Thursday, February 7, 2008
Chapter Twenty-two
Since Mr. Brown died his place was taken by Reverend James Smith. None of the cultural clan like him, after a few weeks of him, he suspended a woman from church for putting new wine in old bottles, WHAT does it matter? It won’t hurt the wine. Then a guy name Enoch, who is very devoted to Christianity, defaced the African religion by tearing the mask off of a egwugwu, which is thought to kill the spirit. This was very bad, and had never happened before, so for this, the clan burns down Enoch’s compound, and Mr. Smith hid Enoch from them. The clan is fed up with the Christians. Since they defaced their religion, the egwugwu defaced the Christians, by burning down the church. Enoch was trying to start religions war between the two. Both of these were very wrong, but well deserved. Just because you don’t like another religion don’t mean you should treat them different. This is kind of like what Hitler did to the Jews, and I strongly disagree with that too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I tend to see the two preachers as symbolic. I think Achebe is trying to show us two sides of the church. At first, they limped in and were really nice to the natives. They taught about peace and understanding, etc.
Then we see a change in the church, where the 2nd preacher tells the villagers they believe in false Gods and they disrespect their values (ala. Enoch & the Mask & the Python Story)
I think we are being shown the "Culture-clash" of the two faiths and value systems. Neither is right to do what they did as you said.
Sometimes I think the title, "Things Fall Apart" is meant to be a play on words. Yeah, Okonkwo's life becomes horrible and does fall apart, but so does the once proud village! The Town begins to fall apart too.
Very Sad,
Mr. Farrell
Post a Comment