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"In that brief moment the world seemed to stand still...." "In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete...descended twice on the man's head."(p.204) Clearly it was Okonkwos' Chi that outweighed that of his clansmen because the narrator then stated, "He knew the Umuofia would not go to war." (p.205)
Foregoing Chi and focusing on obvious conflict a …show more content…
The conflict here is the direct nature with which the western culture speaks, avoiding any reference to an anecdote relevant to the situation, thus separating the two cultures for lack of any common background. This conflict is referenced in chapter twenty as Okonkwo speaks with a friend about the division between them. "Does the white man understand our customs about land?" "How can he when he does not even speak our tongue"? (p.176) This lack of common language results in a division in understanding that would impinge on legal, religious and cultural …show more content…
Onkonkwo states clearly that he wants to distance himself as much as possible from his father. He believes his father is weak and lacking any quality of a strong warrior or contributor to the clan, he is effeminate. Therefore, Okonkwo endeavors to be a strong warrior and a powerful elder with many titles. It is then understandable that the Umuofia, and in particular Onkonkwo, would distain the whites for making their young lazy and reliant on the whites. When Okonkwo's own son joins the church he must have felt a great sadness that his son was weak in mind, and would become softened by the white culture. Feminine versus masculine traits is the controversy in this instance. Okonkwo has built his whole life on the masculinity of the tribe. The masculinity is what helps the tribe
Foregoing Chi and focusing on obvious conflict a …show more content…
The conflict here is the direct nature with which the western culture speaks, avoiding any reference to an anecdote relevant to the situation, thus separating the two cultures for lack of any common background. This conflict is referenced in chapter twenty as Okonkwo speaks with a friend about the division between them. "Does the white man understand our customs about land?" "How can he when he does not even speak our tongue"? (p.176) This lack of common language results in a division in understanding that would impinge on legal, religious and cultural …show more content…
Onkonkwo states clearly that he wants to distance himself as much as possible from his father. He believes his father is weak and lacking any quality of a strong warrior or contributor to the clan, he is effeminate. Therefore, Okonkwo endeavors to be a strong warrior and a powerful elder with many titles. It is then understandable that the Umuofia, and in particular Onkonkwo, would distain the whites for making their young lazy and reliant on the whites. When Okonkwo's own son joins the church he must have felt a great sadness that his son was weak in mind, and would become softened by the white culture. Feminine versus masculine traits is the controversy in this instance. Okonkwo has built his whole life on the masculinity of the tribe. The masculinity is what helps the tribe