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The Christopher Nolan film Interstellar.  Mann, portrayed by Matt Damon, shows many traits of a tragic hero. He starts off with good and noble intentions, however, his flaws, specifically his isolation or Hubris, take him down a complex and destructive path. He goes through the realization of the consequences that could occur due to his actions and how they could heavily affect humanity. He takes an act of sacrifice after his self-realization, triggering an explosion that allows his fellow astronauts to continue on their mission- himself perishing in the process. Mann's distraught journey ends in tragedy. His hubris and betrayal lead to his ultimate downfall- him now being a cautionary tale. (I always refuse to watch this movie again- it took a month for me to recover the first time).

Cooper the protagonist also shows tragic hero traits. He is selfless, however, has his flaws and internal conflicts lined up. Cooper also experiences isolation abandonment and ultimate sacrifice.

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I feel like i cannot connect fully to this story, i was raised in different situations and i never struggled with any cultural conflicts. This is mainly because my entire family is purely from canada. The story was emotional and i really did feel my heart ache reading the last few pages. Though i have never experienced the variation of bullying jack received at a young age i have witnessed it a multitude of times. It would happen constantly during my time in elementary, so much so that when i moved schools the absence of it shocked me. It breaks me to see these kinds of situations and the story itself made my eyebrows crease.

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Write about a time when your courage failed you. What happened? If you could go back in time and change it, what would you do differently (if anything)?

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Personal Writing Prompt #3 (imagination)

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Personal Writing Prompt #3 (imagination)

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How does imagination help us to deal with reality? &/OR How does it distract us from reality? How can we know the difference?

Imagination can be a coping mechanism for dealing with reality. Imagination can distract us by bringing our thoughts outside the box, allowing us to explore brauder ideas and envision a multitude of possibilities outside our current reality. Imagination can help us process emotions and traumas and find creative ways to solve problems. Essentially imagination gives a sense of hope or even resilience in hard times.
It is important to know the difference between imagination and reality, the dangers of this fine line can become very evident. Imagination can become distracting and turn to daydreaming which can pull ones mind from moving forward at all. This is why balance is important, the ability to maintain balance and awareness is what will keep you sane. Its important to know the purpose of your imagination and how far it will get you. Reflection and self-awareness go hand in hand with imagination and that is a healthy relationship. I feel it is important that you cant have one without the other.

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Anger is an emotion common to all human beings. Lawrence Peter said, speak when you are angry, and you’ll make the best speech you’ll never regret. On the other hand, Malcolm X had a view about anger, claiming, usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when people get angry, they bring about change. Maybe anger has two sides like a coin? How do you feel about the idea that anger can be a positive and negative force, depending upon how it is used?

Anger is usually only seen one way, but I understand what this statement is asking. When you think of anger what colour do you think of? Red, right? Red has so many different shades, so maybe it's the same for anger. Anger is a complicated emotion that I feel as humans we can never truly grasp how powerful it is. Sometimes when a person gets angry they lash out or make dumb unfixable decisions which can end up negative for multiple people. However, when anger is channelled into change it can become one of the biggest motivators. I see anger as a distraction from what a person is trying to escape from, their anger is what is keeping them sane, pushing them forward. This goes hand in hand with the concept of discontent, discontent can be a burning factor of anger and most often they are joined at the hip. It's our discontent with a situation that makes us angry.

In the novel "Things Fall Apart" Anger does take its two roles of positive and negative. Okonkwo's anger is destructive and violent which only leads to harm being done. His unnecessary outbursts often lead to people being in harm's way and never lead to any good. this essentially leads to the downfall of his own life. Therefore, his anger not only leads to the harm of others but the harm of himself as well. Okonkwo's anger is built off of his fear of weakness and his refusal of change.
Positive anger is what drives change. The Igbo people become angry and decide change to be the necessary means of action. To show resistance to the new conflicts that have invaded their community.

Anger is powerful and should never be underestimated. Chinua Achebe represents anger as more than just a negative, and this can be an insightful process for many people who haven't opened their minds to the possibility yet.

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Personal Writing Prompt #1 (Discontent) 

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Personal Writing Prompt #1 (Discontent) 

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Although most people's goal is to always be happy, being constantly satisfied, and untroubled can prevent people from changing for the better. After all, why go to the trouble of changing, if one is content with the way things are? On the other hand, discontent, often motivate people to make necessary changes. What revolution was not caused by widespread discontent? Who among us has not vowed to make a change because we are unhappy with some aspect of our lives? Is discontent often the first step to action?

-to be continued

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What are the locusts? Why are they important? (like a grasshopper). We discussed possible foreshadowing of destruction. The locusts typically only come every seven years. Usually, they start in small groups but gradually grow in numbers, a possible indication of conflict building later on in the story and/or unwanted visitors.

Tornado of Chaos
In class discussion, the chaotic story "tornado" was brought up. in our group, we discussed how this really does make sense. At the beginning of the story Okonkwo's life seems to be in harmony for most of it, nothing too out of the ordinary. However, as the story moves along and the plot grows everything begins to stir until it's not so perfect anymore.

Food & Symbolism
We talked about Yams and how they are the "Manly" or the main food of their culture. It essentially is the "king" or provider. We discussed it being the symbol of sustainability and the man's ability to provide for his family. The higher quality and quantity of yams a man farms can help determine his masculinity.
The Kola nut is a symbol of mutual respect or even just a common community.

Okonkwo's emotional conflict
Okonkwo seems to always have his guard up when it comes to his pride, making sure to never look or appear weak. "the only thing worth demonstrating is strength." -he feels affection to be weak and to show breakage of masculinity.
-When Ekwefi takes a mumbling shot at his ego (taunting his hunting skills and manliness) his anger got the best of him, feeling threatened he shot at her with his gun. (He misses- only making sense since she was taunting the fact he wasn't any good at hunting, being a bad shot.)
-Okonkwo struggles with repressing his emotions sticking solely to anger and pride, however, all ambition is secretly driven by a drastic fear of his past and of failure (to be like his father).

we also discussed his current relationships and possible conflicts that could evolve as the book continues.

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Court system (egwugwu)
we discussed it being their justice system, the way their culture takes judgement and how they work their gods into their court system. A circle of high end men and the highest of all playing the roll of their gods/spirits in masks.

-They make judgement on a man who beat and fought with his wife saying "its not bravery to fight with a woman" - we discussed how okonkwo beating his wife does not make him the man he believes himself to be.

Ekwefi-
we discussed how much we have learned about ekwefi as her own person and how much she has been through. the fact that she still works hard with strong moral really shows how human she is. We also got a little back story on her original relationship with Okonkwo- the fact that she left her own life behind to go back to him seems like a little bit stronger of a connection than the arranged betrothals.

Bride Price-
we discussed bride price and how it is more a physical value than it is a substance value. We talked about the culture of their marriages and the traditions they entertain- for example the bride staying 7 weeks with the grooms family.

Significance-
there was short discussion on the significance of Okonkwo's tobacco or "snuff" - then moved on to the possible symbolism of the drums, though nothing is confirmed it seemed they played some roll of indication or foreshadow during the novel - maybe even a language.

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The tortoise story gives off huge foreshadow- cannot be confirmed until further reading but it seems like it would be anticipating a set of parallel events. It sends the message of betrayal. The tortoise promises good things and alliance in the beginning, however, tricks the birds and selfishly takes over. The birds did not respond well and stripped the tortoise of their gifts (his feathers to fly). Karma follows the tortoise close behind (the parrot) as he pleads for the parrots help, requesting he speak to his wife for him. The tortoise asks for "all of the soft things" to be brought from his house. Instead the parrot requests the opposite in means of teaching a lesson. The tortoise jumped blindly from the sky, crashing down into the heap of solid things below. Though the tortoise does not die his shell is "not smooth" anymore. Change has occurred here and the tortoise is no longer the same. This story can do more than one foreshadow, it could come to terms with Okonkwo and his personal downfall or possibly the invasion of unknown conflict yet to seek betrayal.

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Ogbanje children- Children born of a curse, a repeater. Meaning one who comes and goes. A symbol of rebirth (repeatedly pass and be reborn from the same mother)

Iyi-uwa- the object that binds ogbanje children by their spirit to the world, causing said rebirth.

Chi- could mean spirit or inner energy, even formally as personal god? Usually driven by an individuals good or bad fortune.

Do the drums have meaning? is it a language? are they indicators?

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How do single stories allow us to construct an understanding of others?

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How do single stories allow us to construct an understanding of others?

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Single stories appear to render people or things flat and/or incomplete. Single stories create stereotypes, which can bring conflict to finding the fundamental understanding behind other people. They don't truly "allow" us to construct an understanding of others since a single story is usually a facade. It starts from prejudice and eventually turns into discrimination. Single stories separate us, despite the fact that we are all human. A stereotype is a wall- blocking human connection.

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Pride -
Okonkwo has such an immense sense of pride that it overall could be his weakness. he is so threatened by things that aren't how he see's fit. his pride is fitted at first, it is true he has accomplished more than enough, however the pride can go to a person's head quicker than anticipated. He then cannot see people at his level, creating impossible standards.

repression-
Okonkwo struggles with repression. He represses his emotiones unhealthily in fear of looking weak or feminine. The only emotion he seemed worth while expressing was anger, claiming that affection was weak and the only true thing worth showing was strength. (pg. 28 - chapter 4) -another point of repression was when his adopted son was forced to be murdered.

Hypermasculinity-
Okonkwo's hyper-masculine drive is almost  in ties with repression. Anger and strength being his only motivation.

--to be continued

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There is more than one separation or divide Achebe Writes about. As you begin an in-depth reading of this literature it is easily identified that Okonkwo had a questionable relationship with his father.  Unoka, his father, was a man very different from his son, a man who enjoyed the little things even when frowned upon. Unoka does not see himself as a warrior, nor has he established being "a man" in any way. Instead, Unoka chooses to live a little, drink and hang out with friends. To his son, Okonkwo, this is shameful and cowardly. Okonkwo lives his life as a hypermasculine and dismissive man and is threatened by who his father was- making a statement to be nothing like him.

As Okonkwo was at fault with his own father, he also has parallel issues with his son, Nwoye. Nwoye seems to be more like Unoka, his grandfather, than like his father in any way. Nwoye doesn't understand his father's ambitions no matter how hard he may try. The boy is drawn to his mother's creative stories which his father is definitely opposed to. Okonkwo complains about his son and even speaks of wishing he were different.

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What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is that one character that saturates the story. They are more than just a character, they are a conflict. They are a crucial part of a story, specifically dramas because they play the role of a "cautionary tale". Tragic heroes bring emotional and deep responses from readers/viewers. Typically they have noble qualities which give reason to their admirable traits, however, these characters must have some sort of fatal flaw. This draws attention to their imperfection; a dent in their character or personal judgement that eventually will lead to their downfall. Take Willy Loman for example, he was driven by the wrong ambition and unhealthy personal conflicts which result in his failure. Willy also portrays the importance of excessive arrogance (hubris), which can show the consequences of "overreaching". Tragic heroes teach a moral lesson about humanity and disparity. These characters show the importance of discipline and self-awareness, essentially how fragile human existence can be. Tragic heroes leave an impact on an audience and their understanding of consequences and morality.