Journal Pages

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008

Page: 166

Quote: "I beg you to accept this little kola," he said. "It is not to pay you back for all you did for me in these seven years. A child cannot pay for its mother's milk. I have only called you together because it is good for kinsmen to meet." 

Okonkwo after spending seven years in his motherland, thanks his mother's kinsmen for all their kindness. He took refuge in his motherland after killing another clansman by accident, and was banished for seven years. His mother's clansmen did so much for him in those seven years, and he cannot pay them back. He wishes to call them together for it is good for kinsmen to meet. They had a great feast in which it was unexpected for so much food and palm-wine to be presented. Okonkwo's gratitude for his uncle and cousins was so great, and he wished to leave them on a good note. Though he wished to get back to his own clan soon, he wanted to depart his motherland with great leave.

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008

Page: 172

Quote: "You have all seen the great abomination of your brother. Now he is no longer my son or your brother. I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people."

Since Okonkwo's son abandoned their religion, Okonkwo abandoned his son. He no longer thought him as his kin, but as an outsider. He thought his son was an abomination, and that he will only have a son who is a man. Who will hold his head up among his people. Nwoye converted to Christianity and his bonds with his father broke. People looked upon him as an outcast, and a traitor. Although it felt right to convert, he was quite disheartened when his father disowned him. He was supposed to keep to the gods and idols that his ancestors and father had. He was to pass those traditions and customs down through his children, and their children. Without the line of tradition, there would be no clan religion. Without children believing or following, there would be no gods.