Blog #1 - Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is a novel that has elements of importance of orality in it. From the get-go, you are introduced to the main character, a man who is said to be extremely well known and strong. He has proven himself as the strongest wrestler in 9 different villages. He has already become a wealthy farmer with two barns of yam. He has also just married his third wife. However, the book looks at his father also. Basically he's described as a disgrace and in deep debt.

Okonkwo is also introduced as someone who can't speak well, but doesn't have to since he has proven his worth and title in other deeds. He stammers and can't speak well, which I can see is his weakness. But I think it's something that differentiates him from his father. The father seems to be someone who is well spoken, not so much greatly successful, but he seemed to have managed to get ot of paying his debts by just talking and using his words wisely.

Another character s introduced, Ezeugo, a "powerful orator and was always chosen to speak on such occasions". It seems someone in this village who has a powerful voice can easily sway the audience he's speaking to. It says in the book, "And in a clear unemotional voice he told Umuofia how their daughter had gone to market at Mbaino and had been killed...The crowd then shouted with anger and thirst for blood."

Okonokwo is escribed to have a heavy-hand in ruling his house hold, out of fear, perhaps of ending up like his father, someone weak. I wonder if it has to do with his silence? Like, his inability to speak, so he lets his actions do it for him. In some cases, anger, which ends up terrifying his wives.

It seems that after reading Ong's book, I can't help but see the descriptive ways the author sometimes describe someone when they speak, instead of using "Said, says..." There's a part where it says, "Hold your peace!' screamed the priestess, her voice terrible as it echoed though the dark voice." She didn't just scream, her voice is terrible and it echos. 

It also seems in this culture, it's mainly an oral culture, I have not read yet that they have any system of writing. It doesn't seem to affect them too much, they seem to be doing fine without it.