Okonkwo’s Resistance to Change in Chinua Achebes Things...

The character of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was driven by fear, a fear of change and losing his self-worth. He needed the village of Umuofia, his home, to remain untouched by time and progress because its system and structure were the measures by which he assigned worth and meaning in his own life. Okonkwo required this external order because of his childhood and a strained relationship with his father, which was also the root of his fears and subsequent drive for success. When the structure of Umuofia changed, as happens in society, Okonkwo was unable to adapt his methods of self-evaluation and ways of functioning in the world; the life he was determined to live could not survive a new environment and collapsed around†¦show more content†¦If he was accepted in the community, he was safe, respected, and successful, unlike his father, and his life had meaning. Okonkwo continually rejected the ways of his father, who was deeply indebted to other members of Umuofia, holding no titles, to the point where Okonkwo’s â€Å"whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness† (16). He transferred his fears into the context of Umuofia and the traits that society valued, but what was really the driving force in his decisions â€Å"was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father† (17). The values of Umuofia resembled the polar opposite of what Unoka was and Okonkwo twisted his motivations around in his mind and presented them to himself and the community as derived from Umuofia’s traditions. From this delusion, Okonkwo established his ultimate goal of becoming a revered member of the village, possessing many titles, and achieving anything necessary displaying his prominence in the community. The disparity between Okonkwo’s true motivations and his warped motivations lead Okonkwo to behave in ways which shocked other members of Umuofia with his apparent disregard for others, but which made sense to him as he saw weakness and Unoka in alternatives. When Ezeudu, a respected elder in Umuofia, informed Okonkwo that the village Oracle called for the killing of Okonkwo’s adopted son Ikemefuna, he asked Okonkwo not to take part. However, Okonkwo not only accompanied them,Show MoreRelatedPost-Colonial View on Things Fall Apart Essay1771 Words   |  8 PagesSociety in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958) The desire to conquer land that was previously unexplored has existed throughout history. This desire forced many indigenous societies, who were usually dominated technologically, to adapt to the teachings and overall system of the ‘superior’ conqueror nation with destruction as the only alternative. This causes a major impact on how a certain society functions, even after seeking independence from the foreigners. The rise and fall of indigenousRead MoreThe Struggle Between Tradition and Change1056 Words   |  5 PagesENGL 2112 October 17, 2012 In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the reader is taken on a literary journey to a Nigerian tribe, the Umuofia, to experience first-hand the struggles of a warrior named Okonkwo. At first glance, the novel appears to be written for a very specific audience: scholars familiar with Nigerian history, traditions, and culture. However, upon further examination the novel reveals itself to be a striking chronicle of human experiences, universal themes, and timelessRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe1324 Words   |  6 Pages Chinua Achebe chose to write his novels in English to reveal a deep response of his people to colonisation and to make that response understood to people all over the world. Things Fall Apart was written in English to teach people worldwide of the struggles he faced and the people of Nigeria faced growing up. Many authors and critics have written about Achebe’s ‘Things fall apart’ adding their valued opinion on what he was trying to say and his decision to write in English. In the followingRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1515 Words   |  7 PagesChange is a natural process that triggers the evolution of human societies; it is the continuous eradication of traditions that are replaced by the new. Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ (TFA), a novel written in 1958, explores the gradual transformation of the Ibo culture as a result of colonialism and also the attitudes the people of Umoufia developed when exposed to foreign ideologies; the change was either accepted or resisted. Peter Skrzynecki’s ‘Crossing The Red Sea’ (CRS) and ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’Read MoreCommentary on Passge (Page 124-125) of Things Fall Apart by Chnua Achebe1162 Words   |  5 PagesIn this passage of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist and main characters of the novel, Okonkwo, has just been sent into exile away from his land of Umuofia , Nigeria . The crime he has committed to receive such a punishment is the sin of murder. While he is attending a funeral for a man named, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, Okonkwo’s gun accidentally explodes and kills Ezeudu’s sixteen-year-old son. Killing a clansman is a crime against their earth goddess, thus, Okonkwo and his family are sentRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Things Fall Apart 1772 Words   |  8 Pages Authenticity of African Literature Introduction The novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† focuses on the colonization history of Igbo, an ethnic group which was crashed by Christian culture. The main character of the novel, Okonkwo, embodied the sufferance of Igbo society as well as the decline of Igbo culture. The novel is written by Chinua Achebe who was born in Nigeria. Achebe lived in an English environment and thus he was proficient in writing EnglishRead MoreThings Fall Apart: Individuality vs. Nationality843 Words   |  4 Pagesthat appear in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, individuality versus nationality becomes a central topic as the story progresses and develops. With the invasion and colonization of the European missionaries, Okonkwo’s nationality and contributions to society are called into question. Achebe explains the idea of nationality over individuality by showing that society is the precursor to individuality. Examining the life of the protagonist, Okonkwo, before and after his resistan ce exemplifies thisRead MoreRelationship Between Character and Society in Things Fall Apart1322 Words   |  6 PagesSociety and its Characters Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart tells the story of the African Igbo society which was dominated by European imperialism. Achebe uses his own personal knowledge of African culture to portray the Igbo tribes as a complex society with well-established beliefs and traditions. The heart of this novel is not in its context, however, but in its characters. Achebe creates complex characters to live in the vastly changing society of the Igbo tribes. It’s evident in theRead MoreEssay on Key Passage Commentary on Things Fall Apart1070 Words   |  5 Pagesconclusion to a chapter in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart, takes place after Okonkwos return to Umuofia. A new English missionary has been set up in the village and has caused a great divide between the villagers. The main purpose of the section is to describe some of these events and changes that have taken place in Umuofia since Okonkwos return. The passage is structured in three parts, each detailing about a differ ent aspect. The first section focuses on Okonkwos son Nwoyes conversion toRead More Resistance to Change in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay1986 Words   |  8 Pages   Achebes novel Things Fall Apart chronicles the life of an individual whose carefully constructed world crumbles as his culture is assimilated into a colonizing society. This character, Okonkwo, is prestigious within his community, and in most respects views himself and is viewed by his neighbors as an honorable man. Yet for all his seeming honor, Okonwko self-destructs when his world begins to change. Although the value system held by Okonkwos village may differ somewhat from that held

Vatican City Is an Independent Country

There are eight accepted criteria used to determine whether an entity is an independent country (also known as a State with a capital s) or not. Let us examine these eight criteria in regard to the Vatican City, a tiny (the smallest in the world) country located entirely within the city of Rome, Italy. The Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, with over one billion adherents worldwide. Why the Vatican City Counts as a Country 1. Has space or territory that has internationally recognized boundaries (boundary disputes are OK.) Yes, the Vatican City’s boundaries are undisputed even though the country is located entirely within the city of Rome. 2. Has people who live there on an ongoing basis. Yes, the Vatican City is home to approximately 920 full-time residents who maintain passports from their home country and diplomatic passports from the Vatican. Thus, it is as though the entire country is composed of diplomats. In addition to the over 900 residents, approximately 3000 people work at the Vatican City and commute into the country from the greater Rome metropolitan area. 3. Has economic activity and an organized economy. A country regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money. Somewhat. The Vatican relies on the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications as governmental revenue. The Vatican City issues its own coins. There is not much foreign trade but there is significant foreign investment by the Catholic Church. 4. Has the power of social engineering, such as education. Sure, although there aren’t a lot of kids there! 5. Has a transportation system for moving goods and people. There are no highways, railroads, or airports. The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It only has streets within the city, which is 70% of the size of the Mall in Washington D.C. As a landlocked country surrounded by Rome, the country relies on the Italian infrastructure for access to the Vatican City. 6. Has a government that provides public services and police power. Electricity, telephones, and other utilities are provided by Italy. The internal police power of the Vatican City is the Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera). External defense of the Vatican City against foreign enemies is the responsibility of Italy. 7. Has sovereignty. No other State should have power over the countrys territory. Indeed, and amazingly enough, the Vatican City does have sovereignty. 8. Has external recognition. A country has been voted into the club by other countries. Yes! It is the Holy See which maintains international relations; the term Holy See refers to the composite of the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisers to direct the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. Created in 1929 to provide a territorial identity for the Holy See in Rome, the State of the Vatican City is a recognized national territory under international law. The Holy See maintains formal diplomatic relations with 174 nations and 68 of these countries maintain permanent resident diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See in Rome. Most embassies are outside of the Vatican City and are Rome. The other countries have missions located outside Italy with dual accreditation. The Holy See maintains 106 permanent diplomatic missions to nation-states around the world. The Vatican City/Holy See is not a member of the United Nations. They are an observer. Thus, the Vatican City does meet all eight criteria for independent country status so we should consider it as an independent State.

Materialism in Todays Society Essay - 1649 Words

Materialism in Todays Society Have you ever sat down and really thought about how much you value your possessions? Do you value your belongings more than you value friends, family, love, or yourself? The truth is that obsession with possessions has become a way of life in todays society. Materialism has been defined as the theory or doctrine that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life. (Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed.) This means that we look to possessions to bring us happiness. We then use these possessions to make things and people behave or respond the way we desire. We have become so successful at fabricating and manipulating the world that we have come to believe that†¦show more content†¦They often draw in the consumers with a catchy commercial that contains a celebrity or model sporting their brand. This is a sure bet way to get the consumers? attention! Materialism in Today?s Society 4 Many celebrities promote products without that intention. This is because young people who idolize these famous stars want to wear what they wear.Therefore, this leads to free advertising for these corporations. One such group was the rap group Run-DMC. This group frequently wore the Adidas brand. They liked the brand so much that they wrote a song called ?My Adidas.? (Klein 456).This song led Adidas to become a very popular brand and people all over the United States started wearing the brand. Many people are brand ?hogs? and pursue what ever brand is in style. If a celebrity is wearing a new brand, it can be assured that at least one person will mimic them.This is especially true when the aspect comes to teens. Sharon Beder stated, ?In 2000 alone, teens spent $155 billion on things like clothing, CDs and makeup.? (Boston 2). In fact, the younger population has become so infatuated with celebrities that they have begun getting plastic surgery to try to look like their favorite celebrities. Two million young people had plastic surgery in 2003 alone (MTV, I Want a Famous Face). Since 1997, thereShow MoreRelatedMaterialism vs Happiness in America Essay1206 Words   |  5 Pages Western society has an obsession. It is a dark and crippling fixation. Many people do not even realize the trap society has lured them into. The procurement of material wealth has become an obsession in modern Western culture. The culture has become obsessed with acquiring vast amounts of wealth and anything associated with â€Å"being wealthy†. This need for material objects has intensified overtime. The progression of materialism in the western world has caused a decrease in the happiness and overallRead MoreThe Harmful Effects of Advertising on Society982 Words   |  4 PagesIn today’s society many people see advertising as harmful in many different ways. With today’s society image is everything, and advertising uses this to their advantage. Advertising uses this as a way to make insecure people buy products they do not need. Many advertisements that are seen today on television, billboards, newspaper, and magazines are indeed harmful to our eyes and brain . Many of them make people feel like crap, that you dont have this car or that house or that body. Advertising isRead More Todays Consumer Culture: Bought Self-worth and Artificial Happiness1137 Words   |  5 Pagesexpectations. Unfortunately, in todays consumer culture, the mall is the center of the universe and and this has shaped consumers in a negative way. In contrast to the original concept of providing the consumer with greater choice, the mall actually limits the choices of the suburb shopper. The consumer is forced to go to the mall to full-fill shopping needs, but, once inside, also made to feel guilty if they do not make any purchases. The mall promotes materialism and superficiality, a sense ofRead MoreThe Great Gatsby1327 Words   |  6 PagesGatsby is too concerned with conveying a picture of 1920s American society to have relevance to modern readers. From what you have read of the novel so far and using relevant contextual information, give your response to the above view. The USA in the 1920s is remembered as the ‘Roaring Twenties’, an age of new life, of hedonism and opportunity following the horrors the Great War. The decade is synonymous with wealth, materialism and unprecedented freedom. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great GatsbyRead MoreOur Society Is Overly Materialistic. We Center Our Lives on Acquiring Material Things at the Expense of Such Traditional Values as Family and Education.653 Words   |  3 PagesTopic 2 Our society is overly materialistic. We center our lives on acquiring material things at the expense of such traditional values as family and education. I agree with the issue that our society is becoming too materialistic. People are involved into a commercial world and forget their responsibilities to this society. The traditional value is taken place by materialistic culture. This is because that there is too much temptation to resist in this world, such as luxurious cars, vacationsRead More Materialism and Greed Essay657 Words   |  3 Pages Materialism: Can it make you Happy? Can Greed and Materialism lead to true happiness? â€Å"Greed is good. Greed is right. Greed works and greed will save the USA.† (Wall Street) â€Å"Cause we are living in a material world and I am a material girl† a theme in one of Madonna’s most famous songs. Greed and materialism stand in apposition to any manifestation of true happiness. People are under a false perception that money will solve all of their problems and as a result bring them their utmost joy andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1272 Words   |  6 Pagesnarrated by the character Nick Caraway and centered on Jay Gatsby’s short-lived life. This novel is a timeless piece of literature that is still relevant to American society today because of its attitude on materialism and its portrayal of feminism relating to the era and modern day. One theme that is prominent in the novel is materialism. This importance of money and material items relates to the â€Å"flapper era† in which the story is set. The majority of the characters in the novel are materialisticRead MoreCitizen Kane - Personal Response868 Words   |  4 Pageshimself from the public eye wherever possible towards the end of his life. The director’s portrayal of the films main themes are shown in such a way that a Year 12 group of students would be able to understand, and therefore can easily make links with society and even their own lives. I would highly recommend Citizen Kane for a Year 12 book club. I will be talking about 2 main points shown in Citizen Kane that I believe are good discussion points for an English class, and which are relevant to our worldRead MoreThe Worldview Of Society In Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales793 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluenced Chaucers’ writings (Britannica). Chaucer in his book The Canterbury Tales depicts society as being corrupted and morally declined. Chaucers life of events such as his time as a prisoner of war (Biography.com) had impacted his outlook on the world and the people around him as unethical and nefarious. Geoffrey Chaucer utilizes his novel The Canterbury Tales to portray his worldview on society as being materialistic, self-centered and lustful to describe and compare the world he once livedRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald880 Words   |  4 PagesGatsby is an old novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. I believe this story is relevant today and should be taught in high schools and college stud ents because this story show events and actions that are still common now in days. We see materialism, violence, drama, smuggling, murders, suicides, adultery, etc. This are problems that still exist in modern times and students can identify with the novel because we are used to see all those things in the everyday life because of the news, television

Economics Hsc China Essay free essay sample

For an economy other than Australia, explain how government development strategies have responded to the process of globalisation. Globalisation refers to the process of increased integration between different countries and economies and the increased impact of international influences on all aspects of life and economic activity. Since 1978, the Chinese â€Å"tiger† economy has embarked on a process of social and economic reform designed to improve the quality of life of the population and open the economy to global integration. These strategies designed to promote economic growth and development include the Five Year Plan, FDI and trade policy, microeconomic reforms, welfare policy, environmental policies and macroeconomic policies. China’s Five Year Plan forms the basis of the government’s economic and social development efforts in the short and medium term. The plan is essentially the Government’s acknowledgement of the importance of having a prosperous society in an all-around manner. The GFC revealed the inherent structural weakness in Chinese domestic consumption and thus, the FYP is the focus shift from export-led sectors to increasing domestic consumer demand through raising nation-wide incomes to promote growth. We will write a custom essay sample on Economics Hsc China Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This process has already begun, with over 300 000 people lifted out of the ‘$1 a day’ income level, ensuring development improves by reducing the income inequality between the developed east and the rural west. These increasing incomes will contribute to greater levels of domestic consumption and thus growth, however, there is a risk of cost push inflation. Therefore, China must find a balance between inflationary threats and increasing domestic demand whilst maintaining export-led sectors. Economic growth and development in China is heavily dependent on two of the three engines in the â€Å"tiger† economy – exports and investment. In 2009, China’s exports suffered as the nation’s largest markets fell into recession. China’s subsequent stall in economic growth was not caused by restrictive government policies, rather it was the result of an inefficient growth model and an unbalanced economic structure. It is this that has sparked China’s vulnerability to external shocks. In 2011, China’s exports amassed almost $2 trillion, however in Feb 2012, China recorded a $31. 5 billion trade deficit as a result of the European sovereign debt crisis in which China’s main trading partners plunged into recession. China’s severe BOGS decrease is an attempt to control growth and a sustained level of 7. 5%. Investment policies are also critical for China to achieve economic growth and development. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in China is being sought primarily in the redesign of State Owned Enterprises (SOE’s) and in the development of interior provinces. Between 75-80% of World Bank loans to China in 2008 were directed to the central and western regions, the most economically disadvantaged. This promotes increased wealth within China, leading to higher levels of development due to a more positive Human Development Index (HDI), which currently sits at 0. 687, up from 0. 677 in 2010. Thus, trade and investment are critical factors in ensuring that China’s growth remains sustained at 7. 5% whilst still encouraging increases in development. Microeconomic reforms serve to make the chinese economy more responsive, productive and competitive in a global economic environment, ensuring growth and development. There is a need to upgrade chinese industry and limit development in capital intensive industries, and seek high value added industries rather than those without a competitive advantage or ability to innovate in order to encourage investment. The financial system continues to undergo considerable reform to encourage this investment. Major trading banks now must meet requirements to organize loans and credit facilities for SME’s. This access to credit is vital for economic growth as it encourages the domestic consumption engine of the economy. This will become increasingly important for growth as increases in domestic consumption must counter the fall in exports as a result of the European debt crisis.