Blog Post 1

            The first major conflict in chapters one to four involves Okonkwo’s “fear of failure and of weakness” (pg. 13). The internal conflict emerges from Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, who dies with the label of an agbala. As a result, Okonkwo resolves to “hate everything that his father Unoka [has] loved” (pg. 13). This conflict reveals the personalities of two main characters, a major theme, and a symbol in the story.

            From Okonkwo’s behavior, he can be characterized as a strict and hardworking individual. Okonkwo acts harsh towards his son and uses disciplines such as “constant nagging and beating” (pg. 14) as a method to correct his son’s laziness. Okonkwo does not want his son to end up like Unoka, a pathetic failure. Unoka can be easily described as a lazy coward. He cannot pay off his debt or “bear the sight of blood” (pg. 6). He’s everything that Okonkwo is ashamed of and feared of becoming. In other words, Unoka can be seen as Okonkwo’s foil.

            The theme of reputation and worthiness can be found from this conflict. According to the Ibo, “a man [is] judged according to his worth” (pg. 8). The value of a person comes from several factors such as his titles, properties, and wives. Okonkwo earned two prestigious titles and is married to three wives. Unoka can barely feed his one wife and children and receives no titles throughout his life. Okonkwo’s fear creates a contrast between him and his father and demonstrates society’s view of two different characters.

            Yams also symbolize the wealth and value of an individual. Since yam is the main food source, a farmer with more yams shows that he’s hard working and prosperous. An example could be seen from Okonkwo and Unoka. Okonkwo had “two barns full of yams” (pg. 8) while Unoka didn’t own a barn of yams and has a miserable harvest. Okonkwo is regarded as successful while Unoka is seen as a disappointment.

First blog post sean sigall

 In the novel Things Fall Apart written by China Achebe many conflicts are presented along with many great tales being told throughout the first few chapters. This novel opens up with great imagery of an ultimate showdown between the two highest regarded fighters in the region. Amalinze the Cat is talked of very highly and so is Okonkwo. In the end Okonkwo ended up throwing down the mighty Cat down as they call it. Next the story transition on to what Okonkwo's fuel was to win these throw downs. The novel begins discussing Okonkwo's father, Unoka. A worthless man who is a lazy father that cannot support his family and has nothing to show for like a barn of yams. His son Okonkwo absolutely despises him very greatly. Everything he has ever loved or liked his son will not like and hate. Unoka was also known to be in great debt but also a great flute player. Okonkwo is then discussed more and more about how he brought himself up from scratch to where is now claiming many titles just out of thought that he does not want to be a thing like his father ever was. I personally do not like Okonkwo's attitude. He is just so angry all the time and is way too strict. He already has established himself as a very strong competitor in battle. There is no reason to be like when he is at home. On the other hand i do respect his perseverance throughout his early years of being a farmer and planting yams after that first harvest which was a total disaster. At this point in the book i have mixed emotions of what Okonkwo is going to become and how he will develop through the rest of the story.

Get A Grip, Okonkwo!- Deanna

The first six chapters of Things Fall Apart did not introduce the conflict of the story. However, the chapters did focus on characterization and setting development.

From these first few pages, the readers are able to gauge the different aspects of the traditional culture in Umuofia. This society is characterized by rigid class structures and superstition. As a patriarchal society, men yield immense power over the women in their lives. Okonkwo often beats and berates his three wives. Although Okonkwo may be more brutish than other males in his community, their lack of concern for Ojiugo’s health after a severe beating reveals their feelings of justification and superiority. “Your wife was at fault…” (30) was a statement made after the abuse.

Paradoxically, this society that regards women more as objects than as human beings reveres its religious and mythical deities that happen to be female. In a way, this highlights a developing theme in the story: the need to control things that cause fear. The men in the community feel the need to assert their dominance over women because they are afraid of giving them freedom. Also, Okonkwo’s characterization reenforces this theme.

As the child of a poor and disgraced man, Okonkwo feels obligated to prove his worth. His constant fears about becoming his father stem from the trauma he faced as a young boy and his insecurities about his own power. He believes that by controlling as much of his life as possible, he will be able to earn the honor that his father never had. Unfortunately, his efforts will most likely be in vain. Okonkwo has already earned the respect of his village. He thinks he needs to maintain that respect, but in reality, he feels inadequate because of his low self-esteem. He needs to gain self respect.

Okonkwo has a massive french fry on his shoulder. A chip isn't enough to decribe his issues...

(I couldn't find a picture with a yam.)

Jason Butler 11/13

Chinua Achebe uses a foil character to further develop the main character Okonkwo. Unoka, Okonkwo's father, is nothing like Okonkwo and Achebe uses this contrast to evince the character traits of Okonkwo. Achebe introduces this contrast by saying, "[Okonkwo] had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father." (Pg 4). By using parallel structure Achebe reveals that Okonkwo and Unoka are nothing alike.

Achebe develops the character of Unoka by directly describing him and telling a story. Unoka is "lazy and improvident" (Pg 4).  By establishing what Unoka is, Achebe shows what Okonkwo is not. After a brief story about Okonkwo, this contrast provides a further understanding of him. " Unlike his father, "Okonkwo was clearly cut out for great things." (Pg 8).

Achebe then develops Okonkwo more indepthly by recollecting a story of Okonkwo's younger years. Unoka's character development is important because it shows that Okonkwo had to earn everything he has by himself. "He did not inherit a barn from his father." (Pg 16). This shows how independent Okonkwo is and how much of a hard worker he is.

Achebe uses the story of "the worst living year in memory" (Pg 23) to show Okonkwo's mental toughness. While this year would've destroyed most people's hopes, Okonkwo stayed confident was able to survive. "Since [he] survived that year...[he] shall survive anything." (Pg 24).

In many ways Achebe successfully develops the character of Okonkwo. After just three chapters, Okonkwo is established as a strong hardworking man. Despite his father's poor reputation, "a man was judged according to his worth and no according to the worth of his father." (Pg 8).  

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/canalysis.html#Okonkwo

Things Fall Apart Post #1

    

Opening Things Fall Apart, the reader is immediately “thrown” into a complication between Okonkwo and Amalinze that arose around 20 years ago. The reader can quickly identify the role culture plays in everyday life. “The drums beat and the flutes sang…”(page 3), music is heavily influenced throughout African culture. Also after the harvest, everyone gets together to play music and indulge in the wonders of the harvest.

Okonkwo’s father is introduced in the first chapter of the novel;neither are like one another. Okonkwo is such a rapid irrational thinker while his father, Unoka, was simple minded. His father had no intention of thinking of tomorrow and he was “a debtor”(page 4). Although Unoka did not consider the future and was lazy he resembled a happier outlook. The time of year he cherished most was the time of music and feasting after the harvest.

Okonkwo’s settled his confrontations with his hands while his father couldn't stand the thought of ear nor the sight of blood. This really speaks to their characters and explains why Okonkwo’s has no patience for his father. His father was a known debtor and was ashamed of him. He knew he would grow up to be better than him and anyone who he had ever known. Okonkwo’s now was the best wrestler in the nine villages and was a wealthy farmer. Usually age was held accountable for the respect owed to a person in the tribes but Okonkwo and his achievements contradicted every aspect of that. He was known of one of the greatest of the time.

Mike Robinson Blog Post #1


          

Upon opening Things Fall Apart, readers are introduced to Okonowo. Okonkwo is "well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond" (pg.3) He is well respected and most known for beating Amanlize in a wrestling match. As readers, we are soon introduced to another character which is his father. His father, Unoka, is the complete opposite of Okonkwo. Unoka was poor and died owing many people debts. This indicates laziness. This laziness is the exact factor that drove Oknonkwo to become the man he is presently. Achebe suggests Oknwo's wealth by telling of his farms and wives.

           Okonkwo is characterized as an intimidating man who has the respect of everyone around him. "He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look."(pg.3-4) As the story proceeds, Achebe introduces a conflict which is the threat of war. A neighboring village "killed a daughter of Umuofia"(pg.11). The Umuofia tribe gives villages the option of war showing a type of mercy the tribe possesses.

            A person the Umuofia tribe goes to for advice and spirit communication is the priestess. Even Okonkwo obeys and fears the priestess. This shows how high the tribe regards the prissiest and magic within their culture. This may contribute to later situations within the text. With my reading so far, I have come to think that Okonkwo is a man who is willing to do anything to preserve his tribe and keep the villagers satisfied. This really stood out to me considering Okonkwo took immediate action after hearing news of the murder in Umuofia. “Okonkwo of Umuofia arrived at Mbiano as the proud and imperious emissary if war.” (pg. 12)

Things Fall Apart

In the "Things Fall Apart" you are introduced to Okonkwo who is a renowned wrestler throughout all the nine villages. The book starts out by saying how he was able to beat the unbeaten Amalinze the cat. By starting off with one of Okonkwo's accomplishments the book than transitions into a story about his father: Unoka. "Unoka the grown-up was a failure."(pg 5)They than say how his father was the opposite of Okonkwo and how he owed money to just about everyone in the village and how he has had no real accomplishments in his life. Also Unoka died with no title to his name and heavily in debt.
"Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father." (pg 8) That one sentence shows that although Okonkwo is a son of a failure, the people of the village do not see him that way, but they instead see him for his accomplishments. Some of which include: being a wealthy farmer, taking two titles, and having three wives. Overall you can tell that Okonkwo is an important person in his village and that he will most likely play a big part in the village's future.

Erin Howard 11/13

     

     Erin Howard   Blog #1   11/13

   
     A common theme occurring throughout the first chapter of Things Fall Apart is the prevalent references to indicators of wealth within the town of Umuofia. From the very beginning, readers learn of the (lack-of) wealthiness of Okonkwo's father, Unoka, from the amount of cowries he owes to various people. Being a "debtor" (pg 4) and always owing money to his neighbors reveals a sense of characterization in Unoka, a characteristic that is polar from Okonkwo. He displays a lazy and incapable attitude while Okonkwo presents an honorable and respectable man. The repetition of the words "cowries" and "debt" on pages 7 and 8 indicate the extremity of destitution Unoka withstands.

      Additionally, Okoye's wealthiness is indicated, in contrast to Unoka's, through the presence of yams and the number of wives he has. Okoye isn't a failure and has a "large barn full of yams," (pg 6) that explaines his fortune. He's also married to three different women; an ability only prosperous men are accustomed to. Similarly, Okonkwo is later described as also having these same virtues, having "two barns full of yams," and having "just married his third wife." (pg 8)

      The means of these indicators being distinguished in regards to the chapter as a whole by readers is a result of them being tangible. The money being owed in the debt, and the yams and wives being retained by the men, are both perceivable items readers can attach to. The sense of validity these materialistic items give to the characters also give the same sense of validity to readers. 

Things Fall Apart Post 1

As soon as the readers open "The Things Fall Apart," they are faced with two very different characters- Okonkwo and his father, Unoka. Although they are blood, each character is extremely different and neither possess virtually any similarities. This severe contrast allows the audience to really get a feel for the personality and drives of both characters.

Okonkwo is immediately credited with being a brave, powerful man. He was able to beat the greatest wrestler of the land at the young age of 18, and in return was renowned enough to hold a place with the elders and kings. His father, on the other hand, “was a failure (pg 5).” He was always borrowing money that he never cared to return, and his debts followed him to his grave. He was a coward who couldn’t stand the sight of blood, while his son was eager and ready to fight a seven-year-undefeated wrestler to bring honor to his village. One could wonder how the men are even related.

This stark contrast is supported by strong diction on each side. Okonkwo is described as “tall and huge”, and “angry”, “with a very severe look(pg3-4)” On the other hand, Unoka is described as “lazy and improvident”, “very thin with a slight stoop”, and “incapable of thinking about tomorrow(pg 4).” Okonkwo’s traits emit beams of confidence, while his father’s glow of cowardliness.

Like Amir and Baba in the Kite Runner, Okonkwo and Unoka are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Both sons end up being ashamed of their fathers; Amir felt ashamed and betrayed when he discovered Hassan was his half brother, and Okonkwo was ashamed his father held no status and died a lazy borrower who would never pay back his dues. But both men also made up for where their fathers fell short with their own feats, such as righting their wrongs or proving themselves.

Chapters 1-5 Post

     Chinua Achebe opens up "Things Fall Apart" with many examples of how Okonkwo had been a man of great honor when he was young, from throwing Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling match to rising through poverty to become a successful farmer. However, as the story develops we see hints of the side of Okonkwo that the people of Umuofia never see: one of security and anger. 

     Okonkwo is so hung up on his reputation and pride that he lets it get in the way of raising his own family. As soon as anybody in his odd, 3 wife having family does anything that would jeopardize the way his village views him, he beats them to an egregious extent. For example, when Okonkwo's youngest wife isn't home in time to make dinner, he beats her, even though it is against the sacred rules of Peace Week; he then tries to defend himself against Ezeani, who eventually disproves him by saying "The evil you have down can ruin the whole clan."(pg. 30)

     Another interesting aspect of this book is the emphasize it puts on the cultural side of African tribe-life. After doing some research, I discovered that this story takes place around 1900. This surprised me because in 1900 the United States was emerging as a national power, revolutionizing technology, while these African Tribes seemed to be so far behind. One thing I noticed about this novel is that the characters in this story all seem to be very afraid of the spiritual side of life and evil, like when Ekwefi answers "Is that me?" (pg 41) instead of yes when her name is called, "for fear that it might be an evil spirit calling."(pg 41). In modern day America, we don't think twice about evil spirits corrupting our souls just because we said something out of line.

     All of this leads to me not being very impressed with Okonkwo's actions. Yes, "His fame rested on personal achievements."(pg 1), but his actions behind the walls of his hut make him seem like a controlling father/husband, who is scared to death that he or one of his children will turn out to be lazy and unsuccessful like his father.

Chapters 1-4 post

Okonkwo lives in a tribe oozing with superficial standards. He believes that in order to be a respectable man, he requires a title, fruitful yams, and many wives. In short, his reputation determines his worth. The reader discovers this about Okonkwo when the story of his father, Unoka, is told. He was "ashamed of [Unoka]" (pg.8) because he was the opposite of an ideal man. He strove to be everything his father wasn't. He became successful by reputation, but did he find the same success internally? The reader can sense a tall barrier between Okonkwo and his family when he brought Ikemefuna home. His family lived in "perpetual fear of his fiery temper" (pg.13), and his son was already developing into a "sad-faced youth"(pg.14) This leads the reader into believing that he isn't as glorious as the tribe makes him out to be. Will he allow some of his pride to slip away in order to achieve emotional happiness?
Also, the reader might notice the use of metaphorical sayings in this novel. This emphasizes the idea of living in a cultural tribe that has lasted for centuries. Sayings like, "As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings." ( pg.8), or "Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it…" (pg.8) were very clear that they were pieces of advice from long ago. It stressed that the old ways of the tribe were still followed, and wouldn't be easily disregarded. In almost every situation, there was a historical phrase that related to it, and Okonkwo seemed to live up to each one. Because of this, it would be interesting if he did allow his pride to take a back seat, and go against the traditions in a strict society. 

Let's start blogging!

Welcome to our AP Lit & Comp reading blog for Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.  This blog serves as a discussion space for all students reading Things Fall Apart across all three class sections.  The end goal is for us to build a reading community both online and within the classroom.  In addition, many college courses will require online work and postings for all of your peers to view and comment on a weekly basis.

Chinua Achebe

What do we blog about?

Well, we're all reading the same novel, so we don't want to summarize (as always).  Instead, you can provide brief context for what part of the novel you're discussing & use examples from the novel, but your main purpose is to have an analytical focus for each post.  Here are some things you could discuss & analyze in your blog posts:

• Literary elements you see in the novel (think metaphors, symbols, archetypes)
• Conflicts (how they arise, how they define characters, etc.)
• Characterization:  
• actions, dialogue, or lines that define a character
• character's motivations
• Author's style, structure, & diction
• Close reading of diction where you're looking for clarification
• Events in the plot that serve as a major turning point
• How a tradition, value, or practice functions within the culture of your novel
• Themes shown in the novel
• How literary elements serve a theme (like race/culture relations, romantic entanglements, gender expectations)...if you can accomplish this, you've made it to the big leagues.

Things to keep in mind for this type of assignment:

• You're writing online, but this isn't social media, which means no text-speak or slang.  Write in an academic language.
• Use this space as practice for properly writing literary analysis (writing in present tense, avoiding 1st/2nd person pronouns, using active voice, being succinct)
• Don't let your work disappear forever somewhere in the land of lost internet posts.  Be smart & save your work.  Some people like to work in Google Docs, MS Word, or Apple Pages first.  Then, just copy & paste all you've typed into Blogger & add some bells & whistles (i.e. pictures, links, videos)

Timeline for posting & commenting:

• 11/13:  1st blog post due
• 11/16:  comment on 2 posts
• 11/20:  2nd blog post due
• 11/23:  comment on 2 posts
• 11/27:  3rd blog post due
• 11/30:  comment on 2 posts
• 12/4:  4th blog post due
• 12/7:  comment on 2 posts
• TOTALS:  4 blog posts & 8 comments
• NOTE:  posts are due on Fridays by 11:59 p.m. & comments on Mondays 11:59 p.m.

Other requirements:

• 250-300 word count
• Add links, pictures, & videos
• Comments should be at least 3 sentences that add or extend the post
• Quote evidence from the novel & use proper MLA format for embedded citations