Brave New World Chapter 17 and 18: Mustapha Mond and John

"God isn't compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness. You must make your choice. Our civilization has chosen machinery and medicine and happiness. That's why I have to keep these books locked up in the safe. They're smut. People would be shocked if..." (Huxley 234). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 17, Mustapha Mond and John discuss God and how civilization has chosen science and technology over religion and truth. Mustapha Mond tells John that people cannot naturally believe in God, that they must be conditioned to believe in God. Because everyone in the Brave New World works together to ensure the happiness and tranquility of everyone, no one ever has the time to be alone to think, to ponder about what is really going on. People in the Brave New World are conditioned to hate solitude and their lives are arranged so that they have no alone time at all. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although in the Brave New World it has a great impact on the people, it does not allow them to truly understand reality and creates for them a new world "Brave New World" where science and technology dominates.

Brave New World Chapter 15 and 16: The Savage and Helmholtz Go Mad...

"Science? The Savage frowned. He knew the word. But what it exactly signified he could not say. Shakespeare and the old men of the pueblo had never mentioned science, and from Linda he had only gathered the vaguest hints: science was something you made helicopters with, something that caused you to laugh at the Corn Dances, something that prevented you from being wrinkled and losing your teeth. He made a desperate effort to take the Controller's meaning" (Huxley 225). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 15, John is upset about his mother's death and decides to do something to change the mindset of the people in the Brave New World. He begins to toss the soma that is being distributed out the window which creates a stir in the crowd. When Bernard and Helmholtz arrive, Helmholtz joins John in his strike. The police then come and subside the crowd and the three (Bernard, Helmholtz, and John) are taken away to see Mustapha Mond. In Chapter 16, the three men meet Mustapha Mond and he informs him about his similar beliefs but gives examples of how the world would not work if people were equal, and so on. Mustapha Mond then tells the three men that they will be taken away to islands with people who have similar beliefs as them. Bernard is upset and has to be taken away. The men continue to discuss science and its meaning. John understands science as being drugs, aging prevention, and advancements in technology. These being true, are advancements that are seen as good to the people of Brave New World but not good to people like John and individuals who subside in the islands that Mustapha Mond refers to. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although the examples that John lists are beneficial to the people of the Brave New World, they do not appear to be beneficial to individuals like John and Helmholtz. 

Brave New World Chapter 13 and 14: Lenina's a Whore and Linda's Dead

"They had never seen a face like hers before- had never seen a face that was not youthful and taut-skinned, a body that had ceased to be slim and upright. All these moribund sexagenarians had the appearance of childish girls. At fourty-four, Linda seemed, by contrast, a monster of flaccid and distorted senility" (Huxley 202).

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society.

In Chapter 13, Lenina and John converse about their feelings, but Lenina shocks John when she takes off her clothes instead of actually discussing their emotions. John immediately labels her a whore and goes insane, he even goes as far as slapping her on the back which leaves a mark and terrifies Lenina. In Chapter 14, John hears that his mother (Linda) was sent to the Park Lane Hospital for the Dying and immediately goes to see her. While he is with her, some children approach her bed and question her physical appearance. Because of the scientific advancements in the Brave New World, everyone looks similar and perfect. They do not live very long, unlike Linda who was 44. Therefore, they are shocked when they see her imperfect teeth and unusual weight. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although it makes the people of Brave New World look younger and better, it ostracizes everyone that is considered "unlike the norm".  

Brave New World Chapter 12: Bye Bye Popular Bernard

"Punctured, utterly deflated, he dropped into a chair and, covering his face with his hands, began to weep. A few minutes later, however, he thought better of it and took four tablets of soma" (Huxley 176).

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 12, Bernard's fame suddenly disappears as his main attraction (John the Savage) refuses to come out for Bernard's audience. Everyone is incredibly upset and Bernard's reputation diminishes tremendously. After this embarrassing scene, Bernard is upset and decides to take four tablets of soma. Throughout the novel, soma is constantly used to overshadow the characters feelings. "Soma" is similar to alcohol and drugs, it is a scientific advancement that resembles modern drugs and alcohol. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although it makes the characters (like Bernard) forget about their problems and bring them a sense of ease, it can be detrimental to their view of reality and hurt them long-term whereas soma is beneficial only short-term.

Brave New World Chapter 11: Bernard the Great, Lenina and John?

"In one sense, yes," Dr. Shaw admitted. "But in another we're actually lengthening it." The young man stared, uncomprehending. "Soma may make you lose a few years in time," the doctor went on. "But think of the enormous, immeasurable durations it can give you out of time. Every some-holiday is a bit of what our ancestors used to call eternity" (Huxley 154). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 11, Bernard is held with high-esteem after uncovering the savage. Unlike before, he is well-known and treated with more respect (which helps him with the ladies tremendously). The Director resigns from his duty but Linda is still seen as repulsive due to her old age and behavior. Dr. Shaw (Linda's doctor) allows her to have as much soma as she desires. John (her son) questions whether this is a good idea because it could shorten her life-span. Dr. Shaw replies that although it may make her lose a few years, the pleasure she gains from it is priceless. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society because although Linda remains in a "holiday" while she is taking soma, it can be detrimental to her view of reality. In the Brave New World they focus on happiness vs. reality. Whereas in Linda's case they need to focus on reality because of the circumstances she has faced. 

Brave New World Chapter 2: The Director Tells All...

"The principle of sleep-teaching, or hypnopaedia, had been discovered." The D.H.C. made an impressive pause. The principle had been discovered; but many, many years were to elapse before that prinicple was usefully applied" (Huxley 25). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 2, the Director discusses with his students the different castes and the techniques used to put each caste in their place. For example, Deltas are electrically shocked to hate books and flowers. They are placed in front of books and flowers so they can visually see them while they are being shocked. This correlation will make them hate books and flowers in the future because when they see them they will be reminded of the shocks they were given. The Director then discusses hypnopaedia (sleep-teaching), where children are taught things while they are asleep. This is also another way of giving each caste a sense of their role/importance in society. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society because although in the Brave New World, these psychological techniques are "beneficial" in their society, they forcibly place people into castes which is something we find an abomination in our modern day society. 

Brave New World Chapter 9-10: Who's John's Father?

"Murder kills only the individual- and, after all, what is an individual?" With a sweeping gesture he indicated the rows of microscopes, the test-tubes, the incubators. "We can make a new on with the greatest ease- as many as we like. Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself. Yes, at Society itself," he repeated" (Huxley 148). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 9, Bernard basically travels to Santa Fe in order to get the papers necessary to bring Linda and John back to London with him. Bernard is on a very strict time limit but makes it back in time. In Chapter 10, the Director discusses with Mr. Foster how an individual is not as important because more people can be made, but unorthodoxy can damage more than just an individual, it can damage society as well. This statement by the Director goes to show how in the Brave New World, people are not as important. In our society, every individual is important and the crimes against them matter. But in the Brave New World, they focus more on how unorthodoxy can shake up society. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although the scientific advancement of bokanovskify has created double the amount of embryos, it has decreased the importance of each individual embryo because of the vast supply of embryos as a whole. 

Brave New World Chapter 8: The Life of John in Malpais

"The happiest time were when she told him about the Other Place. "And you really can go flying, whenever you like?" "Whenever you like." And she would tell him about the lovely music that came out of a box, and all the nice games you could play, and the delicious things to eat and drink, and the light that came when you pressed a little things in the wall, and the pictures that you could hear and feel and smell, as well as see, and another box for making nice smells, and the pink and green and blue and silver houses as high as mountains, and everybody happy and no one ever sad or angry, and every one belonging to every one else..." (Huxley 127-128). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 8, Bernard and John discuss the different worlds they live in. Bernard asks John to explain his world to him, stating that it is so different that one would think they are different planets. John later explains to Bernard the hardships he faced growing up; his mother being the town whore, getting abused, his mother being an alcoholic, etc. John cares greatly about his mother, Linda, but his mother resents having John as her son. John is constantly outcasted from activities in his town because he is a different color than everybody else. Bernard later informs John that he can take him to his world, Brave New World. John is intrigued by his offer and asks if he can bring his mother along, at first Bernard is hesistant, but later he agrees. In this quote we see how Linda discusses the Brave New World to John. In this Brave New World technology and science are used constantly to enhance their society and to ensure the happiness of everyone, whether it be soma, airplanes, etc. Therefore, I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society, because although these things are appreciated by Linda, they would not be appreciated by the people of Malpais because of their customs and beliefs. 

Brave New World Chapter 7: The Savage Reservation

"That's because we don't allow them to be like that. We preserve them from diseases. We keep their internal secretions artificially balances at a youthful equilibrium. We don't permit their magnesium-calcium ratio to fall below what it was at thirty. We give them transfusion of young blood. We keep their metabolism permanently stimulated. So, of course, they don't look like that. Partly," he added, "because most of them die long before they reach this old creature's age. Youth almost unimpaired till sixty, and them crack! the end" (Huxley 110-111). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 7, Bernard and Lenina go to the Savage Reservation. Lenina is astonished when she sees people of old age that look so different than the people in the world she lives in. Bernard explains to her, that in their world people are not made to live past a certain age and that they have scientific advancements that allow them to look and stay youthful. In the Savage Reservation they do not use these scientific advancements, instead they age naturally. I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society because although in Brave New World these scientific advancements allow them to maintain their age in beauty which can be seen as a positive note, their unnatural aging can also be negative for them mentally and physically. Many people would argue that if they were given an opportunity to stop aging they would, but their halt in aging could be dreadful for their long-term health. Especially since people in the Brave New World do not live after 60.

Brave New World Chapter 6: Lenina and Bernard Date Night

"...and in spite of his misery absolutely refused to take the half-gramme rasberry sundae which she pressed upon him. I'd rather be myself," he said. "Myself and nasty. Not somebody else, however jolly..."A gramme is always better than a damn" (Huxley 89-90).

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 6, Lenina and Bernard go out on a date. Lenina and Bernard have different ideas of how a date should go. Lenina wants to do exciting and fun things whereas Bernard wants to participate in calm activities such as walking and talking. Lenina questions Bernard's choice and later persuades him to attend the Semi-Demi-Finals of the Women's Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. There, Lenina hands him a half-gramme (probably some sort of stimulant) but Bernard refuses. He replies that he would rather be himself than be somebody else due to the half-gramme. This scientific advancement in Brave New World (half-gramme), allows people to be someone other than themselves. I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancements benefit society because although Lenina enjoys this drug, Bernard does not. He would rather be himself, whereas Lenina would rather have fun and abuse the drug. 

Brave New World Chapter 3: Pregnancy Substitute, Good or Bad?

"But, my dear, you're only nineteen. The first Pregnancy Substitute isn't compulsory till twenty-one." "I know, dear. But some people are better if they begin earlier. Dr. Wells told me that brunettes with wide pelvises, like me, ought to have their first Pregnancy Substitute at seventeen. So I'm really two years late, not two years early."... "Dr. Wells says that a three months' Pregnancy Substitute now will make all the difference to my health for the next three or four years" (Huxley 38-39).

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancements benefit society. 

In Chapter 3, Fanny discusses with Lenina her desire to begin a Pregnancy Substitute. In Brave New World there is no pregnancy, so a Pregnancy Substitute is an injection that tricks the body into thinking its pregnant and that balances the hormones. Lenina voices her belief that Fanny is too young to get a Pregnancy Substitute because most people obtain it when they are twenty-one and Fanny is only nineteen years old. Fanny tells Lenina that she has discussed it with her doctor, Dr. Wells, and that he has told her that it will be beneficial for her long-term health. I qualify this scientific advancement because although this Pregnancy Substitute will stop her from having unwanted children, it entices and allows people in Brave New World to have more and more sex with more and more people. But, in Brave New World this Pregnancy Substitute is obviously seen as a beneficial factor in their lives that allows them to be promiscuous without having any bad side-effects. 

Brave New World Chapter 5: Synthetic Music and Orgy Porgy

"Phosphorus recovery," explained Henry telegraphically. "On their way up the chimney the gases go through four separate treatments. P2O5 used to go right out of circulation every time they cremated some one. Now they recover over ninety-eight per cent of it. More than a kilo and a half per adult corpse. Which makes the best part of four hundred tons of phosphorus every year from England alone." Henry spoke with a happy pride, rejoicing wholeheartedly in the achievement, as though it had been his own. "Fine to think we can go on being socially useful even after we're dead. Making plants grow" (Huxley 73). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity. 

In Chapter 5, Henry and Lenina take off on their machine and during their ride Lenina questions smoke-stacks and why they have balconies around them. Henry explains to her the purpose of the balconies as "Phosphorus Recovery." This process uses a chemical to cremate bodies and take phosphorus out of them. He explains this process as being beneficial for humanity because it makes people useful even after they're dead. I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity in this scenario because although this process may be beneficial to the environment, it is a sad and unfortunate way to rest after death. In the Brave New World science and technology is constantly used to make life much easier and effective. So, in their world, this scientific advancement is very beneficial. But in our world, I question whether this advancement would be very beneficial. My knowledge of this process is also very minute so I would have to look into this process and its positive and negative effects. 

Brave New World Chapter 4: Who is Bernard Marx?

"Well, now she had said it and he was still wretched- wretched that she should have thought it such a perfect afternoon for Obstacle Golf, that she should have trotted away to join Henry Foster, that she should have found him funny for not wanting to talk of their most private affairs in public. Wretched, in a word, because she had behaved as any healthy and virtuous English girl ought to behave and not in some other, abnormal, extraordinary way" (Huxley 64). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity. 

In this chapter we meet Bernard Marx who is a rather different character than other characters in this novel. Bernard is approached by Lenina and asked on a date. Bernard is surprised and acts in a rather awkward and unsettling way. His reaction is due to the fact that he did not expect Lenina to ask him on a date in such a private way. In their world birth control is used so that people can have as much sex as they want with whomever they want. Therefore, sex has become less meaningful than it is mean to be in a real-world society. When Lenina approached Bernard, she approaches him in a rather meaningful way which throws Bernard off. Therefore, I qualify this statement because in this chapter we see how scientific (birth control) advancement does not benefit Bernard specifically because he is not used to a meaningful conversation with a woman and does not know how to act in such a scenario. Although this may not be beneficial in Bernard's case, scientific advancements are beneficial in other cases in the novel. 

Brave New World Chapter 1: Intro to BNW

"One egg, one embryo, one adult- normality. But a bokanovskified egg will bud, will proliferate, will divide. From eight to ninety-six buds, and every bud will grow into a perfectly formed embryo, and every embryo into a full-sized adult. Making ninety-six human beings grow where only one grew before. Progress" (Huxley 6). 

Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity. 

In Chapter 1, we are given a taste of the novel as the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning teaches his students about Bokanovsky's Process. This process is when one egg will bud, proliferate, and divide. These buds then grow into a perfectly formed embryo, and than every embryo into a full-sized adult. Making more than ten times more embryos and in turn more than ten times more human beings. This process can be classified as a scientific and technological advancement in the novel. I would qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity. In this scenario I feel that although replicating an embryo can cause harm and its continuous use can cause a great deal of over population, I feel that this scientific advancement can be helpful for certain cases and certain people. Therefore this scientific advancement is both harmful and helpful therefore I qualify the anchor statement above. 

Things Fall Apart Chapter 24-25: The Death of Okonkwo

"Okonkwo's machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his uniformed body. The waiting backcloth jumped into tumultous life and the meeting was stopped. Okonkwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape...'It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil, and only strangers may touch it. That is why we ask your people to bring him down, because you are strangers'" (Achebe 204-207). 

According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on the people who lived through it?

In Chapter 24, the men of Umuofia are finally released from the imprisonment of the white men. After they are released, Okonkwo seeks vengeance as they are brutally beaten and tortured in the hands of the white men. The village of Umuofia calls a meeting and everyone attends, which excited Okonkwo. But Okonkwo is upset that the village will not go to war with the white men because they do not want to harm their brothers which have converted to Christianity. When a white messenger invades the meeting, Okonkwo pulls out his machete and kills the messenger. This creates a stir in the meeting and Okonkwo disappears. When the District Commissioner comes to seek out Okonkwo, his friend Obierika leads the way. Unfortunately for the District Commissioner, Okonkwo has already committed suicide and is left dangling from a tree. Obierika ironically asks the District Commissioner to untie Okonkwo because it is against their beliefs to touch a man who has committed an abomination (suicide). The District Commissioner agrees and has his men bring down Okonkwo. The District Commissioner later thinks about the book he is planning to write and how he will include the story of Okonkwo in his book. Through this summary we can see how imperialism led to tension, violence, and even death. As Okonkwo began to see the diminishing strength and courage in his village he began to give up on life and what he had worked so hard to build. He soon realized he was standing alone and in the end took his own life. Imperialism led to a divide within villages and clans, and led to great tension between people of different religions. 

Things Fall Apart Chapter 22-23: Umuofia Leaders Caged and Mistreated

"He told the court messengers, when he left the guardroom, to treat the men with respect because they were the leaders of Umuofia...As soon as the District Commissioner left, the head messenger, who was also the prisoners' barber, took down his razor and shaved off all the hair on the men's heads. They were still handcuffed, and they just sat and moped...The six men ate nothing throughout the day and the next. They were not even given any water to drink, and they could not go out to urinate or go into the bush when they were pressed. At night the messengers came in to taunt them and to knock their shaven heads together" (Achebe 194-195). 

According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on the people who lived through it?

In Chapter 23 we get a sense of the violence that erupted between the clan and the white Christians. After receiving an invitation from the District Commissioner to discuss the fighting that had erupted, the men of high title within the clan decide to go and meet with the District Commissioner. When they arrive at the meeting they are seated. The District Commissioner then invited twelve of his men to the meeting as well for the purpose of "hearing the story." The men of high title are suddenly handcuffed and led into the guardroom. The District Commissioner tells his men to treat the men of Umuofia with respect because they were the leaders of Umuofia. Although the men agree they later begin to treat the men of Umuofia like animals. They shave their heads, do not allow them food or water, and let them urinate on themselves. The way the white men treat the prestigious leaders of Umuofia goes to show the lack of respect the white men  had for the men of other color. Imperialism caused people to be treated like less of human as new people invaded their territory and made it their own. 

Chapter 20 and 21- Things Fall Apart

"But he says that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. 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" (Achebe 176)
"Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women" (Achebe 183).

According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on the people who lived through it? 

In Chapter 20, Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after seven years of exile in his motherland of Mbanta. He returns with the mindset that he will be held with high esteem and gain the highest title in the land. But what Okonkwo doesn't realize is that Umuofia has changed a lot within the past seven years. The white missionaries have gained many followers and even gained some men with high title. This betrayal has created a stir in Okonkwo's plan because he believes that his high title would be meaningless now. Imperialism impacts the clan tremendously as the clan begins to fall apart as more and more people begin to join the white missionaries and convert to Christianity. Christianity has sparked an interest in the people of the clan, and therefore they leave behind their old faith for this new faith that welcomes anyone (even those considered outsiders or evil by the clan). Imperialism creates a divide among the people of Umuofia and creates tension between the people of the new religion and the people of the old religion.

Chapter 17/18/19- Things Fall Apart

"They offered them as much of the Evil Forest as they cared to take. And to their greatest amazement the missionaries thanked them and burst into song...At last the day came by which all the missionaries should have died. But they were still alive, building a new red-earth and thatch house for their teacher, Mr. Kiaga. That week they won a handful more converts" (Achebe 149-151).

According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it?

In Chapter 17, we rehash on how Nwoye came to join the white men and follow their faith. The people of Mbanta decide to give the white missionaries a section of land after they ask for a place to build their church. They think they are being clever by giving them all of the Evil Forest because of their predisposed beliefs about the evils it entails. They believe that the white missionaries will be dead by a certain time but not one of them had died. The white missionaries in fact gain converts and even gain their first woman convert. Nwoye joins the white men after he was seen among the Christians by his father's cousin (Amikwu). Okonkwo becomes furious and beats his son. His uncle stops the beating and Nwoye escapes and is never heard from again. Okonkwo questions why he was given such a despicable son and even goes as far to question whether the child is even his. He later realizes it is because of his personal god or chi, which explains his great misfortune and his exile from Umofia. The white missionaries have a great impact on the village of Mbanta, as they gain more and more converts which creates a divide within families. Imperialism also makes people question their faith, for example, when the Evil Forest doesn't kill any of the missionaries the people begin to question if their faith and beliefs are realistic. 

Chapter 15 and 16- Things Fall Apart

"The arrival of the missionaries had caused a considerable stir in the village of Mbanta. There were six of them and one was a white man. Every man and woman came out to see the white man.... "We have been sent by this great God to ask you to leave your wicked ways and false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die," he said". (Achebe 144-145). 

According to the text(s), what effect did imperialism have on people who lived through it?

In Chapter 16, we get a taste of how imperialism began in Things Fall Apart. As white people began to integrate themselves into the societies of the Ibo people, the Ibo people began to question their own beliefs. When the white missionary enters the village of Mbanta, Okonkwo and his people do not take him seriously. As the missionary talks to the people of Mbanta through his translator, the translations are rough and comical and their new ideas are unbelievable. The missionary attempts to encourage the people of Mbanta to forget their own Gods and their own beliefs, and instead believe in a new God. The people of Mbanta do not take him seriously, but Nwoye (Okonkwo's son) finds interest in the words of the missionary and joins them. This makes Okonkwo very unhappy and he does not like to speak of him anymore. But, in the beginning of Chapter 16, we hear from Obierika that the white missionaries have had a huge impact on Umuofia and have begun building a church and converting people after their visit to Mbanta.

Chapter 13 and 14- Things Fall Apart

"The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years" (Achebe 124). 

Customs and Rules 

In Umuofia, the people abide by certain rules and beliefs that their ancestors have set for them and which they have used for generations. After Okonkwo accidentally kills Ezedu's (the dead man for whom they are having a funeral) son, he is banished from the clan for seven years. This has a horrific toll on Okonkwo because he has to give up everything he has worked so hard for since his youth. His belongings were burned and he took nothing with him except his wives and children. His friend Obierika questions why Okonkwo would be banished for something he committed accidentally but never figures out a real answer to his question. Despite Obierika's close friendship with Okonkwo, he helps the large crowd of men set fire to Okonkwo's houses and demolish his walls, kill his animals, and destroy his barn which he had worked hard to maintain. This demolition is considered a cleansing process which needed to be done because Okonkwo had polluted with the blood of a clansman. In conclusion, although Okonkwo accidentally killed Ezeudu's son, he was still banished for seven years on a "female" offense (considered a smaller offense than a male) because of the customs and rules set by the ancestors of the clan.

Chapter 11 and 12- Things Fall Apart

"On the following morning the entire neighborhood wore a festive air because Okonkwo's friend, Obierika, was celebrating his daughter's uri. It was the day on which her suitor (having already paid the greater part of her bride-price) would bring palm-wine not only to her parents and immediate relatives but to the wide and extensive group of kinsmen called umunna. Everybody had been invited-men, women and children. But it was really a woman's ceremony and the central figures were the bride and her more" (Achebe 110). 

Arranged Marriages 

In the novel, gender inequality is constantly exhibited. Women are considered the property of their husbands, and husbands have the ability to treat their wives however they wish; which is seen in Okonkwo's constant beating of his wives for minuscule wrongdoings. In Chapter 12, we get a taste of how men and women are brought together. Women are not given the opportunity to choose who they wish to marry based on personality, looks, etc., but rather choose a suitor who can "financially support" them based on their bride-price. This decision of a suitor is done in front of everyone and is in the public eye. Everyone helps out with the cooking of the food, and the preparation for the ceremony. Although this type of marriage proposal is done in almost every marriage in the village, it is interesting to notice that Okonkwo and Ekwefi did not take this traditional route. Okonkwo and Ekwefi fell in love but were not able to marry because of Okonkwo's financial instability at the time. Ekwefi in fact married someone wealthier, but later returned to Okonkwo when he was financially stable.

Chapter 9 and 10- Things Fall Apart

"The medicine man then ordered that there should be no mourning for the dead child. He brought out a sharp razor from the goatskin bag slung from his left shoulder and began to mutilate the child. Then he took it away to bury in the Evil Forest, holding it by the ankle and dragging it on the ground behind him. After such treatment it would think twice before coming again, unless it was one of the stubborn ones who returned, carrying the stamp of their mutilation- a missing finger or perhaps a dark line where the medicine man's razor had cut them" (Achebe 78-79).

The Importance of Stories and Myths in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 

In Things Fall Apart, story-telling and myths have great importance in the village where Okonkwo and his family live. After Okonkwo's wife, Ekwefi, had failed to keep a child long after birth, Okonkwo decided to seek help from a medicine man. A medicine man apparently being the one who has all the answers to situations similar to these. The medicine man believed that there was only one child, and this child was dying and coming back to life repeatedly. To fix this problem, the medicine man decided to mutilate the dead child to scare it off and teach it a lesson. After this, Ekwefi had Ezinma, who although ailing seemed determined to live, and so she did. The radical steps the medicine man took, and the trust Okonkwo had in him shows the importance of myths and stories in Okonkwo's tribe. Although Ezinma lived, it is quite possible that it was only a coincidence and not due to the medicine man's mutilation of the "rebirthing child."

Chapter 7 and 8- Things Fall Apart

"Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father's household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors. He wanted him to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices. And so he was always happy when he heard him grumbling about women. That showed that in time he would be able to control his women-folk. No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man" (Achebe 52-53).

Gender Inequality 

In this quote we get a sense of the gender roles and gender inequality that took place during the time of the book "Things Fall Apart." Okonkwo, a prosperous man who desires strength and success believes that women are like property, and a man who knows how to control his women would be prosperous. Okonkwo desires his son to obtain these qualities and beliefs as well. Nwoye (Okonkwo's son) begins to spend a lot of time with Ikemefuna (the traded boy from another town) and begins to grasp some of his traits in the process. With the help of Ikemefuna, Nwoye begins to find annoyance towards women. This annoyance creates a desire within him to control the women around him. This annoyance makes Okonkwo happy because he realizes his son is becoming a true man, something he doubted earlier, before Ikemufuna entered their lives. Okonkwo now believes that his son will become prosperous like himself and feels comfortable knowing that his legacy will continue.

Chapter 5 and 6- Things Fall Apart

"Okonkwo cleared his throat and moved his feet to the beat of the drums. It filled him with fire as it had always done from his youth. He trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue. It was like the desire for woman" (Achebe 42).

​Part II: How is imperialism ​encouraged by patriotism​, religion​, &/or a sense of cultural​/

racial superiority ​in Chinua Achebe’s ​Things Fall Apart​ ​/ the past​?

Okonkwo is a perfect representation of a man who is constantly seeking power and superiority over others. Because of Okonkwo's past, being the son of an unsuccessful and weak man, he constantly seeks to sustain his rank by making sure nothing threatens his social status. Although Okonkwo has many wives and a good number of yams, he still fears that he could lose it all and become like his father. Okonkwo's father (Unoka) was a horrible role model who in turn has created fear in Okonkwo, the fear of becoming like his father. This fear has created anger in Okonkwo as well which is evident when he beats his wives for minor wrongdoings. Because of the time period, beating one's wives was not considered immoral because a man's wife was like a man's property. Therefore, Okonkwo constantly takes out his anger on his wives, and in turn feels a sense of superiority and power after doing so.

Chapter 3 and 4- Things Fall Apart

"Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had. He did no inherit a barn from his father. There was no barn to inherit" (Achebe 16).

"Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society."

Unlike typical young men of his tribe, Okonkwo did not receive the luxuries that most young men inherited from their father as they grew up. Okonkwo had to gain these luxuries on his own through hard work and dedication. Because of his setbacks given to him by his father, Okonkwo faced many difficulties and struggles in life. These setbacks are possibly the reason behind his lack of emotion and his constant need to lay down an iron fist. Many people in our day and age have things handed over to them whether it be money, a new car, clothes, etc. But within our society you will sometimes come across a person who has earned their luxuries not from their parents, but through their own hard work, because they too, like Okonkwo lack a strong backbone (parents with money). People like these are essential to our society because they teach us that not everything can be handed over to you. Hard work is key to success and without this knowledge the rate of success among people within our society or society in general would be very low.

Chapter 1 and 2- Things Fall Apart

"When Unoka died he had taken no title at all and he was heavily in debt. Any wonder then that his son Okonkwo was ashamed of him? Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father. Okonkwo was clearly cut out for great things. He was still young but he had won fame as the greatest wrestler in the nine villages" (Achebe 8).

"Individuality is a threat to a harmonious society"

I qualify this statement. Okonkwo, the main character of "Things Fall Apart" is a very self-made character. After watching his father, what most people look up to as a role model, fail miserably at life he decided he didn't want to be anything like his father. His father being an unsuccessful man who died in debt, was no role model for Okonkwo. Because of Okonkwo's individuality he was able to create a better name and life for himself than the one his father led. Although Okonkwo lays down rules with an iron fist, he does so because of his fear of becoming anything like his father. But this fear could possibly heighten and lead to great harm for his surroundings (wives, children, etc.). Therefore, I conclude that although individuality is important to society because of the great values it presents (hard work, dedication, etc.), it can lead to great danger for society as the individual's fear of loosing their successes presents tension and anger.