At this point in the story we learn more about the customs within the compound and specifically about the relationships between Okonkwo and his wives, the wives and their children, and the children and Okonkwo. In each of these relationships one character sticks out to me, that is Ezinma. How is her relationship to her mother and to Okonkwo different than other characters within the story? How is it similar? What conclusions can we make based off of these comparisons?
Also, on page 41, Ezinma is told that she will "see something" because her eye is twitching. Could this be foreshadowing Ezinma's role as a witness? Or is it simply, just a reminder of the wrestling match to come?
And if, for some reasons, there is extra time....
What is Ikemefuna's role withing the family?
How and why does Obiageli serve as a foil to Ezinma?
Friday, October 23, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Day In the Life of Rebecca
In one burst of a move fueled by adrenaline, Rebecca’s eye lids flicked open, her heart hit her chest, her feet smacked the floor and the thick layer of covers swung in the air unleashing the heat that had been stored all night. No sound bothered Rebecca more than the shrill beeps of her alarm clock. That’s why she bought it; it was the only thing that could get her out of bed in the morning. Her autopilot mind began to move her. She wasn’t awake; she was just no longer asleep. Brushing teeth, washing face, packing bags. Slowly these activities brought her to full consciousness so that she was alert when it came time for her most cherished part of the morning.
Her favorite music softly bumped its way into her ears as Rebecca took a pencil to her eyes to create the thin dark lines that surrounded them. Her face hovered only inches from the mirror, as Rebecca took her gaze down her nose, over her nostrils, across her cheek bones, and then around her whole face. Spreading the liquid foundation, evening it out, kneading it into her skin, she was glad she had gotten up early so that she had time to complete this important ritual.
During the monotonous drive to school, Rebecca peered out of the glass window that separated her from the cold December air. Thirty minutes on the free way had gradually gone and her lane was not moving. She took this time to peer again out the window and to peer into the windows of all the other drivers. None looked back at her. They were all texting, talking, some were eating. One man was even shaving. They all drove by, locked safely in their cars, until a large minivan slowly pulled next to her. Surprisingly, Rebecca saw the round face of a little girl looking back at her, also peering out the window. The girl smiled, in that wonderful way, unafraid and honestly. Rebecca felt her face lift and the sides of her mouth rise. She was smiling back in that same way. The minivan with the friendly face of the little girl, who was equally surprised to see a face looking back, rolled away.
Now running a little bit late, Rebecca quickly walked past the buzzing conversations about the weekend to get to her locker and then to her history class. History, Algebra, and finally English, today none of them had anything in common with each other except that in each class she stared at the same pack of heads. In each class they were in front her, bobbing up and down ignoring everything and everyone in order to take careful notes.
Almost as irritating as the alarm that woke her in the morning was the obnoxious bell that sounded for lunch. Rebecca watched as all her classmates streamed through the door of the classroom only to immediately scatter once outside. Sandwich in hand, Rebecca eagerly walked over to Sam. They had no classes together, and they didn’t even share any of the same friends, but they did enjoy each other’s company. Sam could make Rebecca laugh, and Rebecca could do the same for Sam. Once again, Rebecca felt a smile spreading across her face as she looked into Sam’s eyes.
Their joking together ended when several of Sam’s friends came to sit with them. The subtle inside jokes they exchanged just couldn’t be extended to the rest of the group.
Symmetrically her afternoon was no radical departure from the first half of the day. Spanish and Physics came and went, heads bobbed up and down. And now it was time for her long ride home.
There was no one there, in the house when she arrived. However, it was hardly quiet. The stone floors made it so that the barks of the dogs seemed to come at her from all directions. Rebecca resigned herself to doing her math homework. Even with her notes directly in front of her the task was daunting. She read the equations scrawled during class and then the question in her book. They seemed utterly disconnected. She pushed the book away, although it had never been close, and commenced with other assignments.
Later she reached for the math book again. She passively guessed at one problem and left the next one blank. Her cell phone rang.
Robert was Rebecca’s best friend. He was also very good at math and he had called at precisely the right moment, as often only the most intuitive best friends can do. Patiently he explained the concept her, and when she finished her homework they began to talk. Because they lived on opposite sides of the country, talking for Robert and Rebecca was nothing brief. With two hours having gone by with Rebecca listening intently to his life at college, Robert apologetically inquired about her. She spoke. He listened.
She thought back on her day. The little girl's smile. Lunch with Sam. How Robert had called right when she had needed him.
“You know Robert, I’m really glad you called. I had the best day. Ok Let me tell you about this boy at my school, who you don’t know, His name is Sam. He’s so funny.”
And their hours passed together, reflecting, until both, on opposite sides of the country, were asleep phones still in hands.
Her favorite music softly bumped its way into her ears as Rebecca took a pencil to her eyes to create the thin dark lines that surrounded them. Her face hovered only inches from the mirror, as Rebecca took her gaze down her nose, over her nostrils, across her cheek bones, and then around her whole face. Spreading the liquid foundation, evening it out, kneading it into her skin, she was glad she had gotten up early so that she had time to complete this important ritual.
During the monotonous drive to school, Rebecca peered out of the glass window that separated her from the cold December air. Thirty minutes on the free way had gradually gone and her lane was not moving. She took this time to peer again out the window and to peer into the windows of all the other drivers. None looked back at her. They were all texting, talking, some were eating. One man was even shaving. They all drove by, locked safely in their cars, until a large minivan slowly pulled next to her. Surprisingly, Rebecca saw the round face of a little girl looking back at her, also peering out the window. The girl smiled, in that wonderful way, unafraid and honestly. Rebecca felt her face lift and the sides of her mouth rise. She was smiling back in that same way. The minivan with the friendly face of the little girl, who was equally surprised to see a face looking back, rolled away.
Now running a little bit late, Rebecca quickly walked past the buzzing conversations about the weekend to get to her locker and then to her history class. History, Algebra, and finally English, today none of them had anything in common with each other except that in each class she stared at the same pack of heads. In each class they were in front her, bobbing up and down ignoring everything and everyone in order to take careful notes.
Almost as irritating as the alarm that woke her in the morning was the obnoxious bell that sounded for lunch. Rebecca watched as all her classmates streamed through the door of the classroom only to immediately scatter once outside. Sandwich in hand, Rebecca eagerly walked over to Sam. They had no classes together, and they didn’t even share any of the same friends, but they did enjoy each other’s company. Sam could make Rebecca laugh, and Rebecca could do the same for Sam. Once again, Rebecca felt a smile spreading across her face as she looked into Sam’s eyes.
Their joking together ended when several of Sam’s friends came to sit with them. The subtle inside jokes they exchanged just couldn’t be extended to the rest of the group.
Symmetrically her afternoon was no radical departure from the first half of the day. Spanish and Physics came and went, heads bobbed up and down. And now it was time for her long ride home.
There was no one there, in the house when she arrived. However, it was hardly quiet. The stone floors made it so that the barks of the dogs seemed to come at her from all directions. Rebecca resigned herself to doing her math homework. Even with her notes directly in front of her the task was daunting. She read the equations scrawled during class and then the question in her book. They seemed utterly disconnected. She pushed the book away, although it had never been close, and commenced with other assignments.
Later she reached for the math book again. She passively guessed at one problem and left the next one blank. Her cell phone rang.
Robert was Rebecca’s best friend. He was also very good at math and he had called at precisely the right moment, as often only the most intuitive best friends can do. Patiently he explained the concept her, and when she finished her homework they began to talk. Because they lived on opposite sides of the country, talking for Robert and Rebecca was nothing brief. With two hours having gone by with Rebecca listening intently to his life at college, Robert apologetically inquired about her. She spoke. He listened.
She thought back on her day. The little girl's smile. Lunch with Sam. How Robert had called right when she had needed him.
“You know Robert, I’m really glad you called. I had the best day. Ok Let me tell you about this boy at my school, who you don’t know, His name is Sam. He’s so funny.”
And their hours passed together, reflecting, until both, on opposite sides of the country, were asleep phones still in hands.
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