Okonkwo didn’t sleep for three days. He was confused about why couldn’t sleep. He felt guilty for killing Ikemefuna, which is why he couldn’t sleep.
The author used the simile “It was as silly as all women's stories” (75). The author mentioned that women were thought to be useless and disrespected by men in the villages.
Okonkwo and his family tested. Ekwefi told him of Ezinma’s sickness, he ran in the middle of the night to hunt for medicine in the woods. Achebe showed us that Okonkwo was not a cruel and heartless man and how he cared for Ezinma when he gathered medicine. This showed us Okonkwo was a man of action.
Ezinma called her mother Ekwefi by her name because it indicated how their relationship was equal and close; they were as close as friends in some ways.
Achebe used hyperbole “Ezinma is dying” which showed that Ezinma was very sick, but she was not dying, her mom exaggerated because she was stressed out.
This reminds me of my neighbours who had one child: always mother never stops worrying about her children.
The author used the simile, “Okonkwo stood by, rumbling like thunder in their rainy season” (82). This quote shows the character of Okonkwo and his bad temper.
The author used hyperbole, “she prayed a thousand times” (85). Ekwefi prayed a lot and from her heart when her daughter was sick she exaggerated how often she prayed. Also, it is significant to the plot because Ezinma was Okonkwo's favorite child.
Achebe spoke their language which is “ogbanje”, meaning a child completely controlled by evil spirits.
Also, “iyi-uwa” is a special stone linking the “ogbanje” child and the spirit world, the ogbanje was protected and the stone was not destroyed.
The people of Igbo believe that Ekwefi was cursed with an “ogbanje”
Sometimes Ezinma could tell what food her mother had prepared. Ekwefi was given her daughter eggs which were not allowed to children because such food tempted them to steal. Because she was Ekwefi’s only child, she treated her kindly and compassionately.
Ekwefi’s commitment to Ezinma represents the valuable role children play in a woman’s life in Igbo society.
Before Ezinma was born, Ekwefi’s life was completely engrossed in having a healthy child. Ekwefi lost nine children in early childhood. That’s why Ekwefi took care of her daughter.
I feel sorry for Ekwefi because she lost her children. Losing nine children is heartbreaking. I can not imagine how Ekwefi felt.
Ekwefi was jealous because Okonkwo's first wife had three strong and healthy children. She blames her evil chi.
Ezinma was very smart. Ezinma showed that she had man and woman qualities. She was the best child in the family. Women were responsible for preparing food and cleaning or housework. Also, women created the decorations for the hunts.
Women in Umuofia society were represented by Chielo, who was extraordinary because, as a woman, she was an Agbala priestess.
Ekwefi was sure that Ezinma had “come to stay” (48). This declaration foreshadowed that Ezinma was not an “ogbanje” because the medicine man broke up her iyi-uwa.
The theme was responsibilities to family and community. “Ekwefi went into her hunt to cook yams” (83). Ezinma went with her mother to the house and helped to prepare food. Ezinma was showing responsibility and love for her family because Ekwefi and Ezinma were cooking dinner for the whole family, even though Ezinma was sick.
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Essay on Ezinma in ‘Things Fall Apart’.
(2024, September 10). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-ezinma-in-things-fall-apart/
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Essay on Ezinma in ‘Things Fall Apart’. [online].
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Essay on Ezinma in ‘Things Fall Apart’ [Internet]. Edubirdie.
2024 Sept 10 [cited 2024 Dec 22].
Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-ezinma-in-things-fall-apart/
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