Umuofia Virtual Village-Reflection

           Personally, I did not learn many things about the other characters in the novel through this simulation process due to different factors. To begin with, during the simulation of Umuofia, I did not think as the other characters and didn’t have to respond towards the situation as them so I could not anticipate what they would do or how they would react. Moreover, some characters didn’t clearly respond to the situation just like they would on the novel so I could not extend my knowledge about them. For example there is one part in the simulation process where the one who was impersonating Ezinma states that his “brother will die. I am extremely sad.” I don’t really feel that, so I could not expand on what she might be really thinking. Nonetheless, I did get to understand that every character in the novel stands in a different place and each one has an individual opinion regarding every situation. In my case, I did learn more about Reverend Smith and I also got to reinforce my previous knowledge about him. When thinking like him and responding to situations like him, I clearly noticed that my character has no acceptance towards other cultures or beliefs that are not pertaining to Christianity, and he will not listen to those who do not follow him. He follows exactly what God says, and wants everybody to do so. In part, I already understood this by reading the novel, but this simulation has helped me grasp this information even further.

            During this virtual simulation, characters responded the way they did because within the novel they already had a predetermined role and a specific behavior towards situations. What I mean by this is that students just had to take over the role these characters played in the novel and bring their way of thinking and talking into the simulation with the whole class. My character, Reverend Smith, would not be open to the Ibo culture within this simulation because he hadn’t acted that way in the novel. Therefore, it was pretty to anticipate how characters would react to the situations imposed by the Village Crier, given the fact that they had to play them as if it were part of the novel.

            My personal experience towards the Umuofia Virtual Village and the reading of the novel were pretty similar, but some aspects were different as well. It was very similar given the fact that Reverend Smith, the character I had to represent, had the beliefs and followed certain rules throughout the novel, and I tried to portray those same rules and beliefs during our virtual simulation of the story. The difference comes that within the novel there is already a predetermined reaction by the character because the event has already occurred and the book is written already. During the simulation I was able to take into consideration a reaction the character might have taken within the novel, but I also had the chance to add on to it and make the reaction for subtle or stress the importance of my character within the event even more. Throughout the simulation I though of more reasons to why we as Christians should build a school; more reasons than what one can read in the novel.  

            Taking part of this Umuofia Virtual Village built on my previous knowledge of the novel to a certain extent. Based on the reaction I had as Reverend Smith, and the reactions other characters had regarding the situations imposed in the simulation, I was able to get the big picture. With the big picture I mean that I could relate to different events of the novel and try to explain why characters reacted the way they did, based on what students responded throughout the virtual novel done in class. This activity also helped me see what were some of the most important parts of the novels, as they were the situations the Village Crier imposed on the characters, and also since we had to locate these within the novel so that we could fix ourselves within it. For example when we had to located the sacred python on page 157, and then relate to it as our character would.  On the other hand, this activity did not lead to improve my knowledge regarding the historical facts on which the novel is based since history was not touched throughout the activity. At no moment during the simulation did someone relate what we were doing to historical events, neglecting me from learning more about it.

English and the African Writer

In his essay, "English and the African Writer" Chinua Achebe reflects on the role of language and power, focusing on how language has helped African Literature to develop.

Achebe's main purpose was to communicate the idea that African literature cannot be defined in one single term as it is too broad.

Achebe view of the British/English language is very extense, given the fact the he writes many of his novels in that language.  He asserts, “that the national literature of Nigeria and of many other countries of Africa is, or will be, written in English.” Also, he referred to _______________________ which created the emotion/reaction of________________________ within the reader.

Achebe believes that the justification for using English as a means of communication in his novel is because the English language is one that is commonly known across the whole world, and it is one language that many people understand, so it is used for more people to understand the novels.  

The influence of the British led to a high socio-political change, including, acceptance of a language within all the different social groups. Achebe points to the irony at work when presented with work by authors such as Shabaan Robert, the Swahili poet of Tanganyika, as he could not understand his work, and would not, until Achebe learned Swahili.

Writers who choose to publish in the colonial languages of English and French, are not, Achebe believes, "unpatriotic smart-alecs," they are in fact, “ by-products of the same process that made the new nation-states of Africa”.

Achebe draws to a conclusion by referring to the work of James Baldwin. He draws a parallel between this work and his own ideas by finding similarities between both works.

Quote bank: please add to this/highlight key quotes within your copy of this extract.

 "If it didn't give them a song, it gave them a tongue."

“Where am I to find the time to learn the half dozen or so Nigerian languages, each of which can sustain a literature?”

“Let us not in rejecting the evil throw out the good within.”

“The national literature of Nigeria and of many other countries of Africa is, or will be, written in English.”

What are “kola nuts” and how they are used in the novel? What do they represent or symbolize?

In the novel Things Fall Apart, the author tries to portray symbols relevant and important to the Igbo society. Kola nuts are very important to the community and appear occasionally throughout. When reading the novel, one will eventually ask themselves what do kola nuts actually represent. Kola nuts within the Ibo culture represent a sign of respect. In many occasions, one may not speak because he/she has not been offered kola nuts by the host, and this is a sign that they do not feel welcome. This means that kola nuts represent traditional hospitality. Kola nuts also represent spirituality, given the fact that when one breaks a kola nut it is a spiritual process. This can be seen in a part of the novel, when Okoye and Unoka meet, that Unoka “prayed to their ancestors for life and health and for protection against their enemies”, at the time of breaking the kola nut. The process of breaking the nut is very honorable and spiritual, given the fact that it symbolizes respect and hospitality. They were about to discuss a very important topic, but they did not start until the kola nut had been broken. Kola nuts represent respect against each other and furthermore make people feel welcome within a home.

The Danger of a Single Story- Chimamanda Adichie

Chimamanda Adichie is a famous African writer. She has been a revolutionary author from this culture, who is capable to write novels that can be understood by everyone and represents the story behind Nigeria. She says that while growing up, she never imagined becoming a well-known writer, given her middle class status. The first time she stepped outside Africa was when she went to study abroad, to the USA. Inspired by her roommate’s thoughts and stereotypes, the author began writing novels that depicted how honorable are Nigerian people within world history. Through her novels, she wanted to show that world how her culture and society truly was: what their living habits were, and how they are not a primitive group like many people think. The author fears that a single story robs people since it creates stereotypes and biased interpretations of her nation and other African countries. She says that “single stories create stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story”. This means that with stereotypes, people only see one side of the story, and neglect the fact that there is another one. So in this particular case, new perspectives regarding Nigeria were needed. This led the author to make most of her characters, white people or British. This is somewhat rare, because when one gets the opportunity to write about given culture, they create characters pertaining from the place, not the other way around. She wants to portray the scars that colonialism caused within African nations. When achieving all of this, one can now understand why only listening to one side of a story is not having all the information, and it’s not accurate. Chimamanda is now a well-known author that has used the prejudices pressed against herself and her culture to portray the true meaning of Nigerian culture.

Character Analysis- Reverend James Smith

Key quotes with analysis:

“Does the white man understand our custom about land?” “How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”

This quotes is directly referring to Reverend James Smith. In this particular case Obierika and Okonkwo are talking about how this strict, stereotypical white Christian missionary has created chaos within their community. They are complaining that he has come with this religion and is trying to conquer over the Igbo, and how the people he has managed to convince have already betrayed their society. This quote represents how Reverend James Smith has no compassion for the people living within this society and how is not open-minded towards the beliefs of the people he was working with.

The interpreter spoke to the white man and he immediately gave his answer. "All the gods you have named are not gods at all. They are gods of deceit who tell you to kill your fellows and destroy innocent children. There is only one true God and He has the earth, the sky, you and me and all of us." "If we leave our gods and follow your god," asked another man, "who will protect us from the anger of our neglected gods and ancestors?" "Your gods are not alive and cannot do you any harm," replied the white man. "They are pieces of wood and stone."

This quote once again is giving the reader insight on how Reverend James Smith behaved and what he thought of the people he had to deal with once he replaced Mr.Brown in the church. This shows us how he insulted everyone and mistreated their beliefs and how he was trying to convince the Igbo people that all of their beliefs were incorrect. This shows how he did not want to make a connection between their religion and Catholicism.

The white man brings his destructive religion and the yoke of his laws.

This quote is giving us once again insight on how the new father of Catholicism in Umuofia is trying to impose his Catholic religion in the new society. He brought his new religion and tried to impose it without thinking about the rest, and the Igbo people though of it as a destructive religion just as it has been mentioned in the quote. Moreover, he did not follow the laws that the previous father, Mr.Brown, did follow; this is a reason towards why Reverend James Smith was not loved within the Igbo people but he was rather despised by everyone that belonged to the society.

Relationship of character to others within the novel

            As Mr.Brown’s successor, Reverend James Smith is completely opposite. He condemns Mr.Brown’s method of compromise and accommodation. Moreover he is a very opinionated person, who starts making changes as soon as he arrived to this new society. Everyone sees him as a strict and uncompromising person; someone who does not tolerates and disrespects the Igbo beliefs and customs, and he considers their beliefs to be a work of the devil. Reverend James Smith, does not treat people pertaining to the Igbo culture in respectful manner; making it evident that he does not have a very good relationship with those he is trying to colonize. Reverend Smith is less retrained than what the Igbo society was used to, meaning that he uses the established position in the Christian church to push for a less restrained expansion of their religion. Reverend Smith seems to have very little respect for the customs and instills this same irreverence within his followers.

Reaction/Response of character to key events within the text

Reverend James Smith has a couple of key events within the novel that give the reader insight as to how he behaved and what his thoughts were. To begin with, he suspended a young lady from the Christian church because he said she was “contaminating” Christianity with her old beliefs. What his young lady was trying to do was find a connecting between both religions and see what they had in common so there could be an easier and smoother transition from one to the other. Reverend Smith did not think of it that way and he immediately suspended her from attending or going to church.

Another scene in which Reverend Smith sees himself in is when he replaces Mr.Brown. When Enoch dares to unmask an egwugwu, his compound is burned to the ground the next day. People gather in front of the church to confront Reverend James Smith and his followers, but he stated that he will stand his ground and forbids them to touch the church. This demonstrates how little the Reverend cared for the feelings of other and how he instilled bad reactions within his followers. Nonetheless, the church was burned after ignoring his orders.

Visual representation of the character

Narrative Structure in The Bluest Eye

When talking about narrative structure, one is referring to the order of events, the point of view, the conflict development and about the resolution. In The Bluest Eye there is a varied narrative structure which includes more than one perspective giving more insight into the novel and increases the amount of interest and help construct the theme. The author has a specific order of event, in which she introduces the reader to many different poins of view, which engage the reader into wanting to know what will occur afterwards. There are many points of view in the story such as: Claudia McTeer, Cholly, Pauline, etc. The author also somewhat messes around with chronology, since she goes from the past to the present and so forth, meaning that the character's past is was not an easy one.
By the aforementioned, one can notice that Toni Morrison uses the narrative structure in her novel in different ways in order to create interest in the book and to engage the reader to keep reading.