2. Which elements of that culture are most comfortable to us? Which most resemble elements of our (your) culture? Which seem more foreign, more difficult to accept?
Okonkwo resembles many positive and negative elements of the Ibo culture; however, in our culture some of these are frowned upon. Some of the more positive characteristics include his work ethic, the Ibo’s stress on family, and community. Okonkwo is one of the hardest workers in his village, and is extremely prosperous considering his past and his father’s past. Okonkwo, rather than respecting and loving his father (the more traditional views), works in order to be the opposite of his father. His lack of respect for his father reflects back to his father’s lack of success monetarily and in society.
Okonkwo’s greatest fear is looking weak to those around him. He has a very stern idea of what makes him look weak, so he avoids most emotions including love. His children and wives show him dedication and love, and he responds with the quality of being easily disappointed. When he is disappointed and looses his temper, he beats his children and wives. This quality is obviously rejected in our society because of the pure violence within the family. Though it is not supported in Ibo society, it is not strongly rejected like it is in our society. Another element of Ibo culture that is foreign is polygamy. In Ibo culture, the men have as many wives as they can afford. Except certain religious groups and other small groups in modern society, polygamy is considered illegal and wrong. Violence and polygamy within families are rejected in our society, but some of their other family qualities are very similar to ours.
We often see in “Things Fall Apart” that many times, the family life is based around religion and faith. Many modern day families stress religion in their everyday lives too through prayers and faith. In addition to religion, their culture’s idea about food is another connection to modern life. It is based around the seasons and staple crops, which corresponds to some modern rural cultures. Another way in which the Ibo culture seems foreign to us is their clothing. Most people in their group do not wear full clothing or clothing at all, especially shoes. This is foreign because our somewhat more conservative society stresses appearance and being proper. Many of the things that are seen as different between modern culture and Ibo culture revolve around the stress on proper living in modern day.
Okonkwo resembles many things rejected in our society, and some things rejected in their society. Both similarly stress a balance of work and enjoyment. Okonkwo does not follow this in both societies. He, therefore, is a foreign character to both societies. Some of his practices like abuse and polygamy are considered different and wrong in modern society, while some are accepted like faith and food. Okonkwo is clearly suffering from issues that plague his idea of what is right and wrong even in Ibo society, so he is not the best place to collect ideas about typical society. In general, the differences between the societies originate from geography, the time period, and the surrounding cultures. The things needed to survive on a daily basis are what shape a society and make is different (554).
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2 comments:
Jennifer Papp, While I really don't know what you are reading, I like several of the points you raise in your blog. As you go along further in the literary work, your ideas will become ever clearer on this issue.
Jenny--I like the picture of Sasha the hot dog, and I think the fact that Navdeep wrote an encouraging comment without having any idea what you're talking about is pretty funny. I also think you've done a pretty good job identifying ways in which Ibo culture resembles Western culture and ways it doesn't.
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