his appearance which is a common issue with todays society, especialy in teenagers. When Okonkwo went to kill Ikemefuna I really lost respect for him as a character. I started to have a bitter taste towards him. He was advised to not go, and to not take part in the killing. He took part and helped end this boy's life. It is heartbreaking to read that someone chose their pride over the right thing to do. Every day we're given choices to make, whether we make the right or wrong decision is up to us. Some may think that how other people perceive them is more important. We struggle with this every day.

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  47. In response to Natalie Sanders
    I agree with you that both side in the conflict in this story thought that they were doing the right thing. The white men were not necessarily coming in trying to take over maliciously, they just thought they would help the native people by bringing over their religion. They did not understand the religion of the native people and how it would conflict with theirs.

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  48. In response to Lauren Burkart, I 100% percent agree. The demoralization of women in the middle east is appalling to me, and our country. We have fought for our rights as women, and it is hard to watch other countries cover their women and only allow their eyes to show, have multiple wives and mistreat them. Is it our business as the United States to intervene and try to "make things better"?.. In my opinion, no. That is what they believe is right. When the missionaries unmasked egwuegwu, the tribe was incredibly upset. That is their god, and they felt that the missionaries definitely over-stepped their territory. Who is to say that the tribe is wrong? It's what they believe, and the missionaries cannot change what they believe.

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  49. In response to Marianne Maresh
    I did not realize this while I was reading the book, but it makes sense. Most of Okonkwo's problems were based in the fact that he wanted to be socially powerful. He did not want to be like his father, so that drove him to have to be the best. This made him both proud and arrogant. He was not willing to see anything someone else's way, because he believe that his way was the only right one. this lesson can be applied to our lives today. If we try to be too powerful or get too many material things, then we will lose sight of the real things in life. Also it will make us shun other people's ideas and only listen to ourselves

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  50. Original Response

    After reading Things Fall Apart, what stuck out to me was Okonkwo’s obsession with masculinity. He has this shattered view that he needs to be completely dominate over everything and everyone. It was said that this is because he grew up with a father that he considered soft and weak, but I really don’t see that as much of an excuse. Some people grow up with no father at all, and they do not turn into egotistical macho maniacs. For what other reason would a man take three wives? Not because he loves them, but rather because they’re a symbol of his power. And the fact that he beats one of his wives? I find that absolutely vile. A true man NEVER inflicts physical pain upon a woman. And if abusing women he viewed as powerless wasn’t enough, he also begins to attack his twelve year old son, Nwoye, because he believes he is lazy. He is willing to do anything to make sure that the boy becomes a masculine man just like himself. He even wishes for is daughter to be a man because she appears more masculine. What type of man wishes those kinds of things for their daughter?

    Okonkwo also believes that love is for the weak, not for strong, masculine men like himself. All throughout the book you never really see him profess much love for women, or any of his wives that he insists he keeps. Because like I said before, he does not love them, they are merely toys for him to play with. However, he does begin to develop an attachment to the boy, Ikemefuna. But like ususal, he lets his masculinity get in the way and refuses to love Ikemefuna because he simply does not believe in it. So he lets Ikemefuna get killed just to prove some ridiculous point that he’s a “man.” I think he is such a fool though. If one does not have some type of love in their life, they really don’t have much of anything at all.

    I feel like the obsession with masculinity has infected the minds of the men and boys in today’s society too. Young boys are harming their bodies by taking steroids and other drugs to gain unneeded muscles. Others are joining gangs and participating in violence because they think it makes them look tough. Some go around using women because they think it makes them look cool. It’s just sick, but chances are, things’s won’t be changing anytime soon. Okonkwo’s disgustingness lives on through the father who criticizes their son who joins art club instead of the football team. It is shown through the battered wife frantically trying to cover her bruises from last night’s beatings. It lives on through the boy who was so abused by his male classmates for being gay that he takes his own life. Is causing all of this pain worth “feeling like man?” I don’t really think so. What I really want to know, though, is when is craziness going to end?

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  51. In Response to Elizabeth K

    I really agree with your comment that reads, “what we are taught in school as fact, may not be exactly how it happened.” That is so true, especially when relating to things like how the pilgrims obtained the land that once belonged to the Indians. We learn in elementary school that the pilgrims just arrived in America, instantly became friends with the Indians, and everything was just delightful! However, that is not how that historic event went at all. The pilgrims basically just barged in, took the land, raped women, and killed anyone who stood in their way. I feel like sugar-coating what really happened is just an insult to the Indians who’s lives were lost during that fateful encounter. The truth may be harsh, but sometimes it’s better just to tell things like they are.

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  52. In Response to Paulina Devlin

    I do agree with the comment you posted about Okonkwo’s work ethic and how “from one angle, Okonkwo is the ideal contributor to society; humble and hardworking.” I got so wrapped up with the fact that he beats women, and treats a lot of people horribly that I forgot to remember that there are good qualities in most every person. Now that I think about it, he at least provides well for his children and wives and makes sure they never go hungry. He may have been lacking as a father and a husband in other departments, but at least he got that part covered, right? Thanks!

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  53. Original Statement


    Okonkwo, born into failure and determined to succeed in getting everything he did not have, has the mindset of a warrior. Not only does his community not judge on what you were born in, but chances and support were given to those who did not take failure into consideration. This book marks an important part of society, where we tend to judge on heritage and value. While wealth in his origin comes from what a man establishes, I find this as an important part of society where weakness is only judged on strength. However, while Okonkwo relied on his chance of establishment he did not prepare himself for colonization to start. Once those strangers started changing the mindset of his neighbors, he had nothing, once again.

    I believe that Okonkwo’s humanlike characteristics are very important in order for the reader to relate and understand these different cultures. The biggest lesson that Okonkwo taught me, was that in life there are no excuses. I live in a society where heritage is everything, where your success is not about what you know, but who you know. However, this does not mean that it is not possible to become the richest woman on earth. Just as Okonkwo has done, I have to prove myself and show people my determination on succeeding, because if I do not believe in myself, then nobody else will.

    Another lesson to be learned from this book is that your choices are always followed with consequences. To decide to try your hardest to become wealthy means that you have to live up to your honor and cannot let your guard down. To beat his wife up during the Week of Peace, meant that Okonkwo was punished with another son from a different clan. To love Ikemefuna more than his own children meant that Okonkwo let his guard down and needed time to heal his wounds once Ikemefuna was killed. To murder another child during a riot caused Okonkwo to be exiled for seven years. Even at the end of this book, when Okonkwo killed another person, he realized that there was no hope left and in spite of being dishonored, he took the most shameful way to die and committed suicide. The reader needs to understand that everything we do in our lives, determines how the end is going to happen.

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  54. In response to Emily Lerner

    I understand your concern about living up to idealistic standards, but to be honest, I do not believe that this idea is the entire reason of Okonkwo disliking his father. Yes, each society and culture builds up to its own ideals of living, but I seem to like what the village of Umuofia lives by. While each society has different rules and beliefs, the one goal each population has in common, is to become successful. Every man of this clan has the same chance to become a wealthy person, and his father did not have the drive to do so. I understand that in America you are able to give your own opinions and we accept that each person has different strengths and weaknesses, however, the families in these clans have to plant and raise crops in order to live- failure is not an option.
    Franziska Pugh

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  55. In response to Amanda L

    While I thought I was the only one, I am glad someone else shares the same excitement about learning about the African culture with me! Yes, I see your point concerning Okonkwo’s fear of becoming his father, yet I do not believe this attitude was strictly because of him. I do believe, however, that his fear of becoming an “abgala,” or a woman, caused much of his violence towards proving his presidency around his three wives. Even though I accept your concern about Okonkwo constantly being worried, I do not see his worries being anything else except about what his next victory could be. Born into failure, Okonkwo learned early on what not to be, and how he could make himself happy. He is trying to achieve titles of honor, wealth, and power. Just because his dad did not make his life this worthy, does not mean that Okonkwo could not.
    Franziska Pugh

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  56. One lesson to be taught from the actions of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is that just because you do not want to end up like your parents, it does not mean that you should try to be who you are not. Because Okonkwo does not want to be like his father, he has lived his whole life building himself into something that he is not. On one hand, Okonkwo is a very hard worker and has worked hard from a young age to build up his fortune and create family. He takes pride in his work and is a good farmer. However, Okonkwo does not treat his family with respect or kindness. He believes that showing even a little less of what he considers masculine, he thinks you are unmanly and weak. Okonkwo also treats his own son, Nwoye very roughly because he thinks that his son is too feminine and that “a bowl of pounded yams can throw him in a wrestling match” (57). Okonkwo also beats his wives and even participates in the killing of his adopted son, Ikemefuna because “he was afraid of being thought weak” (53). Although Okonkwo feels awful for having Ikemefuna killed, he does not show it to anyone because he is too afraid of what others will think of him and does not want to seem weak in front of others. Okonkwo does not realize that treating his family members or anybody else with kindness and respect does not make you a weak person. Instead, by trying to be strong and only rely on yourself can make you a weak person. Although I do believe that you can learn from others and you past mistakes, you should not let that influence you to change your whole self around and try to be a different person than you are. A lesson that students can learn from Okonkwo is that you should not try to be someone you are not and you should not be influenced by what you think others think of you. You should also treat people with respect in order to be respected yourself. While reading this book, I thought it was interesting to get to know about another country’s culture and beliefs. It also made me think about how much the people’s beliefs could have change from before.

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  57. Seoyoung C.
    In response to Hayley W.
    I agree with you, Hayley about the fact that you cannot try to force your beliefs onto someone else and expect them to follow. The missionaries in the book just barged into someone else’s land and tried to force them into believing in another religion. If the person wants to convert to that religion, it is their own choice but others should not be deciding whether or not one person should believe a certain thing. By doing that, you are not showing respect for another person’s culture or beliefs. However, it was very interesting to read about how the people of Umuofia reacted to the missionaries and colonialism. I thought it provided a very in depth look into what is was like to be living in that time.

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  58. Seoyoung C.
    In response to Emily L.
    I agree with you Emily about how you should not try to live up to your idealistic standards. Because Okonkwo is afraid of becoming like his father, he tries so hard to try and be as manly as possible. By behaving like that, he had a strained relationship with all of his family members. Also, by thinking that he is very manly and better than people who are weaker or poorer than him, he treats them with no respect. Okonkwo is so afraid of people thinking that he is weak that he even kills his adopted son Ikemefuna. Okonkwo is willing to do anything to prove that he is the strongest man out there but by acting like that, everything falls apart for Okonkwo in the end.

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  59. In response to Christi Thibodeau:

    I agree that Okonkwo as well as his society are obsessed with masculinity. He has to assert his control over his wives and children to feel good about himself. But, we have to remember that Okonkwo does not know anything different. Okonkwo grew up seeing all of the manly men and comparing them to his father. Kids teased him about his father, calling Unoka a woman. So, it is only natural that he would not like to end up the same way. Most men act like Okonkwo, but not to the same extent. Almost every man has multiple wives and beats them. Marriages are like business transactions between families, and they are not based on love like in our culture. Like Christi, I can barely even fathom that he lives without love and constantly abuses his family. Although we do not understand his way of life, we have to understand that it is a part of his culture.

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  60. Original Comment

    As the prompt says this book is a "love it or hate it" kind of book. I actually really did like this book, I don't know how many others feel the same way but I thought it was a very good book. What I liked most about it was being able to see the ways of different cultures before westernization came about and to see the mixed reactions of many of these cultures after this began. In this novel even different sections of the same general group of people reacted differently to the Christian Missions coming in. Another thing I really liked was the change of pace in the point of view that we as readers got to experience. What i mean is that so often in books that we read in the U.S. the religion of Christianity is always looked upon in a positive light because that is what the high majority of our culture likes to hear, so why wouldn't authors and publishers go at that idea hard? But I genuinely enjoyed seeing the other side of the story, which Achebe was able to do. Just so everyone knows I am not against any religion of any sort, I just saw it as refreshing.

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  61. In response to Sarah Thorwall in turn to Christi Thibodeau

    I also agree that the obsession with masculinity was a somewhat shocking detail of this novel. Especially the brutality in which the men expressed it with the beating of their wives and children while feeling no remorse. Like Sarah said, a lot of this came from his shame as a child when he had a "weak" father. Therefore he was determined to be the opposite, which he did achieve at one point.

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  62. I think Things Fall Apart teaches a valuable lesson too harshly. Too many people think life will be great and wonderful because they are special and nothing could ever happen to them, but Things Fall Apart conveys the message "Bad things happen, so stay strong". That in itself is a good message for young adults.
    Whoops, I left a piece out. The entire message is "Bad things happen, so stay strong or kill yourself". Through a combination of poor choices and bad luck, Okonkwo is plagued by constant misfortune. At his wits end, he chooses to hang himself. Hopefully, readers resort to sticking it out instead of hanging out when dealing with misfortune in their lives.

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  63. In Response to Elizabeth K

    I also found it quite interesting when Achebe decided to end the book with the European's point of view that Okonkwo's death would make a fine addition to his book about the savage and primitive tribes of Africa. Achebe's goal with Things Fall Apart was to combat the negative stereotypes of Africans in the media at that time. Using the European to totally disregard Okonkwo's storied life was no doubt a clever allegory to the disconnect between cultures Achebe was trying to address in his novel.

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  64. In Response to Emily Lerner

    The message I took away from Things Fall Apart is that there is a happy medium between Okonkwo's mindset and his father's. Okonkwo's father was very much a compassionate and sensitive man, but he had no drive or goals, which led him to die with no rank or wealth. Okonkwo, on the other hand, has a goal; to not be like his father, and so he shuns all outwardly signs of love and compassion, calling them weaknesses. While Okonkwo's work ethic is admirable, no one can get by with a cold attitude, and Okonkwo reaches the same path as his father by being the exact opposite.

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  65. In response to Seoyoung

    I think you are dead on with what you said about Okonkwo's personality and it's flaws. Like you said just his hard work and great farming talents made him a man enough, yet he never saw it like that. He felt that he had to be "manly" in every aspect of his life, including at home with his family, which compelled him to beat his wives and children, which at the time was considered masculine. Basically, Okonkwo was just as weak as his father which he was afraid to become, he just never realized that his fear of being loving and caring made him weaker than anyone.

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  66. I didn’t really love the novel or hate it. It wasn’t necessarily an attention grabber, or something I looked forward to reading. For most of the book until the missionaries arrived I didn’t really see there to be much point in the story plot, but once I finished reading I understood. Though it wasn’t my favorite book, I was able to appreciate it. I realized that Okonkwo taught us many different lessons through his triumphs and mistakes. More importantly, Okonkwo’s story helps us to understand another culture, different from our own. This is why I believe the book is considered a classic. The beginning part of the book gives an accurate description of the tribe. The reader is able to appreciate the clan’s beliefs, morals, and religion, even if it isn’t something they agree with. In the end of the book, we see the missionaries come in, take over the clan, and destroy a very strong, unique culture. This is what teaches what I think to be the most valuable lesson in the book: the importance of understanding and respecting other cultures. While societies change and nothing lasts forever, people shouldn’t just destroy what once was. The diversity of beliefs and cultures is what makes our world so interesting. When people can learn to appreciate one another for being unique, there will be more respect and less destruction.

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  67. In response to Seoyoung's response to Emily L.

    Sometimes people dislike their parents so much that they dive in the complete opposite direction of their parents ways, only to end up just like them. It is funny to watch my own father deal with the same things that Okonkwo deals with, constantly having to prove that he is successful and strong. As the years goes by i think he has gotten better with handling these feelings and so far things haven't fallen apart and i don't think they will. It is just comical that these father son conflicts happen so very often in our everyday lives.

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  68. In response to A. Smith
    I do not think the author is trying to send the message that if things don't work out you should hang yourself. In fact i think he sends the opposite message. Okonkwo watches his father die in disgrace and does everything in his power to avoid that same fate. However, Okonkwo does end up committing suicide which is a disgraceful act. So he dies with the same shame his father did. More than that though, his own friends can't even take Okonkwo down from the tree because is it considered and evil action. After all the effort Okonkwo put into being strong and manlike it is such a waste to see he has ended up dying in one of the weakest ways.

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  69. Original response:

    I think that the greatest lesson to be learned from Things Fall Apart is that a person cannot control everything in their lives. Okonkwo tries his hardest to make himself and his life exactly how he thinks it should be. Despite trying to do everything that he considers is “right,” his life still falls apart and he isn’t able to do much to stop it. I think that often I feel as if I do everything right but things still don’t go the way I expect them to. Okonkwo didn’t know how to deal with changes and he always did the same kinds of things, even when they hadn’t worked before Instead of coming to terms with the fact that he couldn’t control things, Okonkwo tried to get an even tighter grip on his life. I myself am just learning that I can’t control everything and that in some cases, I shouldn’t even try.

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  70. In response to C. Raby:

    I love the lesson that you got from the novel, that people should not try to influence or change other peoples’ beliefs. That is one of the biggest values that I have in life. I try my hardest to respect the fact that everyone has their own beliefs and that they are entitled to them, assuming that their beliefs do not hurt anyone else. It pains me to read stories like Things Fall Apart because I think it’s horrible that missionaries came into Africa, or any place really, and took over by convincing people to follow a new religion. I do not think it is right to do that to anybody, whether they are in possession of valuable land or not.

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  71. In response to Seoyoung:

    I think that part of Okonkwo’s problem with his father was that he was so busy trying to make sure that he was not the things that he disliked in his father, that he neglected to see any good traits in his father. Though they are not specifically mentioned, I am sure that Unoka had some good qualities, maybe he knew how to have a good time and could find enjoyment in life. Okonkwo spent so much time worrying that he would be lazy like his father that he never even thought to be anything but hardworking and successful.

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  72. Original Comment:
    I would have to say that "Things Fall Apart," was my favorite of the four books we were required to read. I didn't love it or hate it, but I could tolerate it. I feel like if Okonkwo's personality was more like his father's- weak, shy, shameful- the book wouldn't have grabbed my attention as much just because I wanted to see Okonkwo mess up. By having a character, in which I thought had many flaws, I found the novel was faster to get through compared to other novels....I'm talking to you "1984."

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  73. In response to Christi in response to Paulina:
    Haha! I did the same thing as you! I only focused on how Okonkwo would beat women and love some of his children more than others. I pushed aside the fact that he is a highly respected leader in Umuofia. But I don't feel like his good traits outweigh the bad. Just because his father was seen as weak, he didn't have to decide to be the EXACT opposite. His characteristics of, "masculinity," to me were more like traits of a jerk.

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  74. In response to Joellyn in response to C. Raby:
    I feel exactly the same way. It really bugs me when people feel like they need to push their beliefs on you because it's what they believe. Talking in terms of religions, politics, and sexual orrientation, I don't understand why everyone can't just accept others beliefs and ways of life. You can live your life the way you want, and let other's do the same. Being gay doesn't harm anyone. Believing in your own God and religion doesn't matter to anybody but you.

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  75. Krissy Kowalenko
    Original Comment

    Personally, I loved this novel. I enjoyed exploring the customs and culture of the Ibo people. In addition, I like how Achebe uses his familiarity with different traditions, beliefs, and languages as a tool in writing literature. Achebe’s writing style is descriptive with the excellent use of metaphors, similes, and personification. I love to read novels that are filled with figures of speech because it makes the literature more imaginative and interesting.
    I believe one of the greatest lessons to be learned from Okonkwo in “Things Fall Apart” is to learn by example, whether it be good or bad. In the text, Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, is described as “…lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow. If any money came his way, and it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of wine… Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts.” (2) Okonkwo’s father was a horrible role model, but fortunately, Okonkwo realized this from an early age and learned from his father’s mistakes, in order to make a better life for himself. In my opinion, it is important for students in today’s society to learn by example because the knowledge one gains is key in leading a successful life. Lastly, we are able to avoid some bad situations from observing others and using their examples as learning experiences. Even the things we view as good could be improved because there is always room for improvement and nobody is perfect.

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  76. Lindsay Harkins
    original comment

    I did not like Things Fall Apart, mostly because I feel the ending was a cop out. However, I understand why it is on the AP reading list. This novel introduces you to another culture and shows how people are hurt when someone tries to suppress or change that culture. One of the really interesting things in the book was that Achebe used Ibo words and phrases throughout the book even though they weren't essential to the story. I also liked the parables and fables that were incorporated into the novel.

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  77. Krissy Kowalenko
    Response to Emily L.

    In my original comment, I mainly focused on the knowledge Okonkwo gained from his father’s example in life (what not to do), but I loves how you examined the personal balance of Okonkwo. I completely agree with you, in that Okonkwo is overly concerned with how others perceive him. I strongly believe this character flaw originates from his constant determination to be better than his father ever was. In my opinion, this so called “obsession” to be the opposite of his father causes him to loose compassion for others. He grows into a demanding, unsympathetic husband and father. Okonkwo has instilled into his head that if he shows any emotion or empathy, society will view it as a sign of weakness. Although Okonkwo tries to have a strong exterior at all times, the reader knows that he secretly experiences many emotions. You mentioned the best example when Okonkwo partakes in the killing of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo has much regret and guilt in his heart after Ikemefuna’s death. We know this to be true because “Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. He did not sleep at night. He tried not to think about Ikemefuna but the more he tried the more he thought about him.” (55) I find it extremely heart breaking that people are so concerned with their image in society that they are willing to do anything, in order to uphold it. Okonkwo killing Ikemefuna is the perfect example of this.

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  78. Krissy Kowalenko
    Response to Haley W.

    I share the same interest as you, in your love to explore and learn more about different culture. It saddens me as well that we are being meshed into one big “American” culture. The diversity in tradition, language, and culture is what makes this world. I personally love individualism and how no one is the same. There is something unique and different about each and every one of us. I, myself, for example, am Ukrainian and have been raised with the same traditions that were instilled upon my parents and grandparents from an early age. Unlike most people, I celebrate two different Christmas and attend two different churches because of my culture. I think it is important for people to respect and consider each other’s beliefs. I too liked this book and enjoyed learning about the author’s own customs and traditions.
    In addition, I think the lesson you mentioned from Okonkwo that change is a part of life, is great. I thought about the lesson you choose and interpreted it in my own way. I associated this lesson with the lesson that “you can change the star” (movie reference: A Knight’s Tale), meaning that nothing is set in stone. For example, just because Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, was a debtor does not mean Okonkwo will be one as well. I am a firm believer in the fact that you are in control of the path you decide to take in life, and Okonkwo choose a path to wealth and success, unlike his father.

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  79. In response to A. Smith:

    I don't really think the fact that Okonkwo commits suicide necessarily means that the author is trying to convey the message that when everything goes wrong you should kill yourself. Achebe was trying to prove how devastating the influence of the missionaries was on the tribes. Okonkwo's entire life was dedicated to becoming a respectable man with high honors, yet in the end he threw it all away and died in shame. This doesn't show us that death is the answer, but in a way it's the opposite. It means that nothing will last forever. When things come to an end, you should fight, but when you have lost the battle you must accept that sometimes "things fall apart".

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  80. Original comment
    Things Fall Apart

    The most important lesson that I learned from this novel was how we shouldn't cover up our emotions. I think that one of the biggest things that makes us unique humans, is the way we act towards others and how we deal with out feelings. The major problem in the novel Things Fall Apart is that Okonkwo has issues with showing the world how he really feels. The whole reason for so much therapy is because people need someone to talk to and express their feelings. It's not necessarily a bad thing because therapy makes people open up, and discover who they really are. All types of expressing emotion makes us better people, who are real to ourselves. If Okonkwo had expressed his emotions from the beginning, rationally, he may have discovered that change is okay sometimes as long as you yourself hold on to what you believe in.

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  81. Lydia Bumann
    Origional Response

    This novel was definitely a hate it read for me. I am not in to the whole "evil white men taking over the poor indigenous people" mentality. In my opinion, the missionaries who came to Africa back then and still go there today are actually helping the people. Mr. Brown was not forcing them to change anything. He was very considerate and respectful. He did however make resources available to them in case they did want to see what he had to offer. He got permission from them to build a church and a school where the children could learn to read and write. It just goes to show how lost they were when they were all surprised that Mr. Brown and the others did not die a horrible death just because they were staying in the "forbidden forest". On the contrary, they were thriving and all the while the villagers were getting a good education and learning about God's love. Throughout the novel, you could see how the villagers were living in fear all the time. They were constantly worrying about the gods and what they would do to them if they were displeased. They did not know any better. Once Mr. Brown came, the brave ones of the village decided to really question their own faith and decide whether or not they were getting anything out of it. Those were the ones who came to Mr. Brown to learn more about what he had to say about his religion. And he was happy to tell them. Those who wanted to know God came to him and gave up their old ways to live for the Lord.
    Now there are always people in the world like Mr. Smith, who think they know everything about people and think they are all stupid and need to be told how to live. But in my opinion, those kinds of people should not even be missionaries because that is not how you spread God’s word. You cannot force people into Christianity, they have to want it and be willing to change. This is where problems are caused, when the people feel threatened and like they are being taken over against their will. I can understand why Okonkwo and others wanted to revolt. It is their land and they have the right to live the way they want to and practice the religion they believe in. I just do not like how Achebe chose to end the novel with this sort of conflict because then the message readers get out of it is that that is what happened all the time and what is still happening today. Heck, the title is Things Fall Apart, I mean how depressing.
    If you think about it, America has done so much good around the world. Not only do we visit other countries to teach them Christianity, but we give them shoes, clothing, clean water, offer military aid and help them set up democracies. We are predominately a Christian nation and also the most successful in the world. We have been blessed with many resources to share with less fortunate countries. This is why I hate the whole mentality that we are evil and causing destruction. I hate that. Okonkwo’s life “fell apart” because of his own pride. He would have landed in destruction regardless the missionaries came. They were not the root of his problem, his uncontrollable anger brought him down. Overall I just did not like this book. I think it is on the AP College Board’s reading list because I guess it does have a few redeeming qualities like it was very descriptive and had a lot of little parables incorporated into it like a frame story. That part was cool. And why is it considered a classic? Probably because it was one of the first books that really spoke about colonialism and it has spurred others to write about it too. But it was not a page turner for me and I got little out of it.

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  82. Lydia Bumann
    Response to Sophie Shinsky

    I really like your post, Sophie. I agree that we must respect other people and cultures. The world would be pretty boring if we were all the same. I think that we should only enhance people’s lives around the world, not force them to change. The world is constantly altering and things do fall apart, that is the truth. As time goes on, cultures revolutionize. I do not think any culture has drastically changed against their will though, and I definitely do not believe we have ever had the intent of destroying a culture. Change is a part of life. Societies see how they could be better and more efficient and they transform by their own doing. As long as there is respect for one another, things will change for the good

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  83. In response to Lindsay
    Things Fall Apart
    I thought this novel was less interesting to 1984, but it had some good points. I also agree that it's good for us to be exposed to these different cultures, through the power of the written word-since we do not get exposed here in Brighton. I felt like the end of the story was sad, but I really do think Okonkwo deserved it. He was making too big of a deal about the changes in his society and he should not have gone to the extreme of killing other innocent people. I think that change is hard to cope with sometimes, but as long as you hold on to your beliefs, you can get through.
    Liza Reynolds:)

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  84. Lydia Bumann
    Response to Seoyoung

    I agree with you, Seoyoung. His father had little to no work ethic. He was also very disrespectful to the people who lent him things because he did not care enough to pay them back. People could not depend on him for anything. Even his own family could not depend on him. All he did was laze around playing music all day. Okonkwo was rightfully disgusted by his father’s ways. This disgust carried into his life as a grown man, driving him to be everything his father was not; Respectable, strong, and authoritative. These are very good qualities, but Okonkwo over did it. He never showed any affection towards his family because he thought it would make him seem weak. And he worked- a LOT. He could very well be considered a workaholic, because that is all he did and thought about all day long, everyday. Both Okonkwo and his father are examples of extremes at both ends. Neither of the things they do are bad… Music, play, laughter, and love are just as important as discipline, self-control and hard work. You need all these things to live a happy, balanced life and that is where they were both lacking. Neither could find that balance. Consequently, they both ended up in ruin.

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  85. In response to Joellyn
    Things Fall Apart
    I agree with the lesson you learned from this novel. I think if people try to control everything that goes wrong in life or change it, more will go wrong from that. There is so much more to life than worrying about the way we look or act from other peoples perspectives. It doesn't matter what other people think of you, but everyone should be true to themselves in every way possible. I think one of the worst things a person could do is to act like someone they aren't. Okonkwo obviously had emotions, and he needs to let them out. Trying to control everything in his life makes him fake, almost like his dad was.
    Liza Reynolds:)

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  86. Original Comment

    I feel that the greatest lesson to be learned from Things Fall Apart is to be accepting of differences. Both parties in this story are very judging of the other’s beliefs. The white missionaries tell the people of Umuofia that their gods are false, while the village people think that the missionaries are foolish in their worship. Both groups of people act as though they are superior to the other; however, they never take the time to understand the other culture. Who is one of them to say that the other isn’t right. Even more, who are they to say that they are right and try to force their beliefs on someone else. Learning to accept others and their beliefs is an important lesson to learn. This is especially important for us today. So many of us do not understand other cultures, and therefore look down on them. We need to learn to respect others and learn that different doesn’t mean worse, it just means different. Every culture has their own beliefs and way of living, who are we to judge them. Who are we to say that we are better? If we could all learn to accept the differences in others, the world would be a much more harmonious place.

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  87. In Response to Sophie Shinsky

    I agree with Sophie, I didn’t fully understand the meaning of this novel until the end. Some of the plot seemed to drag on, but in the end I realized the importance of it. We had to understand Okonkwo’s culture and be able to relate to them, in order to identify with them when the missionaries come. Though their culture is very different than ours, after reading the book you understand why they do the things they do. It makes you more skeptic of how the missionaries treat them and disregard their culture.

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  88. Lydia Bumann
    Origional Comment
    Yes, I can find a few parallels between Orwell’s Oceania and in our world today…In America today, actually. For example, in 1984, the citizens are forced to do things because it is “for their own good”. Winston gets up and stands in front of the telescreen everyday and does a little exercise routine with the rest of the people working in the ministry because he is forced to. Now we can all agree that moving your body is a good thing, but people shouldn’t be FORCED to do it. People shouldn’t be forced to do anything. There are more and more things that the government is forcing us to do, or at least trying to, whether it is purchasing health care, eating a certain way, driving certain vehicles. If it is good for us, then we will make up our minds to do it if we want to, we are not stupid. And thoughtcrime. That is another thing I found to be interestingly similar to “hate crime”. Did you know that if a person kills someone and it can be proven that it was done because they hated them, then they get a harsher sentence than if they killed them for a different reason? It is scary that we are now being punished not for the things we do, but for WHY we do them, for what we were THINKING when we were doing it. Murder is murder, it is wrong no matter what. In Oceania, you are punished if you even think about anything bad towards Big Brother. Hopefully it never comes to that in our society. That is the genius of freedom of the press. It is the controversial things that need protecting. If no one was allowed to voice their opinion, where would we be? That is the dilemma in Oceania. The government has taken over their lives to the point where they cannot write, speak, or think about anything that the Party disagrees with. All the while I was reading 1984, I kept thinking in the back of my mind how I hope it never ever gets to that point in America.

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  89. Lydia Bumann
    Response to Tommy Stevenson
    Yes! I agree! That is why it is so important to get the right people in the media because it is so influential on people. People are like sheep, they will follow one another and go around in one big mass. They will do whatever is most popular and what everyone else is doing. And the media is plays a very significant role in shaping people’s opinions. So whoever has the most control of the media, has control of the people.

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  90. Original Post:
    I believe that the greatest lesson in this story is that when it comes to the heading of tradition versus change, change will win out overall. Throughout time, the world has been subject to changing society. Yet everyone tries to hold tight to their original ideals and actions. One cannot hope to hold such values true in this world we live in. Early immigrants to America tried to stay true to what they were taught as children. This same theory is also taught to us as children, no matter where you live or who you are. How your parents and culture raise you is how you then try to stay. But in this world, we cannot always stay true to these ideals which we are taught. The best course of actions is to adapt and keep parts of ourselves while changing with the world. Karate was established in the Ryukyu Islands. Prior to that, the island had been opened up trade relations with the Ming dynasty, where they first learned of martial arts. In 1609, Ryukyu was invaded by the Shimazu clan and the banning of weapons was heavily enforced, for obvious rebellious reasons. Instead of losing hope and giving in to such power, the Ryukyuans furthered their development in the art of karate, which, eventually, got them their freedom in what is now Okinawa, Japan. Adapting and learning how to embrace what you know and what the new world wants is essential to preserving what was once tradition, what I believe is definitely a major lesson.

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  91. In response to Elizabeth K:
    I like how you feel the lesson of the story is that everything is opinion oriented. Life truly is opinion oriented. Everyone has their own opinion about every subject on the face of the Earth. The nuclear bomb was heavily debated. Oppenheimer, the head physicist on the Manhattan Project, felt that the bomb was too much. And yet, people today believe that had we not dropped the two on Japan, the war may not have been ended for another couple years. It wasn’t until after they were dropped, though, that their destructive power was truly shown. It wasn’t until white men truly got to know their “inferiors” that they started to see them as people.

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  92. In response to Emily Lerner:
    I like how you feel the lesson is that people shouldn’t try to live up to the idealistic standards society has placed. Hasn’t that always been a hot topic with people? People have become so bent on conformity just so they can become more accepted by those people they feel are friends. As cliché as it sounds, like our parents always told us, a true friend will accept you for who you are. How many cases can you think of where a conformist friend will stick with you while you go through depression or a tragedy in your life? I think people need to learn, not only to be themselves, but also to accept others who are themselves. I’m sure that if Okonkwo would’ve found a much different view on things had he just been true to himself.

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  93. Lydia Bumann
    Response to Sophie Shinsky

    I think that is a very good observation, Sophie. I too thought the descriptions and everything in the story were rather dull and dismal, which suits the story. Orwell was trying to make Oceania as discouraging and depressing as possible. It wouldn’t make sense for him to depict it as being bright and cheery, because he is trying to warn us that the world will be like that if the government gets too much control. It has to be depressing, or else no one would be startled by it.

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  94. In Response to Liza Reynolds

    I agree with Liza that one of Okonkwo's problems was that he was affraid to show his emotions. As in our society today, the people of Umuofia had to follow "social norms". In this book, men and women had a very specific and very different place in society. Men had a posotion to fill; they must be a strong, manly father who takes charge. On the other hand, women were supposed to stay in their place, cooking the food, taking care of the children, and listening to their husbands. Both groups had to follow these rolls, and not show other emotions, or they were treated as outcasts. For example, When Nwoye didn't act manly enough, he was disrespected by his father. If people were able to just freely express their emotions, they would be happier and not have as many problems.

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  95. A theme that stands out in this book that Okonkwo relates to is the living up to the standards either people want him to, or even not being associated with his unsuccessful father. The greatest lesson would be NOT to try to live up to other people's standards. Okonkwo tried to do so, and literally, things fell apart. He took actions too far all the time, such as associating being a man with being aggressive and violent since his father was never a real man. We need to learn to express our emotions in rational ways and not try to live up to the standards of other people just because they think we should. Go on with life not always worrying about what other people think about you, or trying to be what they want you to be. You'll go through life much easier living happily than living like you're being judged.

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  96. In response to Liza...

    I like how your lesson is focused on emotion, which is more personal, rather than standards (more focused on other people). Because we humans are so emotional, we need to vent to a person rather than punching something or someone to let the anger out. If only Okonkwo knew this the ending probably would have turned out differently.

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  97. In response to Carrie...

    I couldn't agree more. Too many times have we heard of other cultures (mostly white supremacies) thinking they can just walk into any already-existing one and put their own spins and changes on it. This is what destroys diversity. The dominating culture thinks the differences in the other one needs to be changed, when rather we should embrace different culture. Great point

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  98. Cleyton Cavallaro
    Original Comment

    I feel that the lesson to be learned here is to not hold other people to your standards, and to not hold yourself to others standards. Okonkwo is very rude and disgraceful to those who have no titles, including his oldest son. WHile he does this he also does things like trying to kill one of his wives! Okonkwo only looks at certain things that he possesses as valuable, and he regards things like flute playing, as useless. Today, we are always told to, "Do your best!" or "its the thought that counts!" Okonkwo did neither of these however, he only tried so as not to be a failure in the eyes of others.

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  99. In response to Krissy:

    I really liked the theme you pointed out because I also thought it was important to notice what motivated Okonkwo to be so successful. Many times people are inspired or motivated by others. It might be after seeing someone else rewarded for their success that you decide to work harder to beat them or to gain the same reward. In Okonkwo's case he was motivated my seeing his fathers failure. He was practically scared into becoming such a determined, hard working man who would not accpet anything less than the best from people.

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  100. Cleyton Cavallaro
    In Response To Conner

    I completely agree with your beliefs on change. Throughout time, Change always occurs. this happens because ideas change. and when one idea is started, it will take root and grow. we are different from the previous generation because of the idea of instant communication. they were different from the previous generation because of the idea of computer storage. in Things Fall Apart, the idea was christianity. when one idea comes along, it is very easy to destroy the previous idea. This can sometimes be good, sometimes be bad, and sometimes a little of both. it is impossible to stop this change, however, we just have to accept it.

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  101. Cleyton Cavallaro
    In Response To Kellie

    I agree with your thoughts on being accepting. Today it is very easy to be judgmental from far away, especially with the media always telling us peoples life stories. You talked about how we shouldn't judge other cultures, but i feel we should look closer to home also and not judge other people. we can see some mass murderer and say he is absolutely crazy, which he may be, but it is not our right to judge. we have to look at everyone the same or their could be huge conflicts, such as the white and the natives in Things Fall Apart. we can prevent this kind of conflict just by being understanding of differences.

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  104. In response to Liza:

    I don't think Okonkwo has trouble showing his emotions. I think violence is the only way he knows how to deal with them because he thinks any other reaction is too feminine. Okonkwo is obviously not secure in his masculinity.

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  105. Original

    I think one good less on that we can learn from Okonkwo is that not everyone is perfect, even if you strive to be. When we the readers are first introduced to Oknokwos family you see that he is very heavy handed with them and tries to get them to be perfect. Okonkwo is extremely hard on his eldest son Nwoye, which pushed Nwoye away from Okonkwo and makes him not want to be associated with his father. When Okonkwo pushes Nwoye so far to that Nwoye then leaves his family for the Christian religion. I think this shows that Okonkwo pushed his son to far and although he may have loved his son, pushing him drove Nwoye away from his father.
    When Okonkwo strives to be perfect he sets himself up for failure because no one is perfect. In the end we as the reader sees that Okonkwo pushed himself and his clan to be perfect and not being able to accept the fact that they weren’t perfect made him want to kill himself. I think something that can be taught into classrooms is that you shouldn’t try to make yourself perfect because it is so hard to be perfect I think that you should set realistic goals that you know you can reach and strive to be the best you can be as an individual, even if you have to work hard. If you set goals to high every time you try to reach them you will be let down because sometimes you may not have enough time to really accomplish your full goal.

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  106. Response to Paulina:

    The whole thing about Okonkwo being kind of his own enemy because he works so hard and is determined that it makes it hard for him to let things go if they aren’t good enough. I was trying to think about someone like that in society today and the only type of person I could think of is a coach. Some coaches aren’t bad but the extreme ones who push you so hard they drive your team apart type. I know there were time when I had coaches who would work you so hard you just stopped love the sport. And same thing with my brothers when you are worked so hard by a coach who is so determined it can drive your team apart and even make you lose the love you had for your team, like what happened to Okonkwo his peers lost the want for bloodlust because they were just beat down they cant take it anymore.

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  107. In response to Cleyton:

    I think you're right. We learn from Okonkwo not to hold ourselves to other's standards. If we try too much to please others we end up killing the messenger and then hanging ourselves from trees...usually in a figurative sense (as opposed to literally like Okonkwo did).

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  108. Response to Emily Lerner:

    You can connect Okonkwo to many people today. People always want to live up to the standards that sometimes don’t even exist. I think that people believe that they have to be the skinniest or the prettiest, and people even sometimes resort to plastic surgery. I think that this is unrealistic because older women are competing with young teenagers and then are getting plastic surgery. But feeling that they still aren’t living up to peoples standards that aren’t even there, makes them go into a plastic surgery frenzy. The people that do this the most is the celebrities but they are the ones who are criticized the most. Everyone wants to be skinny and everyone wants to look the best in designer clothes that cost a fortune, but its not realistically possible to be the ideal “IT“ person. They don’t really exist. Okonkwo was trying to live up to the standards of the “IT” person in his tribe, striving to be the best, look the best, and always have the best things. You see what happened to Okonkwo he wasn’t able to live up to his own standards or his tribes standards so he ended up taking his live.

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  112. Original Comment
    The greatest lesson from Things Fall Apart, is that things can easily go awry without anyone being able to control that. This is an important lesson for students learn because a lot of times, people want control of the situations that they are in. It is hard to just watch as things run their own courses. However, if students learn that they cannot always have the power to change the things in their lives, they will be more accepting of the circumstances that they are in and be able to get out of situations better.

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  113. In response to Jessi W,
    I agree with you that living up to other people's standards is not the way to live. Life is about making your own path and living up to your own standards. In the end, it's whether or not you made yourself content with your life, and not how others perceive you.

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  114. In response to Liza R.,
    I agree with you in that covering up emotions is unhealthy. If Okonkwo could get rid of his masculine pride, I'm sure he would be able to show his emotions. However, sometimes it is difficult, given the circumstances that you are in, and when people look up to you to be strong.

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  115. Original response delivered impeccably by Will McPeek.
    The symbol that stood out to me the most was the 'Evil Forest'. I saw it most as a symbol of the dominating religion within the town. When the Evil Forest was fully operational, and no white men had yet came into the town, it was a place everybody stayed away from, the dead went, twins went to die, and the gods occasionally resided. However, once the white men came and were offered land there to build their church, the meaning of the Evil Forest began to change. When the church was constructed, the 'power' behind the Evil Forest turned to that of Christianity, and the ground was now sacred for a different reason: There was a church on top of it. This shift in occupancy of the evil forest, from dead people/evil spirits to white men and Christians, symbolizes the shift that took place in the town, of local gods and the Igbo to foreign ones and foreign people.
    In short, what occupies the Evil Forest is a symbol for the dominant religion in the town.

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  116. Response #1: @Sophia Spagnuolo
    Exactly. And this way, with people just accepting of the fact that things sometimes change and there's nothing they can do about it, there should be a lot less suicides due to cultural incompatability.
    In all seriousness, though, it's really important to know when to fight and when things can't be changed. Okonkwo came back to his town too late to change what was taking place, but had he been there a few years earlier, he may have been able to have things his way.

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  117. Response #2: @Cleyton Cavallero
    This is also a great lesson to take away from the book. People value different things differently, as one would expect, but this difference means a lot. As such, it's not right at all to just dismiss somebody's skill at something you don't find interesting as 'useless', because they find it useful and something worth spending time on. Oknokwo had the idea that he was the sole arbiter of right and wrong in the universe, and that's just not how it is.

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  118. Original response
    I believe that the greatest lesson to be learned from okonkwo in the novel is not to beat your wife and children. By doing so I feel that okonkwo incurred the wrath of the gods and that was what led to his downfall. Physical abuse is never a way to solve problems. If there is one thing that ap students can take from his mistakes, it should be that you should never hit the ones you love. Because they might hit back.

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  119. Response #1 @ Will
    Well then Will. I see you believe the evil forest must have lost its evil properties once the white men came and took over... Ill agree with you to an extent, but I also feel that one should not count out the fact that they had other things to worry about when the white men came, so they didn't really have the time to be concerned with some evil forest that posed no imminent danger.

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  120. Response #2 @ Sophia
    Sophia, those are some wise words. I have to completely agree. The other day I was working and an ice machine just broke unexpectedly. I was completely unprepared. And I thought to myself 'things fall apart.' and that's how I could totally relate to your post. You always have to be ready for the unknown.

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  121. Stephen Scarlett
    Original Comment

    Things Fall Apart is a book that shows change in many different ways. At the beginning is the change from father to son. Unoka was a lazy, procrastinating, and fun loving guy. In contrast Okonkwo was a harsh, strong driven guy. This change was due to Okonkwo’s fear that he was going to be like his father. Another change is from the traditional religion to a new one. In bad times people like change but this book just goes to prove that in good times change is not what people want. But that in that case it brings up the point that in the bad times maybe we should just wait it out and keep everything the same and at some point the bad times will pass.

    I personally like this book. I heard many people complaining about all the names and I saw what they meant when I started reading this book. I noticed if you do not worry about all the names the book is much easier to read. I found myself renaming all the people to something that was similar to their name but easier to pronounce and simpler. I also liked the psychological part of the book. The fear that Okonkwo had of becoming like his father I found interesting.

    I think one of the symbols are the gods. They symbolize the separation of the Christians and the Africans following traditional religions. The Traditional Africans started to dislike those who became Christians. Okonkwo lost his son to the Christians and once he realized it he disowned him and said he was not his son.

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  122. Stephen Scarlett
    Response to Will McPeek
    Things Fall Apart #1

    As I was going through thinking of all things that could be a symbol I had thought of the evil forest but I didn’t think of it as a symbol for the dominant religion. I was think it could be for a place to keep the undesirables but I guess I didn’t think of the missionaries at first as an undesirable. After reading your post I now think of it differently.

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  123. Stephen Scarlett
    Response to Conner M
    Things Fall Apart #2

    I wrote a little bit on change too but in a different way. You got the other side that between the new and the old. Things are different now than in my parents day and sometimes they don’t understand. Things like music, how we dress, and even our slang. But generally the new always overruns the old and traditional.

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  124. In Response to Collin Nash:

    I think I drew the same conclusions as you. I liked the book because it portrayed the African’s aspect on the white men invading their country. I kind of feel that if I was Okonkwo, I probably would have felt the same about the Christians coming into my country. He was confused and just wanted his clan back.

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  125. In Response To Stephanie L

    I agree with what you said about Okonkwo not being perfect. I feel that his complex to strive to be perfect is what got in the way of him being an accepting leader and a good father.

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  126. Zach Evans
    Original Comment

    Things Fall Apart is interesting in that it captures the essence of what makes us human. While it focuses on the themes of Africa, the social situations mirror something that we face every day in high school. Okonkwo is the popular kid but somehow he ticks off all his friends and is forced to hang out with the chess club for a few days. When his friends get over it he finds out the band kids are trying to take over. When he realizes none of his friends will help him beat the nerds up, he feels all sad and alone. While this is a bit of a generalization it does reflect the universal flow of group interactions. Achebe does what few cultural leaders even attempt. He not only shows how beautiful his native culture is but he also uses the “walk in my moccasins” trick to destroy the ideas of difference.

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  127. Zach Evans
    In Response to Connor M.

    Your paradoxical thought that adaptation is the only way to preserve tradition is very interesting. At first I was not sure if I could agree with you because change seems to be the very bane of tradition because the Europeans focused on eradicating "lesser" beliefs with their "higher" ones. But at the same time if they did follow the flow, all would be lost as it was with Okonkwo. Also traditions are organic things and sometimes combine with new influences to make something suited for the modern age.

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  128. Zach Evans
    In response to Katie Hass

    I'm in the same opinion that "I didn't love it or hate it" (though tolerate would not be my word either) it was a book that was meant to be experienced rather than enjoyed. It provides a prospective on a life both similar and different to our own, making us think about the human race as a whole. This book is like inception (in the movie Inception) in that is plants an idea in your mind that grows into something dramatically different from its origin.

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