Journal Entry

16 June 2007
Journal Entry 1
Pages 1-65


When I was reading the book I always kept i mind that Mrs. Bosch told us tha twe would hate Okonkwo at the begining of the book and then feel sorry for him at the end. Funny thing is that I never hated him, I respected him and I caught myself putting myself in his shoes. Like what I would do and if i would have said what he did. I thought that Okonkwo was sort of ignorant when he made the "pledge" that he would not be anything like his father and be the abslotue opposite becuase no matter how hard we try, we will always, always turn out like our parents, or atleast pick up some traits of theirs. I thought is was dignified of Okonkwo to let Ikemefuna stay in his home for so long and actually let him become one of the family. It made me upset that they killed him but it's not like I could do anything anyways. I like how Achebe showed a more sensitive side to Okonkwo after Ikemefuna's murder and with his children, he seems like a good dad, on the inside.

20 June 2007
Journal entry 2
pages 47-81


What I'm wondering is why does Chielo call Ezinma "my daughter"? I suppose it's like a pet name or something, it's still odd to me. And speaking of Ezinma, I tihnk it's funny that Okonkwo always wishes that Ezinma was a boy. It's just a shame that he does wish that because she won't get the respect that she deserves even though she's smart and witty. But anyway the wrestling match sounds pretty exciting, wouldn't mind going to one of those. And it sucks that Ekwifi had so many children die when they were young, I wonder why they died? Their excuse is the ogbanje, but medically speaking i doubt that's why. I see now why Ezinma is so treasured by bothe her mother and father. And it is so weird how they have that witch doctor come in and make Ezinma find her iyi-uwa, I highly doubt that that thing is even real, but that's their customs and it's definately interesting.

23 June 2007
Entry 3
Journal entry 3 pages 95

- I really enjoy the stories that Ekwefi and Ezinma tell eachother, it really shows the reader another side of their culture and their heritage. Chielo is so freaky when she comes to pick up Ezinma. If I was Ekwefi I would be so frightened for my daughter. I tihnk that if I was Ekwefi I would probably would have gone after Chielo and Ezinma too. I really admire the fact that Okonkwo came too and especially how he went back and forth so many times. It shows he's a good father and cares for his children, which makes me as the reader like his character even more. I tihnk that the Igbo tradition of preparing for a wedding is interesting. Having the in-laws bring so many pots of palm whine, over thirty apparently for the wife's family to be satisfied, is very intriguing.

24 June 2007
Journal Entry number 4
pages 88-94

The egwugwu seem pretty cool, I wonder if they still have those going on, like reinactments, that would be pretty cool to watch. I can't believe they get so into character, I mean they act and speak just like they think the Gods would. I really respect(and yet am very surprised about it too) that the egwugwu hold council with a man AND a woman. It really surprises me that they gave Mgbafo a chance(even though it does not surprise me that she didn't speak) and not to be forced to go back to her husband. It's nice that the men respect the women, to an extent, that is. The women still don't have many privilages and it is not illegal to beat your wife.

25 June 2007
Journal entry number 5
Pages 120-125

The way that the drummer goes around the whole villages banging his ekwe is, in my opinion, a disturbing but informative way of telling the village about meetings, deaths, and other events that happen. It's sad that Ezeudu died, but he was the oldest man in the village, he had pretty good advice for Okonkwo. His funeral seems sooo crazy, but I suppose they do that for many warriors funerals. Although, it is kinda weird that the men get so crazy about the funeral and seem to get carried away with it, but then again it is their heritage. I can't believe that Okonko accidently shot Ezeudu's son!!!! Talk about bad luck! What a horrible thing to happen to you while trying to perform a farewell dance to your father who had just past away and then you get shot by one of his good friends, by accident! Poor Okonkwo, he has to leave his land for seven years, what a horrible two days it's been for him. How depressed would someone feel if that had happened to you, it's a shame, you can barely even imagine that happening. He had a lot going for himself too, like getting another title and all, I suppose he can't achieve one anymore. What will happen to his land, to his yams?

30 June 2007
Journal entry number 6
Pages 129-130
Uchendu seems nice, even though he kinda has to be since Okonkwwo is family but besides that fact he seems like he is a wise man. I wonder if it is embarrassing for Okonkwo to tell his story to Uchendu since it was a mistake and how he left his land and all. The people of Mbano are generous to Okonkwo, they gave him almost three peices of land, now are they giving him this much because they know he has the money to get all the seeds or because he is family? Well, turns out that his cousins gave him over three hundred seed-yams so i guess that's why he has a lot of land. The people of Africa seem to really enjoy and cherish the rainy season, you can tell because Achebe talks about it in depth. He explains how the land looks and how all were thankful the rains came


26 June 2007
Journal entry number 7
pages 131-135

Jeeze Okonkwo is so depressed now, he doesn't even like working anymore. He sits around in a half-sleep, sounds like my Grampa, that's all he does too. But it is pretty sad that he has to go through all this and doesn't even enjoy what used to make him happy. It made me laugh when Uchendu was picking on Okonkwo and asked him those two questions, he's a cool guy. But it must ahve been embarrassing for Okonkwo to sit there and have Uchendu ask and answer those questions and make him look like a fool, but I guess everyone needs a slight wake up call, he did. But I didn't understand Uchendu's questions anyways so I don't blame him for not answering them.

28 June 1007
Journal entry number 8
pages 136-141

Obierika sounds like a really good friend, he brings Okonkwo his cowries and tends to his fields, that's really nice. It's odd though that Uchendu had to greet Obierika and his two men when they first got there, why do they have to do that? When Uchendu was talking to Obierika he sounded so much like those bitter old men that sit on their porches and talk about the past. Wow that sucks about Abame, but Okonkwo is right they should have been armed and watching out for people comming. It is kinda sad about the horse tied to the tree though, animal cruelty isn't cool, but they didn't know any better, I suppose a horse would be pretty scary looking if it had iron all over. But I hate the fact that the white men came into Africa, it makes me so angry, and especially when they wipe out almost entire towns lika Abame when it was the white mans fault in the first place. And why does Achebe never say what Okonkwo's first wifes name is? Well I'm sure the book said what her name was but it was never repeated it.

29 June 2007
Journal entry number 9
pages 142-143

Why does Obierika say for Okonkwo to kill one of his sons, and that that would be equivalent to a thank you? I know it's a joke but it's not that funny, like why would you say to kill yourself too? Does it have some kind of hidden meaning behind it or something!? It's a tragedy that the missionaries came to Umuofia, missionaries make me so mad,even some Christians and Catholics disagree with what the missionaries did back in the day. I can't believe that the clan leaders are letting the missionaries stay there, they think that the religion will die out but it wont. Atleast the only converts are the men without title but that will soon change.

30 June 2007
Journal entry
number 10
Pages 143-153

I can't believe that Nwoye would leave his family and join the missionaries, I didn't think he had enough courage for that. I bet this would have never happened if Ikemefuna would still be alive, but no Okonkwo just had to prove his manliness and kill him. Well I don't blame Okonkwo for shunning his son, that must be horrible to have your first born son leave his family and join a totally foreign religion and forget about his heritage. I wonder why Nwoye left though, was it because of his father? Maybe it was because he had a bunch of emotional scars from his father being tuff on him and how he killed Ikemefuna. I suppose that's enough reason to leave his fatherland and join the white men and change your whole life, I wouldn't but whatever.

1 July
Journal entry number 11
Pages 153

It’s sad that Okonkwo has to worry about his future generations following in Nwoye’s footsteps, I mean, he shouldn’t have to, he should be able to know that future generations will still respect their heritage and abide by their ancestors beliefs. A lot of people leave their religions and join others these days. I think it’s sweet when people change their religions to marry another person, but when you think about it, if they do that then their faith wasn’t very strong. Well I’m not one to judge but I mean if you can just convert religions like nothing then apparently you weren’t very happy with your religious life. I wonder how the parents feel, if they’re major religious fanatics, if their child switches religions, or even becomes an atheist.

2 July
Journal Entry number 12
Pages 154

I don’t understand how the people in Mbanta just let the missionaries settle there and become so strong. I personally don’t like missionaries very much, or in other words I don’t like the job of a missionary. I think that you can be any religion you want and I hate it when people force their beliefs on you, it makes no sense to me. I especially dislike it when people come to your door and try to convert you, it bothers me so much, it’s like why do you want me to believe in your god or your beliefs? It shouldn’t matter what other people believe in, if you’re happy then why does it matter if those people end up going to hell or whatever you believe in. I just don’t understand people when it comes to religion; I’ve learned that it’s a very touching subject with people.

3 July
Journal entry number 13
Pages 155-157

I don’t agree with the new religion in Mbanta but I guess it is nice that the church accepted the outcasts. That’s also a perfect way to create enemies, having people you shunned convert to another religion which is challenging yours, bad idea. It is sort of odd that the converts care that the outcasts are joining the church because it’s not like they are really apart of the clan anymore so why care if outcasts of the clan come into the church.

6 July
Journal Entry number 14
Pages 158

Okonkwo is always trying to prove his manliness and braveness and I’m wondering is that mentality caused by his father when Okonkwo has a kid or because of the clan and its beliefs? It’s probably both but I think that when Okonkwo proposes that the clan should take violent action against whatever is happening he seems foolish. Like those people who suggest doing the same thing over and over and you just get tired of it and it’s like ok, we’re not going to do that so just calm down. It gets annoying I guess you could say.

7 July
Journal Entry number 15
Pages 159-161

I don’t blame the clan for outlawing the Christians, I would too. I don’t think I would hurt them but I wouldn’t let them do certain things either. What I am wondering is why did they wait to outlaw them until Okoli had killed the sacred python, why didn’t they do it sooner? I would have shunned all the Christians and not allowed them to participate or use anything of the village’s, unless they converted back. I wonder what Okoli had died from, must have been some kind of sickness.

8 July
Journal Entry number 16
Pages 162-163

Wow Okonkwo can finally go back to Umuofia in a couple of months. I bet he is excited, I would be, I would also be nervous though and embarrassed for that matter. How would you act if you just came back to your fatherland after seven years to all of your friends and everyone else, would you act like nothing happened? I wonder how the people of Umuofia will react to Okonkwo coming back; will they be happy or apathetic? I think if I was apart of the clan I wouldn’t care if Okonkwo came back but I would be polite and ask how everything is and all that. I don’t think that his return will be as big and welcoming as he plans.

10 July
Journal Entry 17
Pages 164

I respect the women in the book because they do hard work. Like I have never harvested a crop of anything in my life, the closest I've ever gotten to harvesting was helping my mom garden. I know I could though, with all the orchards around, but since I don't have to, I'm not going to. It's crazy how much times have changed, I mean nowadays it's not odd to see a man cooking dinner for his wife, but I think that it's good then men and women share roles now.

14 July
Journal entry 18
Pages 165

Wow, these people know how to eat, I'd like to hang out with them, haha. Seriously though, they always have such big feasts and good food, it reminds me of my family. So when they crack kola nuts and pray to the Gods is it equivalent to our grace? That's what I assumed because in the book they do it a lot, but they do it mostly when they have visitors, so I'm not really sure.

16 July
Journal Entry 19
Pages 166-167

The people in the book mention mothers and the life they give to their children a lot. So what I’m thinking is that women in Igbo culture are respected but not treated equally to men. Which is interesting because that view on women lasted for decades and decades until now. I also noticed that when they were eating their feast that the kinsmen that were not able to make had food saved for them, that’s stuff that people do all the time. It’s cool that even though there is such a big difference of years and such a long distance away that people back then and today do similar rituals and acts. I think it’s funny how whenever older people and young people get together the older generation always has to comment on either how proud they are of the fact that the younger people take the time to appreciate their family and get together. Or they put the guilt on the younger generation and complain how they don’t take the time to get to know each other, happened back in Okonkwo’s time and it happens now.

18 July
Journal Entry 20
Pages 171-173

I wonder how the people of Umuofia will react to Okonkwos return, he was a respected figure so shouldn’t they show some honor to his return? He is planning on doing a lot of work and building to regain his honor and reclaim the fact that he is a wealthy land owner. Okonkwo is a little hard on his remaining five sons, but I understand why since Nwoye left them to join the Christians. It’s really cool to know that Okonkwo and Ezinma have a close relationship, I don’t know any girls or women that have a relationship to their father like the two of them, even if it just a book. I think that Okonkwo always wishes that Ezinma was a boy because she is so intelligent that being a boy would get her somewhere in life, instead of being a woman.

20 July
Journal Entry 21
Pages 174-177

What makes me extremely mad is the fact that the Christians put the people of Umuru into jail for doing things that are natural to them. Like throwing away twins, which I have to admit is cruel, but it’s their beliefs so why mess with them? I also extremely disagree with the fact that the white man says that the ways of the native people are wrong and that their ways are right. It’s thinking like they do that always starts fights, wars, etc. no matter where or what era you are in.

22 July
Journal entry 22
Pages 178-183

So I guess that the white man coming is bitter sweet, he brought a devastating religion but also brought a trading store. Personally, I’m on Okonkwo’s side, I wouldn’t care what the white man brought with him I wouldn’t like him there in the first place. None of the stuff that the people of Africa are experiencing would have happened if the white man came, but especially if they were more strong, as in a community. If the people would have stayed in their original religions then it would have been harder for the white man to gain the people’s trust. Akunna and Mr. Brown had an interesting conversation about their different religious beliefs but I’m surprised either of them didn’t get mad at each other. It’s amazing how the people of Umuofia give in so easily to Mr. Brown and his beliefs. Why isn’t their faith in their own people’s religion great enough for them? Although, I do like the fact that Okonkwo drove Mr. Brown out of his home, it makes me laugh a little. I guess it is really sad for Okonkwo to see how his clan has changed so much in seven years. I wonder if it would be the same if Okonkwo had stayed?

23 July
Journal entry 23
Pages 184-187

I don’t like Mr. Smith very much, I didn’t really like Mr. Brown either but he’s better than the new reverend. I sense trouble between the clan and the church now that Mr. Smith is in charge of things. Not that I agree with mutilating children and all but I don’t like the fact that Mr. Smith went all crazy about the lady who let her husband do that, but then again why would she let him when she is a Christian now? Shouldn’t she have dropped her beliefs in doing that to children? I can’t believe that that man Enoch unmasked one of the egwugwu, I mean if you are in a different religion than someone else would it kill you to be respectful of their beliefs? That’s one thing that people need to learn, to respect others beliefs and not to force ideas on them. I wonder what the egwugwu are going to do about Enoch unmasking one of the ancestral spirits, and is the church going to defend Enoch?

25 July
Journal entry 24
Pages 188-191

So Mr. Smith is going to hide Enoch for a couple of days, but it’s such a small village, I assume, so wont they find him easily? Wow the egwugwu aren’t messing around, they are really mad about Enoch unmasking one of the ancestors, if they burnt down his house, what else will they burn? I guess they’ll burn the church, which has to cause some kind of uproar with distant Christians. Will this start the beginning of a battle between the clan and church? What will Mr. Smith do now that the church is burnt, build a new one?