Lesson Summary
In the fifth chapter of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo once again shows how he is different from his father Unoka; he beats and then nearly shoots his wife because of his own insecurity and anxiousness about not working during the Feast of the New Yam.
Why are the villagers upset that Okonkwo beats his wife during the week of peace and how does he rectify the situation?
The villagers are shocked when Okonkwo beats his wife during the Week of Peace because these days mark a sacred time during which the villagers of Umuofia honor the earth goddess and secure her protection and blessings for the year.
Why did Okonkwo beat his wife during the week of peace?
What is Okonkwo’s punishment for beating his wife during the week of peace?
When Okonkwo beats his wife, Ojiuigo, during the Week of Peace he is punished for “breaking the peace of Ani,” the goddess of the village and the spirit that oversees the farming and its results.
Why was Okonkwo’s reason for beating his second wife?
He beats her during the Week of Peace because she neglected to cook dinner. … Okonkwo shamefully beats his youngest wife for her negligence in not preparing dinner. The priest demands that Okonkwo will pay a fine for breaking the peace during the sacred time known as the Week of Peace.
Who is Okonkwo’s most trusted friend?
Obierika is Okonkwo’s best friend and also a respected man in Umuofia.
When a man says yes to his chi meaning?
“When a man says yes, his chi says yes also.” This Igbo proberb implies that a man’s actions affect his destiny as determined by his chi.
Who is Okonkwo’s favorite wife?
Though not explicitly stated, we think Ekwefi might be Okonkwo’s favorite wife, just like Ezinma is his favorite daughter.
Who is Okonkwo’s second wife?
Ekwefi ” She’s the second wife to Okonkwo and the mother to his daughter Ezinma.
What does nwoye fear?
He equates that line to the darkness of some of the village’s customs, such as abandoning babies, and the fear that he himself feels“that he is not masculine enough for his father or that his father will be violent toward him.
What is the Week of Peace?
The Week of Peace in Things Fall Apart is a yearly religious observance where no one is harmed or uses harsh words with each other. The week honors the earth goddess and will hopefully bring good crops.
What did Okonkwo often say about Ezinma?
What did Okonkwo often say about Ezinma? He said she looked just like her mother, who was his favorite wife. He said she should bring a good bride-price, and marry a rich man. He said it was a shame she wasn’t a boy.
What chapter is the week of peace?
The Week of Peace appears in Chapter Four of this great post-colonial classic that features the clash of two radically different civilisations.
Did Okonkwo beat his wives?
Ikemefuna soon begins to call Okonkwo “father.” During the Week of Peace, Okonkwo notices that his youngest wife, Ojiugo, has left her hut to have her hair braided without having cooked dinner. He beats her for her negligence, shamefully breaking the peace of the sacred week in a transgression known as nso-ani.
Why was Ikemefuna killed?
He tells Okonkwo that the Oracle has decreed that Ikemefuna must be killed as part of the retribution for the woman killed three years before in Mbaino. He tells Okonkwo to take no part in the killing since the boy calls him “father.” … Afraid to appear weak, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna with his machete.
Why did Nwoye leave his family?
When he starts to beat Nwoye with a heavy stick, his uncle Uchendu demands that Okonkwo leave his son alone. Nwoye leaves the hut and never returns. … Okonkwo fears that, after his death, his younger sons will abandon the family ancestors because they have become attracted to the new religion.