Rough Draft (no quotes)
Here is the rough draft of my essay. I don't have quotes inserted yet but i will be adding them in the final draft. All feedback is appreciated.
The European colonization of Nigeria was represented more negatively in Things Fall Apart than in The Lion and the Jewel. In Things Fall Apart the colonization was shown as the destruction of the Ibo culture and religion and in The Lion and the Jewel it seemed almost idolized more than disliked.
Things Fall Apart begins by showing an explanation of what life in the Ibo tribes of Nigeria was like. It showed what was considered to be a positive trait for men and woman and how people became powerful and influential. The main character Okonkwo was a man considered highly in his tribe. He had 3 wives and was strong and hard working all of which were positive traits for men to have in the Ibo culture. The more wives you had demonstrated power and influence as well. When marrying a wife you had to pay a bride price in the Ibo culture and therefore the more wives you paid to get the better.
The book continued to have the Europeans arrive with their Christian beliefs and new and different ideas. At first this was thought of as no threat but then Christianity began to expand and schools were built. More and more people began converting to Christianity including Okonkwo’s son Nwoye. As the title of the novel suggests the book was written showing how the Ibo culture fell apart when the Europeans arrived. Okonkwo’s life was completely changed and he hated all of the changes that were occurring. One of the main reasons this book shows the European colonization negatively is because it is mainly from the point of view of Okonkwo who hated all of the changes. When Nwoye converted to Christianity the book showed some positive aspects of European colonization but it also showed how they were negatively received by many of the Ibo people and since the perspective was Okonkwo it was thought of as completely negative. Things get really tough between the Ibo and the Christians as the Christians grew in number and power. An Ibo ritual was then interrupted by some diehard Christians which caused major problems and some actions against the Christians. One of the actions was the burning of a church. Finally near the end the Okonkwo and 4 other powerful men from the tribe were held captive for ransom. After the ransom was paid the tribe considered going to war against the Christians like Okonkwo wanted. During a tribe meeting on the topic some Christians came and Okonkwo killed one of them. The rest fled and no chase was given. Okonkwo knew they had now lost the battle against Christianity and there would be no war. He hanged himself.
Okonkwo’s suicide shows just how negative the book showed the European colonization. It showed that they destroyed the Ibo culture as well as there religion and drove a once strong and influential individual like Okonkwo to commit suicide and force his people to bury him no better than a dog giving him no funeral or proper burial. Things Fall Apart focused on the destruction of the Ibo culture caused by the Europeans which led to negatively representing the European colonization of Nigeria. This was very different in The Lion and the Jewel.
In The Lion and the Jewel the European colonization was shown much more positively. One of the main characters (Lakunle) especially was completely accepting and even idolized the European culture. Even Baroka the Bale who was the leader of the tribe accepted some parts of the European culture. Sidi also loved the magazine created by the Europeans although she didn’t like some parts of the European culture like the lack of bride price. Another form of idolizing the Europeans was the mimes that were done by the tribe to show the Europeans actions. Baroka was opposed to a railroad and any other changes that could affect his position of power but he accepted the idea of a postal service which could benefit him. Schools were common now in Nigeria which is another part of European culture that was accepted by the tribe. Lakunle who was a school teacher loved the big European controlled cities and wanted to make his small town like them. He wouldn’t accept the idea of a bride price and wanted to have a European like relationship with Sidi. Sidi didn’t accept his idea of a wedding but not because it was a European idea but because she felt she would be degraded if Lakunle didn’t pay the bride price. In The Lion and the Jewel everyone accepted the European colonization to an extent.
The 2 books showed similar events of the European colonization. The Lion and the Jewel occurred later than Things Fall Apart which is one reason the attitudes towards the European colonization were more negative in Things Fall Apart. Many of the characters were completely opposed to European colonization in Things Fall Apart and it was partially accepted by everyone in The Lion and the Jewel. Therefore the European colonization was shown as more negative Things Fall Apart than in The Lion and the Jewel.
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been very busy and wasn't home on March break.
The European colonization of Nigeria was represented more negatively in Things Fall Apart than in The Lion and the Jewel. In Things Fall Apart the colonization was shown as the destruction of the Ibo culture and religion and in The Lion and the Jewel it seemed almost idolized more than disliked.
Things Fall Apart begins by showing an explanation of what life in the Ibo tribes of Nigeria was like. It showed what was considered to be a positive trait for men and woman and how people became powerful and influential. The main character Okonkwo was a man considered highly in his tribe. He had 3 wives and was strong and hard working all of which were positive traits for men to have in the Ibo culture. The more wives you had demonstrated power and influence as well. When marrying a wife you had to pay a bride price in the Ibo culture and therefore the more wives you paid to get the better.
The book continued to have the Europeans arrive with their Christian beliefs and new and different ideas. At first this was thought of as no threat but then Christianity began to expand and schools were built. More and more people began converting to Christianity including Okonkwo’s son Nwoye. As the title of the novel suggests the book was written showing how the Ibo culture fell apart when the Europeans arrived. Okonkwo’s life was completely changed and he hated all of the changes that were occurring. One of the main reasons this book shows the European colonization negatively is because it is mainly from the point of view of Okonkwo who hated all of the changes. When Nwoye converted to Christianity the book showed some positive aspects of European colonization but it also showed how they were negatively received by many of the Ibo people and since the perspective was Okonkwo it was thought of as completely negative. Things get really tough between the Ibo and the Christians as the Christians grew in number and power. An Ibo ritual was then interrupted by some diehard Christians which caused major problems and some actions against the Christians. One of the actions was the burning of a church. Finally near the end the Okonkwo and 4 other powerful men from the tribe were held captive for ransom. After the ransom was paid the tribe considered going to war against the Christians like Okonkwo wanted. During a tribe meeting on the topic some Christians came and Okonkwo killed one of them. The rest fled and no chase was given. Okonkwo knew they had now lost the battle against Christianity and there would be no war. He hanged himself.
Okonkwo’s suicide shows just how negative the book showed the European colonization. It showed that they destroyed the Ibo culture as well as there religion and drove a once strong and influential individual like Okonkwo to commit suicide and force his people to bury him no better than a dog giving him no funeral or proper burial. Things Fall Apart focused on the destruction of the Ibo culture caused by the Europeans which led to negatively representing the European colonization of Nigeria. This was very different in The Lion and the Jewel.
In The Lion and the Jewel the European colonization was shown much more positively. One of the main characters (Lakunle) especially was completely accepting and even idolized the European culture. Even Baroka the Bale who was the leader of the tribe accepted some parts of the European culture. Sidi also loved the magazine created by the Europeans although she didn’t like some parts of the European culture like the lack of bride price. Another form of idolizing the Europeans was the mimes that were done by the tribe to show the Europeans actions. Baroka was opposed to a railroad and any other changes that could affect his position of power but he accepted the idea of a postal service which could benefit him. Schools were common now in Nigeria which is another part of European culture that was accepted by the tribe. Lakunle who was a school teacher loved the big European controlled cities and wanted to make his small town like them. He wouldn’t accept the idea of a bride price and wanted to have a European like relationship with Sidi. Sidi didn’t accept his idea of a wedding but not because it was a European idea but because she felt she would be degraded if Lakunle didn’t pay the bride price. In The Lion and the Jewel everyone accepted the European colonization to an extent.
The 2 books showed similar events of the European colonization. The Lion and the Jewel occurred later than Things Fall Apart which is one reason the attitudes towards the European colonization were more negative in Things Fall Apart. Many of the characters were completely opposed to European colonization in Things Fall Apart and it was partially accepted by everyone in The Lion and the Jewel. Therefore the European colonization was shown as more negative Things Fall Apart than in The Lion and the Jewel.
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been very busy and wasn't home on March break.
posted by Chris at 4:57 PM
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