OKONKWO'S CHARACTER

A tragic hero is one that is defined as a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to their own destruction. Common characteristic traits defined by Aristotle usually consist of a flaw or error of judgment (hamartia), a reversal of fortune brought through due to the hero error of judgment (peripeteia), the discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero’s own actions (anagnorisis), excessive pride (hubris) and lastly the character’s fate must be greater than deserved. It can be seen that Okonkwo- the protagonist- follows many of these traits.

Yet from this essay a hero is defined as person not made in isolation but they’re rather a product of the social matrix with in which they operate. The person's determination to pursue his individual interest concomitantly with that of the society is a constant source of dynamic tensions because his obligations to his society can become an impediment to his individual quest for fame and reputation. This is very relatable to Okonkow which makes us question why Achebe would choose a tragic hero as the protagonist. Using Okonkwo as a tragic hero is a brilliant way to portray not only Okonkows downfall but rather the downfall of the whole society. One of the most important proverbs in the novel is: ““As the elders said, if one finger brought oil it soiled the others” which means that the downfall of one person could be the downfall for everyone else which in this case was the protagonist as well as the tragic hero. By making Okonkwo a tragic hero, Achebe tries to illustrate a message that the Westerners are causing them much trouble and even though it is very frowned upon to take your own life in the Igbo culture- they would still rather that than having to follow the British as Obierika says: “That man (Okonkwo) was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself and now he will be buried like a dog…” therefore using Okonkwo as a tragic hero truly emphasizes on the true struggle of the Igbo society as a whole and not just Okonkwo alone.

One of the themes that take place throughout the novel is the struggle of change, tradition and culture which in the Igbo society holds great value. Using Okonkwo we see this theme develop due to the fact that he resists the new cultural, religious and political change within Umuofia because he doesn’t consider them manly which leads to develop him as a character and the theme itself. Okonkwo also resists such things because of his strong fear to lose societal status. His wisdom on self-worth is dependent on the traditional standard which by his society judges him.
Another theme that Achebe promotes through Okonkwo is destiny/fate. Due to Okonkwo’s hard and inflexible ways, he seemed destined for self-destruction. Throughout the novel is it seen through the character development how certain tragical events were building up against Okonkwo. Again by using the protagonist as the tragic hero we see how the novel falls on them and implies the same for the Igbo society.  

CHINUA ACHEBE- IN CLASS SHARED INQUIRY DISCUSSION

The most meaningful takeaway from last lesson's discussion relating to the cultural or literary context of Achebe's work was how in my group we had different ideas and suggestions to what we thought Achebe meant during his interview. an interesting topic we had discussed in our group was how social media and how it portrays the African society and at one point in the interview Achebe says: "If you see a good house in Lagos, Nigeria, it doesn't quite fit the picture you have in your head, because you're looking for the slum-- that is what the world expects journalists covering a city in Africa to come back with" 

Looking at the cultural context of Achebe's worked, we discussed how we view culture and how it is a natural way of life and how in Achebe's place, culture plays a very big role and how a lot of it was lot of it was lost an we discussed what culture means to us as individuals and how in many cases even if not colonized, culture can't always be contained and kept and there's always be a part that will be lost yet in Achebe's case it was a much bigger loss. 

PAPER ONE- POLITICAL SPEECH

WINSTON CHURCHILL- IRON CURTAIN (THE SINEWS OF PEACE)

The text I will be analyzing is a speech by Winston Churchill named Iron Curtain. Churchill had been defeated for the re-elections as prime minister in 1945 yet presented his speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri on March 5, 1946. Through the constant use of pronoun and close relation with the audience we can identify that it is a speech.

The speech was presented in England dedicated to the people of England and present during that speech was American president Harry Truman which worked for Churchill’s advantage as he was praising the American to pursue his aim. Churchill’s primary purpose for this speech is to argue and persuade the people for a much closer and tighter relationship between the United States and Great Britain in working together to provide a more organized and well policing postwar world. Previous to this speech, U.S and U.K. were worried about their own post- war economies and situations and were very pleased with the role that the Soviet Union played in ending the Second World War yet it was after Churchill’s speech that changed the views towards the Communist speech which was his aim. In his speech, Churchill was also trying to warn against the policies of the Soviet Union.

Churchill’s speech revolved around post war troubles that were occurring within his country. This speech was held after world war two and at that time most of the eastern European countries stayed under Stalin’s grip:
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow. Athens alone -- Greece with its immortal glories -- is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and French observation. The Russian-dominated Polish Government has been encouraged to make enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on a scale grievous and undreamed-of are now taking place. The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control”
Churchill discusses how Stalin has full control of these countries and refuses to stand down from them. Unlike most people that were trying to get over the war, Churchill steps up and made clear that the Russians have taken away their land and keeping it to themselves which Is therefore creating a division between the communists and capitalists- east and west. He then named this division using the phrase “iron curtain” hence the name of the speech.

The tone of the speech is very serious and opinionated. The language, diction and vocab and tone are sincere, therefore used to motivate and inspire the people and persuade the Americans to work alongside the British. Through his aim and purpose one sees the affect it has on his tone. “What is needed is a settlement, and the longer this is delayed, the more difficult it will be and the greater our dangers will become.” He talks about the dangers that the country will face if they delay. Using words such as “delay” and “danger” further emphasize the seriousness of the situation which portrays a serious mode. As well as that in the audience it can be seen how the audience pays intensive attention to the speech.

At the fairly beginning of Churchill’s speech with promising and giving the people hope and repeats it:” It is my duty however, for I am sure you would wish me to state the facts as I see them to you, to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe.” By using this, he is able to engage with the audience quicker because they imply that his motives are pure and altruistic. Throughout his speech, Churchill communicates with the audience confidently along with setting them high goals by saying things such as: “We must, and I believe we shall, prove ourselves equal to this severe requirement.” The name itself of Churchill’s speech is a metaphors- “Iron Curtain” which he used in his speech to imply that it is what is separating the east from the west. The speech is also known as “The Sinews of Peace” sinew meaning a strong muscle, therefore indicating that only strength can lead to peace. “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” This sentence shows his main metaphor of the Iron Curtain alongside a vivid emotional imagery that surfaces the images the division between the east and the west. A lot of imagery and metaphors are used throughout the speech such as “two giant marauders, war and tyranny” and “A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory” all of the imagery used enhances the visual experience, it helps represents experiences or history through language. Throughout the speech, Churchill constantly uses pronouns to engage with the audience and the people of his country: “we should all be proved again unteachable” and “We British have also our twenty years…” and “but we should be most unwise not to face them squarely while time remains.” From time to time, Churchill plugs in rhetorical questions such as: “why cannot they work together at the common task as friends and partners? Why can they not share their tools and thus increase each other's working powers?” he uses these rhetorical questions as a way to persuade and subtly influence his audience. He uses it to emphasize his point and to get the audience the think about the points being made.

The speech is structure so that he starts talking about his motives and his selfless priorities to the country. He then sets high expectations, challenging his listeners with big goals and giving them hope through his confident way of communicating with the audience.