Bailey's selection is a very rare moment in Things Fall Apart. It is the one time in the book when there is some semblance of understanding between the two cultures, or temperance in either one. It strikes a balance that is uncommon between cultures; emotions are running coolly, and no one is converting quickly or turning to hatred quickly. It is simply accepted that the two factions will always be different.
It is also hard to find examples of such balance in interpersonal relationships as well. For instance, in Okonkwo's life, he loves Obierika, Enzima, and Ekwefi, but cannot analyze them dispassionately. He is still prone to bouts of anger and joy. He hates Nwoye and Unoka and is not willing to simply accept them as different people. He oscillates between bitter hatred and poignant longing for Unoka's past to have been different and his son's future to change. There is no burying of the hatchet to peacefully recognize what is, what has been, and what will be.
"How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (176).
Dylan's passage is obviously very important because it contains part of the title, "fallen apart," (176). This passage introduces the main conflict of the novel. It introduces the breaking of culture and severing of the clan and sums up the novel as a whole. The passage returns to the parable's claim that "There is nothing to fear from one who shouts," (140).
The white men come silently to destroy the Igbo for their own purposes. It is their calm manner which drives the culture apart. In this way Okonkwo is driven to suicide at his failure to protect his culture with a passionate temper to a secretive people who destroy history with a bit of foolishness.
My interpretation of my power passage: "Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs," (179).
This passage exhibits the novel's entire theme and conflict in irony. It is the wish of the Igbo to live in harmony and maintain their culture but the white people convert them nonetheless. The District Commisioner may learn the cultural traditions of the Igbo but he does not accept them. The D.C. forces the Igbo to abandon many of their cultural traditions and believes his culture above theirs. Achebe aims at cultural communication even if neither believes the other is right. Tragedy can be avoided if understanding can be acheived.
"How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (176).
Like Bayeleah said, my passage is the first allusion to the title of the novel. It shows that not only is it a prime example of culture clash between people from two countries, but also conflicts within a single, homogeneous group. The tension created by the more liberal and conservative clan members makes it so that the knife only need to be PUT ON their bonds to make them fall apart. Not a lot of extra force needed to be exerted for people to separate themselves and manifest their own ideas about their new cultural options.
Here is my power passage: "Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs," (179).
ReplyDeleteBailey's selection is a very rare moment in Things Fall Apart. It is the one time in the book when there is some semblance of understanding between the two cultures, or temperance in either one. It strikes a balance that is uncommon between cultures; emotions are running coolly, and no one is converting quickly or turning to hatred quickly. It is simply accepted that the two factions will always be different.
ReplyDeleteIt is also hard to find examples of such balance in interpersonal relationships as well. For instance, in Okonkwo's life, he loves Obierika, Enzima, and Ekwefi, but cannot analyze them dispassionately. He is still prone to bouts of anger and joy. He hates Nwoye and Unoka and is not willing to simply accept them as different people. He oscillates between bitter hatred and poignant longing for Unoka's past to have been different and his son's future to change. There is no burying of the hatchet to peacefully recognize what is, what has been, and what will be.
My passage:
ReplyDelete"How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (176).
Dylan's passage is obviously very important because it contains part of the title, "fallen apart," (176). This passage introduces the main conflict of the novel. It introduces the breaking of culture and severing of the clan and sums up the novel as a whole. The passage returns to the parable's claim that "There is nothing to fear from one who shouts," (140).
ReplyDeleteThe white men come silently to destroy the Igbo for their own purposes. It is their calm manner which drives the culture apart. In this way Okonkwo is driven to suicide at his failure to protect his culture with a passionate temper to a secretive people who destroy history with a bit of foolishness.
My interpretation of my power passage: "Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs," (179).
ReplyDeleteThis passage exhibits the novel's entire theme and conflict in irony. It is the wish of the Igbo to live in harmony and maintain their culture but the white people convert them nonetheless. The District Commisioner may learn the cultural traditions of the Igbo but he does not accept them. The D.C. forces the Igbo to abandon many of their cultural traditions and believes his culture above theirs. Achebe aims at cultural communication even if neither believes the other is right. Tragedy can be avoided if understanding can be acheived.
My passage:
ReplyDelete"How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (176).
Like Bayeleah said, my passage is the first allusion to the title of the novel. It shows that not only is it a prime example of culture clash between people from two countries, but also conflicts within a single, homogeneous group. The tension created by the more liberal and conservative clan members makes it so that the knife only need to be PUT ON their bonds to make them fall apart. Not a lot of extra force needed to be exerted for people to separate themselves and manifest their own ideas about their new cultural options.