Class Summary 3/30

We began class with a free writing response to Things Fall Apart (chapter 11-end) in which we were able to share what we found interesting or compelling about the novel and bring to light any questions the novel had left us with. Afterwards, we viewed a video from 2008 with author of the book, China Achebe was celebrating 50 years after the publication of it.
Next, we shared the remaining passages from last class period pertaining to Umuofia as a community.
Here are some brief notes/thoughts on those passages:
Chapter 2: United by clan identity, justice is important, following the Oracle’s words, wrongs have to be paid
Week of Peace: not to be broken, communal, rest and fellowship are important in addition to work, service to the earth gods, the rules are sacred and must be followed. Violation of the rules requires punishment
Chapter 10: trial shows the importance of spirits; Evil Forest; custom of bride price; (exchange to build the community) importance of family; familial intervention within marriage
Chapter 5: The New Yam Festival. Community’s spirit of festivity and the importance of rituals of celebration; gathering unites them; connection to the land
Chapter 7: Death of Ikemefuna. Power of the clan identity; the la must be followed; role of the elder’s spirits; law and religion are intertwined.
Chapter 8: bride price. Marriage = is a bartering affair, the importance of negotiation; customs for compromise; woman is the object to be bought.

After this, we broke off into partners and participated in a "speed-dating" type of discussion about different themes of the book, such as: colonialism, Okonkwo: victim or tragic hero? fatal flaw of Okonkwo, gender!, sanctity of life and human rights...

Lastly, we had a large discussion about what we thought about human rights when there is a culture that sanctifies the killing of humans? and what are we to make of the portrayals of gender and women in the novel? We talked a lot about morality being relative tot he culture in which you are raised and the origins of these customs in general. Additionally, we talked about the universal treatment of women in most societies and how these gender roles are not specific to the Ibo people but that they occur throughout most cultures. Finally, we spoke about the ending of the novel and how the voice of the communal narrator is violated in the end with more violent and impersonal language and a shift in perspective as it ends with the Commissioner.