SURYANI BINTI BUSHRAH

WEEK 3

Apart from the religion, superstitions play an important part in the Ibo culture. Do you have your own sets of superstitions which you find difficult to discard?

In the novel, any twin must be dumped in the Evil Forest. This is one of the superstitions described in the novel. From my opinion, superstitions beliefs and religion do affect the development of a country. Every religion teaches us to be a good servant. By doing good deeds, any country will develop well. With a good behaviour, a good citizen can be developed. One’s beliefs can affect the nation in terms of politics and culture. For example, a good decision can be achieved by conducting a meeting where every person can give their own opinion. I agree with Karl Marx. Religion is very important as a guide for everyone to have a good life.

WEEK 4

Okonkwo was inspired for beating Amalinze the Cat. Besides, he got his own yam fields at a very young age. He is rich and does not resemble his poor late father, Unoka. Unfortunately, people disappointed with him when he was involved in the killing of Ikemefuna. Apart from that, Ojiugo has been beaten by him badly during the week of peace as a result of coming home late. The characteristics of Okonkwo that can be found in the nation’s leader are brave and inspired.

Perfect Character A Delusion or Reality

Week 4

In the novel Animal Farm, the hope for a better world remains unattainable. Even with the change of governance, the animals are eventually mistreated. How is it possible that the longing for good can turn awry when the person is in power for long?

In the case of Okonkwo, he is not painted as someone who is without fault. In fact, he is in many ways a tragic hero. Neither is he a person who is evil despite his part in killing Ikemefuna. Based on your understanding of him in the novel, reflect on the following questions:

OKONKWO : A TRAGIC HERO

These are the reasons why he is seen as an inspiration and a disappointment of his clan. First, he holds a position of power and prestige in his clan. Okonkwo is a well-known wrestler and a respected leader among his Igbo people. About twenty years ago, Okonkwo distinguished himself and brought honor to his village when he wrestled and threw to the ground Amalinze the Cat, a man who had not been defeated for seven years.

“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights.”

 (Chapter 1: Paragraph 1)

As he defeated Amalinze The Cat at a young age, his victory is a great achievement. Since then, Okonkwo's reputation as a wrestler has grown throughout the nine villages of Umuofia. He is not only known for his strength but also known to be quickly angered, especially when dealing with unsuccessful men like his father, who died ten years ago deeply in debt.

As a figure of disappointment is his fear of weakness and failure as he does not want to be like his own father, who is very weak. Okonkwo is impulsive; he acts before he thinks. He disappoint his clan as Okonkwo should not do something that he already knows prohibited. Consequently, Okonkwo offends the Igbo people and their traditions as well as the gods of his clan. Okonkwo is advised not to participate in the murder of Ikefemuna, but he actually kills Ikefemuna because he is "afraid of being thought weak." He also beats his wife during the sacred week,The Week of Peace. When the white man brings Christianity to Umuofia, Okonkwo is opposed to the new ways. He feels that the changes are destroying the Igbo culture and Okonkwo finds the changes is intolerable. Being a stubborn, determine and proud person he clings to the Igbo traditional beliefs and mourns the loss of the past.

Lastly, Okonkwa kills a messenger from the British district office with his machete. He realizes that none of his clans support him and they back away from him. Okonkwo realizes that he has become a relic, no longer able to function within his changing society or the British colonists.

Okonkwo is a tragic hero in the classical sense: although he is a superior character, his tragic weaknesses-anger, proud, manliness brings about his own destruction by commits suicide, a shameful and disgraceful death like his father's. 

ALYSA JULIA

WOMAN IN THINGS FALL APART

Go through your notes on gender differences and other websites dealing with gender studies. Based on your reading, reflect on how these women are treated in the novel. The following questions can help you as you write your reflective piece in your blog:

One of the crucial elements of the story is represented through the cultural aspects of the Igbo society and traditions. One example is infrequent mentions of wives in the novel. It can be taken as a demonstration of the limited value of women. The role of the wives in the novel is to be as the bearers of children which can then be taken as a statement that women are actually nothing more than tools of reproduction. For example,Okonkwo had 3 wives and he built one hut for each of them. It also shows the fact that the number of wives a man has also affected the social status. Individuals gain strength from their society or community, and societies derive strength from the individuals who belong to them. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo builds his titles and strength with the support of his society's customs. The novel also depicts women as possessions of men. The freedom enjoyed by men to beat their wives adds to this idea. For example, Okonkwo beats his third wife during the Week Of Peace and he almost killed her.His act,however lead him to be a punishment as his rage disturbs the Week of Peace.

            The role of woman in this novel may not see as important in their society but they contribute to the survival of their culture. As a mother, they produce children to maintain the number of their tribes. Without a woman, the tribe would extinct. Therefore, I am not surprised when the Igbo society allows one man to have many wives. However, the woman does not act as a mother but also as a teacher. They teach their children through storytelling of their folk tales and legends. These stories are an example to keep their culture alive. She told stories to Nwoye as an advice and also to make sure their folk tales and legends would not be forgotten.

            Nowadays, their role is not as a mother or a housewife, but also as a career woman. Most of the women work to support their family and work successfully in the same field of men. For example, a lot of woman works as a teacher,a doctor,an engineer,a policewoman.  It shows the effect of globalization around the world. A lot of changes take place as the society begins to be more open-minded and follow the flow of changes. The society accepts the fact that a The woman’s role is not categorized as a housewife but also as a working woman. The traditional mind set changed as an influence of the development that take place.

ALYSA JULIA

Your Thoughts On The Novel

• Based on your reading of “Things Fall Apart”, what aspects of the Igbo culture allow the British to take over? 

Based on my reading, the British able to take over on the Igbo culture from the aspects of religions and beliefs. Firstly, it is because some of the Igblo people suffer because of their beliefs. For example, Nwoye does not ascribe to the traditional Igbo view of masculinity being equated with violence; rather, he prefers the stories of his mother. Nwoye also connects to Ikemefuma who presents an alternative to Okonkwo's rigid masculinity. The death of Ikemefuna affects Nwoye’s perspectives on their culture and he is also one of the early converts to Christianity with the arrival of the missionaries. Nwoye’s decision to convert is viewed as a final betrayal by Okonkwo.

Besides that, Christianity is seen as a hope and an opportunity to live a better life. The act of killing the Ikemefuna who was sacrificed in order to bring peace after the war and the sacrifice of the twins who was considered as an abomination has caused some of the Ibo people to disagree with the culture.  This can be seen when those who have been alienated from the Igbo society accepts the Christianity brought by the British. Slowly, the number of the converts increased as they realized their culture and belief is wrong. Thus, the conversion of the Igbo society to Christianity has indirectly made the British to take over the belief of the Igbo society.

Next, the British also able to take over the Igbo's culture from the aspect of cooperation as one community. When new cultures and religions meet the original, there is likely to be a struggle for dominance. The District Commissioner is upset by the burning of the church and requests that the leaders of Umuofia meet with him. Once they are gathered, however, the leaders are handcuffed and thrown in jail, where they suffer insults and physical abuse. After the prisoners are released, the clansmen hold a meeting, during which five court messengers approach and order the clansmen to desist. Expecting his fellow clan members to join him in the uprising, Okonkwo kills the leader with his machete. When the crowd allows the other messengers to escape, Okonkwo realizes that his clan is not willing to go to war. When the District Commissioner arrives at Okonkwo’s compound, he finds that Okonkwo has hanged himself. Okonkwo acts on his own and was not supported by his own people. 

• Since Sarawak has also undergone colonisation, how has this affected aspects of culture in our society? 

The aspects of culture in our Sarawakian society have also been affected during the period of colonization. Firstly, the religions and beliefs of the Sarawakian. For example, there are a lot of Christians in Sarawak. The missionaries during the colonization era spread this religion from the urban area to the rural area. Most of the natives in Sarawak devoted to one God and does not believe in many Gods as their ancestor did.

“ Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia where Christians form a majority. Major Christian denominations in Sarawak are the Roman Catholics, Anglicans,Methodists, Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM or Sidang Injil Borneo, S.I.B.), and Baptists. Many Sarawakian Christians are non-Malay Bumiputera, ranging from Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and Melanau.”

Wikipedia

Colonialism also affects the language used by the native of Sarawak. As the European missionaries spread the Christianity, most of the converts able to understand,speak and read in English. Thus, it had affected their original culture,language and taboo. 

Lastly, the colonization affects the unity of the Sarawak people. Sarawak consists of different ethnic, culture and beliefs. Even though the colonization spread a new religion but it also teaches the Sarawak people to unite as one, devoted to one God and respect each other. Despite the differences between the races,culture and beliefs they able to live harmoniously. During Gawai Dayak Celebration, it was celebrated not only by the Dayaks but also other ethnic too.

Are there any changes brought about in the lives of the indigenous tribes in Africa and Sarawak? 

Yes,there are a lot of changes especially from the aspects of language,religions,beliefs and development. These changes had their own positive and negative side.Firstly, the aspect of language is both the Sarawak and Africa people learn English language. This helps them to talk fluently in English. Their new generations also able to learn this language as it is a global language.

Secondly, from the aspect of religions is the Christianity is also has the followers from the Africa and Sarawak people. Most of the tribes in both countries consist of Christians.Thirdly, most of the Sarawak and Africa people abandoned their beliefs especially the violent ones. For example, the Dayak especially the Ibans no longer practice of being a headhunter.

Lastly, these changes help them to be more developed tribes, open–minded and able to be more independent country. It brought their society to unity and development. Colonialism teaches them to be more conscious of their weaknesses and able to differentiate what is right and what is wrong.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Alysa Julia