Riowena.MichaelX.IP.SS

Significant points: 1. Female world vs. male world in the Igbo society: i.e. many things are divided into the "female" category or the "male" category: crops, crimes, homelands (motherland vs. fatherland). This depicts anything female-related to be gentle and calm, whereas male-related things are more aggressive and violent. Tangent: motherland/female category seem to be more rational (Obierika, Uchendu) whereas male side seem more irrational and impulsive (i.e. OKONKWO) The motherland includes all things gentle (Okonkwo blames the clan Abame's fall due to the unprepared state, whereas Uchendu argues that they should not have been aggressive to kill the white man in the first place.)

2. Okonkwo's mellowing in Motherland Mbanta. The "Roaring flame" parallels Okonkwo's former fiery-tempered character. However, as Okonkwo stays in his motherland, his "flame" begins to die out, especially after Nwoye's traitorous act of joining the devilish evangelists. (i.e. Okonkwo smiled, sighed, and even cried in his heart!!! T_T) He is also observed to be much less violent to his family members.

3. Biblical references throughout the book tend to foreshadow Christianity creeping into the Igbo culture. p.140 "The lake has turned the color of blood." p.139 Locusts

Significant sentences: 1. p. 146 "It was one of those gay and rollicking tunes of evangelism which had the power of plucking at silent and dusty chords in the heart of an Ibo man." -> Christianity has its inadvertent power over the Ibo people. In the original Ibo society, the people are restricted and bound to their traditions, divided into social classes. Christianity on the other hand, embraces everyone regardless of who he/she is. The newness of a new faith also attracts the interest of the people.

2. p.153 "Living fire begets cold. Impotent ash. He sighed again, deeply." -> Okonkwo made this connection to juxtapose his success and Nwoye's failure. ->As any fire, Okonkwo's own "fire" will one day also die out. This foreshadows Okonkwo's impending end.