Chapter Two Flashcards
Why did the village of Mbaino have to make an offering to Umuofia, and what did they give them?
The village of Mbaino had to make an offering to Umuofia as compensation for an incident
involving a member of Umuofia’s village. A daughter of Umuofia was killed at the Mbaino village
marketplace. In accordance with Igbo customs and traditions, the village of Mbaino had to make
amends for the crime by offering a virgin girl and a teenage boy as compensation to Umuofia.
This offering was meant to appease the spirits and seek reconciliation between the two villages
to avoid potential conflict and bloodshed.
What are the things that Okonkwo fears most?
Okonkwo fears weakness, failure, and anything associated with his father, Unoka. He is driven
by a deep-seated desire to be the opposite of his father, who was considered weak and
unsuccessful in the eyes of their society. Okonkwo’s fear of weakness pushes him to be overly
aggressive, rigid, and determined to prove his strength and success. Additionally, he fears losing
his status and the respect of the community, which intensifies his drive to succeed and maintain
his position as one of the greatest men in Umuofia.
What does Okonkwo feel about Nwoye? How does that affect him?
Okonkwo has a deep disapproval of his son Nwoye. Okonkwo perceives Nwoye as weak,
effeminate, and resembling his grandfather Unoka. These qualities are abhorrent to Okonkwo,
who values strength, masculinity, and success. Okonkwo’s disdain for Nwoye leads to strained
father-son relations, with Okonkwo being harsh and critical towards Nwoye. This dynamic
affects both Okonkwo and Nwoye emotionally, contributing to Nwoye’s desire to avoid his
father and seek acceptance elsewhere, while Okonkwo sees Nwoye as a disappointment and
struggles to understand or connect with him
