The Ibo culture is not exactly the same as ours, yet it has many similar ideas. For one, it emphasizes the idea of hard work will lead to respect and riches. Everyone, no matter from what family, can work their way to the top such as Okankwo. The pressure to fit in with the successful people of the Ibo culture drive Okankwo to be meticulous about the many aspects of living a respectable life. He is in a constant struggle to follow the proper manners and etiquette to be viewed highly. Also, just like in America laziness is not tolerated and is viewed poorly. Key similarities in our culture make the Ibo people look way ahead of their time.
The Ibo stress a strong code of manners of etiquette that is quite impressive. The people focus on being hospitable and treat all their guests as if Gods. They treasure palm wine and the kola nut. They are seen as gifts of hospitality and respect. That tradition is in America today. For example, whenever my dad is invited to an important dinner he will probably take over a bottle of a wine as a sign of respect. It is amazing to see traditions last so long throughout history. Also, when the Ibo have guests they make them their favorite foods and put them in front of everything. It is the same as the present time. Typically, when people have guests, they act differently in order to keep them happy and they share with them. Although the Ibo people are not as strong as a force as before, their human traditions and values are ever so present.
Another similar and key comparison is the Ibo’s idea of a success. It is analogous to the “American dream”. That is that hard work and kind-heartedness will make a person highly viewed and honored. Just like in Ibo times, today being in debt, (such as Okwanko’s father), is seen poorly. People who depend on others rather than achieve their own success are never honored no matter what day and age they are living in. It is fascinating to see how humans, no matter what technological state they are in, will tend to want to achieve the same mold of being successful through hard work. These pressures and cultural ideals force people, such Okwanko, to try to achieve perfection. Some people succeed, others have problems such as how Okwanko is irrationally harsh on his kids to not be like his dad. The ideals, although seeking goodness, do not always fit for everyone.
The similarities between our culture and the Ibo culture help emphasize key, primal values of humans. When people shed off their labels such as Ibo or American or whatever, it is apparent that they are all looking for the same thing: to fit in. Okwanko’s character shows that beautifully as his dislike for his father drives him to be perfect.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ibo Culture
The Ibo culture is unique and filled with many traditions built around pleasing the gods and living a good, kind-hearted life. From their hospitality to their leadership the Ibo are a very respectable and honorable tribe.
A main concept in their culture is to be as hospitable as possible. Guests and strangers are typically shocked to see how well they are treated when in the presence of the Ibo. A joke made of this hospitality goes like this (translated): “If you greet an Ibo man coming from his prayer with palm wine, he will not reply because he is obliged to offer you a palm wine.” It goes to show that their culture is known as a very kind-hearted and selfless one.
On important occasions it every family is supposed to send neighboring families some food. If that family has a visitor or guest the wife will go and invite them over. Before inviting them over, she will have figured out what food that guest enjoys most, and have it prepared. When the guest first arrives she would offer him or her a kola nut and then the main course is brought. Being a guest, it is disrespectful to refuse the food, but on the other hand they are not supposed to finish it. They should leave a bit of it left to show that they had enough food to get full.
The religion of the IBO is Christianity and they make up one of the largest block of Christians in Nigeria. Before Christianity the Ibo culture revolved around one god, “Chi”. The Chi can be personalized and shared with the community, which is thought to be why they later like Christianity.
The Ibo people have a very complex and sophisticated form of political life. They followed the following slogan, “no representation, no support”. Representation is built around the elders and the chiefs. The governmental power was much more diffused in this region in Nigeria.
In an Ibo family the husband s the head of the household and his most important responsibility is the well-being of his family. They followed an extended family system and perfected it. Families were involved in trade and commerce having to do with farming, iron works, and they also organized in trading blocks for the exchange of goods. The Ibo people rarely moved because they found it unnecessary. Communities wanted sons and daughters from far distances to come back and bring their children to their ancestral home.
The Ibo culture is clearly one of great honor where respect and hard work are valued strongly. It is very interesting to see that such an old tribe was so wise about how to deal with people and government. The Ibo are a strong people and should be looked on with great pride.
http://www.oraifite.com/culture-and-traditions
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm
A main concept in their culture is to be as hospitable as possible. Guests and strangers are typically shocked to see how well they are treated when in the presence of the Ibo. A joke made of this hospitality goes like this (translated): “If you greet an Ibo man coming from his prayer with palm wine, he will not reply because he is obliged to offer you a palm wine.” It goes to show that their culture is known as a very kind-hearted and selfless one.
On important occasions it every family is supposed to send neighboring families some food. If that family has a visitor or guest the wife will go and invite them over. Before inviting them over, she will have figured out what food that guest enjoys most, and have it prepared. When the guest first arrives she would offer him or her a kola nut and then the main course is brought. Being a guest, it is disrespectful to refuse the food, but on the other hand they are not supposed to finish it. They should leave a bit of it left to show that they had enough food to get full.
The religion of the IBO is Christianity and they make up one of the largest block of Christians in Nigeria. Before Christianity the Ibo culture revolved around one god, “Chi”. The Chi can be personalized and shared with the community, which is thought to be why they later like Christianity.
The Ibo people have a very complex and sophisticated form of political life. They followed the following slogan, “no representation, no support”. Representation is built around the elders and the chiefs. The governmental power was much more diffused in this region in Nigeria.
In an Ibo family the husband s the head of the household and his most important responsibility is the well-being of his family. They followed an extended family system and perfected it. Families were involved in trade and commerce having to do with farming, iron works, and they also organized in trading blocks for the exchange of goods. The Ibo people rarely moved because they found it unnecessary. Communities wanted sons and daughters from far distances to come back and bring their children to their ancestral home.
The Ibo culture is clearly one of great honor where respect and hard work are valued strongly. It is very interesting to see that such an old tribe was so wise about how to deal with people and government. The Ibo are a strong people and should be looked on with great pride.
http://www.oraifite.com/culture-and-traditions
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Sad, Sad Man
Gregor Samsa led an unfulfilling life trying to make ends meat for his family. He describes his job as a burden when he calls it suspicious and aggressive towards the sales employees. He would have quit but his family depends on him. Gregor’s turning into an insect is what he desired for. He wanted to just become a fly on the wall and lose all his responsibilities. His metamorphosis does result exactly as he wanted, although it did relieve him of his burden.
After turning into an insect, he no longer had to stress over his family’s financial crisis or go slave over his job; however, he is completely treated as a vermin. His family can no longer look at him the same at all. He had to cover himself up so that Grete could put his food in his room without freaking out. His dad threw apples at him and his family took apart his room as if he never existed. When he jumps on his beloved painting, it shows that Gregor yearned to be normal again. Unfortunately that was not going to happen soon.
When Gregor starves himself, it is evident that he realized that his desire to escape did not reach his expectation. The burden of truly being hated and exiled from his family must have been a bigger weight on his shoulders than his previous job and financial crisis. Although, maybe it is really what he wanted all along is to just escape life completely, but it shows that Gregor was not living his life happily. It is not hard to understand his logic seeing his position in the world, but I believe his desire to escape is wrong. People are born with the cards they are dealt and they should fight through it, with exceptions to health problems. I personally see Gregor as a weak, insecure individual who required his parent’s attention and acceptance to feel good about himself. His fate was deserved because he no longer has to worry about stress, or living in general as he wanted.
The moral of the story is that people do enjoy the feeling that people appreciate them, but it requires work for that to happen. The catch is that sometime one may face people that are not considerate at all. What Gregor did not realize is that he was not at fault for his parents harshness. He fell into believing that what he was doing was incorrect, when his financial support and care for his sister was exactly the right thing to do. It is sad to see the fate that befell him because he really is a caring person inside or else he never would have allotted a significant amount of time working for his family.
After turning into an insect, he no longer had to stress over his family’s financial crisis or go slave over his job; however, he is completely treated as a vermin. His family can no longer look at him the same at all. He had to cover himself up so that Grete could put his food in his room without freaking out. His dad threw apples at him and his family took apart his room as if he never existed. When he jumps on his beloved painting, it shows that Gregor yearned to be normal again. Unfortunately that was not going to happen soon.
When Gregor starves himself, it is evident that he realized that his desire to escape did not reach his expectation. The burden of truly being hated and exiled from his family must have been a bigger weight on his shoulders than his previous job and financial crisis. Although, maybe it is really what he wanted all along is to just escape life completely, but it shows that Gregor was not living his life happily. It is not hard to understand his logic seeing his position in the world, but I believe his desire to escape is wrong. People are born with the cards they are dealt and they should fight through it, with exceptions to health problems. I personally see Gregor as a weak, insecure individual who required his parent’s attention and acceptance to feel good about himself. His fate was deserved because he no longer has to worry about stress, or living in general as he wanted.
The moral of the story is that people do enjoy the feeling that people appreciate them, but it requires work for that to happen. The catch is that sometime one may face people that are not considerate at all. What Gregor did not realize is that he was not at fault for his parents harshness. He fell into believing that what he was doing was incorrect, when his financial support and care for his sister was exactly the right thing to do. It is sad to see the fate that befell him because he really is a caring person inside or else he never would have allotted a significant amount of time working for his family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)