Chapter 14

Chapter 14 is all about new surroundings and life for Okonkwo and his family. They arrived in the village of Mbanta. Okonkwo’s uncle welcomed them in. I can imagaine how hard Okonkwo’s family must have worked to get the new crops planted since Okonkwo is a workaholic. All though he was not inspired too much this time to work it did not thrill him as much and in his free time he sat and half slept. He is a changed man maybe. One of Okonkwo’s dreams in life was to become one of the lords of the clan. It does not really look like that is going to happen. I almost feel bad for him; his life is shattering all to pieces. I guess it is Ikemefuna getting revenge on him. One thing I am kind of confused about is why Okonkwo brought his mother’s body back to this village instead of burying her with her husband? Is that what they usually do or did Okonkwo feel his mother should be buried in Mbanta? Also some of the people in Mbanta do not seems too happy that Okonkwo is in their village. They did not give Okonkwo or his family a very welcomed feeling. They asked very rudely what exactly he was doing there. Then they asked him difficult questions that he did not know the answer to. Uchendu basically called Okonkwo a child and kind of insulted his intelligence; I found this a little amusing. I also liked how Uchendu does not feel sympathy for Okonkwo because everyone suffers and has their own problems and sorrows. He does not want to hear Okonkwo complain about how bad his life is because there are even worse people out there suffering, which is absolutely true.