Journal 11

"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"(176)
Why, according to Okonkwo, do the Ibo hold responsibility for the white man invading their land? Do you agree with his perspective? Why/Why not?

The Ibo are responsible for the white man invading their land because in the quote, it says that "We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay." They let him stay because they thought he was not going to cause much harm, but then he started spreading his religion and taking Ibo people to the side of Christianity. Okonkwo argues that they should fight for what is theirs before they fall apart. I agree with his perspective because the white man came one day and all of a sudden started changing the Ibo culture. The Ibo should fight back because they need to show the white man that they are not weak and that they can believe what they want to believe.

The Ibo at Fault?

• Ignorance
• Carelessness
• Nonchalant
• Blindness
• Assumption
• Participation
• Giving
• Weakness
• Foolishness
• Encouragement
• Shocked - Connects to Ignorance, Blindness, Assumption, and Foolishness
• Temptation