What's up, guys!!!!! This is my first book review. So, let's give it a shot. My first impression towards the cover of this book is that does we really need to learn other cultures without experiencing it. For me, by experiencing it in front of my eyes is the best thing that we could get. This is because we can see it directly even though we just watching through television. But everything was changed when I started to read this book. There is no need of picture to explain the story line. The good choice of the words used by Chinua Achebe had successfully depicted the situation in Africa.
FUN FACT: The book's title come from opening line of W.B. Yeats' poem, The Second Coming
I read the e-book version and it is divided into two parts. The first part is about the cultural history of the Nigerian village of Umofia. The purpose f it is to give the information to the readers what are the cultures that being practiced in Umofia. The story starts with the tale of Okonkwo. He is the strongest man and the most respectable man in Umofia. His characteristics are completely difference from his father who is afraid of blood and died in a shameful way. Because of he does not want to end up his life like his father, he tries to be the leader of his village, holds a few positions and does a lot of work to sustain his family's life. He has three wives and he was selected to be the guardian of Ikemefuna.
Even though Ikemefuna had served well to the family, Okonkwo never shows his affection towards Ikemefuna because he thinks that by showing any emotion except anger is a total weakness. One day, Okonkwo gets an order to kill Ikemefuna. He does not have any intention to kill him but his ego that does not want to show any sign of weaknesses forces him to kill Ikemefuna.One day when the villagers of Umofia are having the Euzedu's funeral ceremony, Okonkwo was assigned to control the gun for the salutation. Unfortunately, he accidentally shots Euzedu's son and caused his family and himself sent to exile for about seven years.
The second part of the story consists of Okonkwo's life during the exile and the coming of the British Colonialism and Christian Missionaries to his community. When being sent to exile, he does not have any place to go except Mbanta the place where his mother was once lived. He also heard that white missionaries are starting to build their community at Umofia and not only that, he learns that they are trying to spread a new religion, Christianity to the villagers. By converting more villagers, They try to strengthen their community and build a new government. As a result, the villagers were forced to follow the new rules that being created by the British Colonial. Things getting more intense to Okonkwo when he finds out that his son, Nwoye has converted to Christian. After finishing the seven years exile in Mbanta, Okonkwo returns to Umofia. He shocks when he sees that the villagers have changed a lot during his absence. When he knew that the religion is opposing his ancestor beliefs, he destroys a local Christian church. This action has caused him to being arrested and being sent to jail. He then was released after paying the bail for about 200 cowries. But, the story has not finished yet. The White people keep insulting their tradition and culture and had caused Okonkwo to advocate war to the white people. When the white people heard this plan they decided to apprehend those who plan to make a war with them. Okonkwo that still hold with his belief which is does not want to die in the hand of the white people had decided to commit suicide.
THREE INTERESTING WORDS
1. Heinous- very bad or evil : deserving of hate or contempt
Unoka was hated by his own his citizens because of his heinous ideas that wanted to increase the amount of income tax that is needed to be paid which will cause more citizens to suffer.
2. Tarnished- to damage or ruin the good quality of ( something, such as a person's reputation, image, etc)
The rumor of Okonkwo bribery case that was widespread throughout Umofia had tarnished Okonkwo credibility to be Umofia's new leader and had forced him to do everything that he can to clear all of the misunderstandings of him.
3. Appeasement- to make (a pain, a problem, etc.) less painful or troubling
During Okonkwo exile, Obierika had sacrificed his time, money and energy coming back and forth from Umofia to Mbanta just only to appease Okonkwo who seems to lose hope after being betrayed by his own villagers.
THE SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS IN THIS MATERIAL
In my opinion, there are two significant aspects of this material which are the way Chinua Achebe arrange his ideas and the way the author delivers it to the readers. The author divides the material into two parts. In the first part, Achebe gives the readers background knowledge about Umofia culture which is alien to them. The culture such as the priority for the host to break the kola nut has the purpose which is to respect the host. Other than that, the tradition to celebrate The Feast of the New Yam which is an occasion to honor the Earth Goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan. By giving this knowledge to the readers, Achebe tries to explain every purpose of those traditions that seems odd to the others. As a result, they will not undervalue it and will give the sense of respect to any tradition that being practiced across the world.
The decision to use English in this story is the best choice being made by Achebe. This is because, in the second part of the book which depicts the coming of the British Colonials to Umofia, the author tries to show the bad side of any colonials. If he chooses to use the African language the message might be sent only to those who understands it. But, when he uses English which is one of the international languages, almost all of the world citizen will understand it and as a result, it will cause the message to be successfully delivered.
THANKS FOR READING AND LEARNING
Even though Ikemefuna had served well to the family, Okonkwo never shows his affection towards Ikemefuna because he thinks that by showing any emotion except anger is a total weakness. One day, Okonkwo gets an order to kill Ikemefuna. He does not have any intention to kill him but his ego that does not want to show any sign of weaknesses forces him to kill Ikemefuna.One day when the villagers of Umofia are having the Euzedu's funeral ceremony, Okonkwo was assigned to control the gun for the salutation. Unfortunately, he accidentally shots Euzedu's son and caused his family and himself sent to exile for about seven years.
The second part of the story consists of Okonkwo's life during the exile and the coming of the British Colonialism and Christian Missionaries to his community. When being sent to exile, he does not have any place to go except Mbanta the place where his mother was once lived. He also heard that white missionaries are starting to build their community at Umofia and not only that, he learns that they are trying to spread a new religion, Christianity to the villagers. By converting more villagers, They try to strengthen their community and build a new government. As a result, the villagers were forced to follow the new rules that being created by the British Colonial. Things getting more intense to Okonkwo when he finds out that his son, Nwoye has converted to Christian. After finishing the seven years exile in Mbanta, Okonkwo returns to Umofia. He shocks when he sees that the villagers have changed a lot during his absence. When he knew that the religion is opposing his ancestor beliefs, he destroys a local Christian church. This action has caused him to being arrested and being sent to jail. He then was released after paying the bail for about 200 cowries. But, the story has not finished yet. The White people keep insulting their tradition and culture and had caused Okonkwo to advocate war to the white people. When the white people heard this plan they decided to apprehend those who plan to make a war with them. Okonkwo that still hold with his belief which is does not want to die in the hand of the white people had decided to commit suicide.
THREE INTERESTING WORDS
1. Heinous- very bad or evil : deserving of hate or contempt
Unoka was hated by his own his citizens because of his heinous ideas that wanted to increase the amount of income tax that is needed to be paid which will cause more citizens to suffer.
2. Tarnished- to damage or ruin the good quality of ( something, such as a person's reputation, image, etc)
The rumor of Okonkwo bribery case that was widespread throughout Umofia had tarnished Okonkwo credibility to be Umofia's new leader and had forced him to do everything that he can to clear all of the misunderstandings of him.
3. Appeasement- to make (a pain, a problem, etc.) less painful or troubling
During Okonkwo exile, Obierika had sacrificed his time, money and energy coming back and forth from Umofia to Mbanta just only to appease Okonkwo who seems to lose hope after being betrayed by his own villagers.
THE SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS IN THIS MATERIAL
In my opinion, there are two significant aspects of this material which are the way Chinua Achebe arrange his ideas and the way the author delivers it to the readers. The author divides the material into two parts. In the first part, Achebe gives the readers background knowledge about Umofia culture which is alien to them. The culture such as the priority for the host to break the kola nut has the purpose which is to respect the host. Other than that, the tradition to celebrate The Feast of the New Yam which is an occasion to honor the Earth Goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan. By giving this knowledge to the readers, Achebe tries to explain every purpose of those traditions that seems odd to the others. As a result, they will not undervalue it and will give the sense of respect to any tradition that being practiced across the world.
The decision to use English in this story is the best choice being made by Achebe. This is because, in the second part of the book which depicts the coming of the British Colonials to Umofia, the author tries to show the bad side of any colonials. If he chooses to use the African language the message might be sent only to those who understands it. But, when he uses English which is one of the international languages, almost all of the world citizen will understand it and as a result, it will cause the message to be successfully delivered.
THANKS FOR READING AND LEARNING
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