Explain the role of the oracle throughout the story. (See for example Chapters 2 and 6). Why is it important to obey her? (see Chapter 7)
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6 comments:
In my group in class today, we had the question about the oracle. We struggled a lot in distinctly defining what her role was and why it was important to obey her because we found much evidence in the book to disprove both of these things. We didn't see why it was important to obey her other than just for custom/tradition's sake because as an example, when Ezinma was kidnapped by her on page 101 in chapter 11, she told Ezinma's mother specifically not to follow her, but her mother followed them anyway. Yet, nothing ever happened to the mother. No punishment, no reprimanding, nothing. And as for the oracle's role in the book, to me, looking back on the story as a whole, my image of her is this possessed crazy lady who randomly comes in and out of the story shouting things to everyone that she "hears" from the gods. She may have served as a tool to foreshadow some elements in the book but she never gave specific advice or instructions to any of the villagers to follow in order for things to turn out properly. Maybe someone has some other ideas about whether she played a bigger role in the story that I'm missing?? Let me know what you think...
In class we compared the role of this oracle with the Greek oracle. I am not an expert regarding the role of oracles in Ancient Grece, but I doubt they would ask people to come to talk to them. I think it was more the people who would make the first step and ask for their advices. So, maybe this is an interesting point to analyze further the role of the oracle.
It has been said in class that she was a "decision-maker". She may be rather a messenger that makes sure that she is heard. They must know what is the "gods' will", but then, it's up to the people.
Actually, I just reread the passage when the oracle gives a piece of advice to Unoka, the father of Okonkwo (p.17). What surprised me when I first read it is the fact that what she says to him has nothing to do with gods, it is only common sense. She tells him "Go home and work like a man" (p. 18). So, in a way, she must play the role of a social advisor, reminding people of the duties they have. Thus, her presence is meant to preserve a certain social order in the community.
The people seemed to use the Oracle as a sort of rule and custom establisher. Throughout chapters 3 and 6 the oracle simply demands things of the people and they obey without any sort of protestation. She establishes the rules and laws that will be followed by the people and the key individuals within the tribe enforce what she demands. She has no real way of making sure that her tasks have been carried out but the people continue to obey and carry out her requests. Even when totally outrageous requests are made by the oracle, such as killing one’s own son, the people continue to obey. She is somehow able to instill this fear into the people that allows her to control them to a certain extent. I agree to a certain extent with Eglantine because I feel as though the Oracles in Ancient Greece were much more highly revered and did not have to go after people like they seem to do in this civilization. They were gone to by the people for something with the people wanting something from them, and they chose to go to them because they were so highly ranked within society. In the Igbo society they are more feared.
I agree with Jenna in that the main reason for people to follow the Oracle is from tradition. What would cause them from changing their older habits? However I think that it is also more than that. The addition of fear is what keeps some more in line with what the Oracle says. I don’t think tradition is enough for someone to kill their own son. It’s the addition of what could happen from not doing it, and the pressure from the society.
I was also in the group in class with the oracle as my discussion topic. I thought about how oracles in roles that I have seen are always someone that individuals go to when they seek advice, but it seems that in this book it played that role as well as another. The oracle would come to people and warn them misdeeds they must not commit. I saw the oracle as the decision maker up until the point where people did not do what the oracle wanted, and nothing bad came of it.
More then a decision maker, I saw the oracle as a character for the reader. The oracle foreshadowed the future of the Ibo people in this book, and helped the reader really to understand what was happening.
Jenna and Alex state that the Oracle makes Okonkwo and the people of the Igbo tribe do ridiculous tasks. That they decide the rules indiscriminately and make choices that effect the whole community. This is not so different from today. Although less brutish today, society still clings to religion as a moral and decision making process. Society seeks the advice and consent of religious leaders before taking action. The story it seems to stress the idea of following the advice or bad things will happen. For example in chapter 6 when they are told not to follow the daughter, and they do. A while later a gun goes off and they are banned for 7 years! It is stating follow the religious believes and there shall be harmony. It is disturbing to sacrifice a child that a family has been forced to raise for a number of years though. Especially one that was so close and connected to the family.
Paul Grever
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