Tomorrow we will discuss chapters 12-15. Remember to read through chapter 18.
For this evening:
How does the following proverb explain the harsh punishment given to Okonkwo?
“As the elders said, if one finger brought oil it soiled the others.” (Pg. 125)
Have you ever had a punishment that seems harsh more harsh than the "criime?" Why do you think that happened? Is it fair? Why or why not? What does the harshness of the punishment to Okonkwo mean to his villagers?
23 comments:
Have you ever had a punishment that seems harsh more harsh than the "criime?" Why do you think that happened? Is it fair? Why or why not? What does the harshness of the punishment to Okonkwo mean to his villagers?
I fortunatly have not had a punishment that seems harsher than the crime. I feel that depending on the crime the punishment can be harsher or not so harsh. If you commited a crime and the punishment wasnt harsh enough, you wont learn your lesson. I think if the crime is bad enough that the punishment should be pretty harsh that way you learn your lesson. People that tend to get off easy tend to keep doing what they did. Now if they got cought and didnt get off easy, then they are les likley to commit the same crime. People learn quickly not to do what they did to get in trouble if they are punisment is bad enough.
To me, this proverb means that if someone does something bad, then other bad things will only spread. I have had punishments that far exceed the things I do to deserve them. I think this happens in my case because of other peoples' anger (my parents). The fact that my parents take out their anger on me really isn't fair. For example, if I do something bad on a day that my parents are pissed, I would most likely be in more trouble than normal. I believe Okonkwo's exile punishment wasn't suiting for the crime he committed. The harshness of his punishment shows his villagers that they should be careful about what kind of crimes they commit.
I have had many punishments that seemed worse than the crime. I think this happend because this was not the first time ive been in trouble by this person. So maybe he was just sick of it and made it all in one. This is not fair at all. I think it should be a eye for an eye sort of thing. You should have consequences for your actions, but approprite ones. It means that they have to understand that it can happen to them to not just him.
This means that if one person would do something wrong that it would hurt other people or inspire them to do wrong things. So sence okonkwo killed the boy it may make others want to kill to. I had a harsh punishment when I tiped my ATV and my parents took it away from me for a week. Another was that I got into a fight with my brother and I couldnt go hunting for a whole year. I think these punishments happened because my parents were trying to make sure I do not do it again. I think it was not fair because there were not that big of a deal what I did and the punishments should have been smaller. The harshness of Okonkwos punishment means that what he did it is not ok with the village and that if any one else did it that they would get the same fate he did.
I have had a few experiences where I got in more trouble than should have been. I think that it happend because my parents just want to keep me safe. Thats why they punished me so harshly so I wouldnt do it again. I think it was completly fair because I know their intentions were good, and I also never did it again. I am glad that they kept me out of trouble the way they did. Okonkwo's crime had the punishment like any other person would have gotten. They didnt feel any hatred towards Okonkwo for his crimes but had to burn his things because it was tradition.
Have you ever had a punishment that seems harsh more harsh than the "criime?" Why do you think that happened? Is it fair? Why or why not? What does the harshness of the punishment to Okonkwo mean to his villagers?
I have also been pretty fortunate and not have a punishiment seem harsher than the crime. If I don't do work around the house, the consequence is me not going anywhere. Thats not really harsh at all. I think that their should be consequences for bad actions. For example, if you killed someone, you should be given the death penatly. Thats just my opinoun. I think that the punishment may be more harsh than the crime because the person is just angry they got caught for the crime. It eats away at them and their conciouds gets the best of them. I think that the villagers think that Okonkwo's punishment is harsh because it was an accident. He didn't really mean to kill him. Okonkwo is just a victim of an accident but he still has to pay the consequence.
Cody Dykes
“As the elders said, if one finger brought oil it soiled the others.” (Pg. 125)
Iv looked at the proverb but i don't quite understand it so ill give you the rest of the response. I have had a punishment similer to his. I was grounded for a whole summer for running way when i was like 5. But i did that purposely. What he did was a total accident. I think that what happened to him was totally Karma. He does a bunch of bad shit and that's what he get. I can't even believe people in that village had respect for him.
The following proverbs explains the harsh punishment to Okonkwo because the quote is basically saying that if one finger (being Okonkwo) did something wrong it effects everyone, not just him. I completely agree with the quote because if a crime went without punishment, no valueable lessons will be learned. Also, others will soon realize that since that person may have gotten away with something, they too can get away with it. I unfortuntaley have a punishments that seem more harsh then the "crimes" I have committed. It's always been little things, well at least seem little to me, for example not making cerfew or sneeking out of the house. Though I may have been grounded many of times, I am wise enough to realize now that my parents were only trying to instill values in me because they care that much about me. It's almost like the saying "tough love" because my parents often give me harsh consequences, they just want me to go through live growing as a person and only become stronger. If my parents were the other way and didn't give me any consequences at all, then I would have to start really worrying in my opinion. The harshness of the punishment to Okonkwo means to his villagers had to be more careful and counsinicous about the things they are doing because they are now aware of what kind of consequences may be possible to them.
this proverb means that once a bad dead is done you must face the concequences. even though you wish it was possible to take it back you can't. i have never had a punishment harsher than that of the crime. i agree with kirk that the punishment all depends on the crime. there are certain things in life that deserve death. like if you kill someone you shold have to suffer what they did. if you steal somehting you should have to deal with the consequences but not death. there is a saying that goes along with this you do the crime, you pay the time. i think that is a life lesson. you make that mistake once you don't do it again.
How does the following proverb explain the harsh punishment given to Okonkwo?
“As the elders said, if one finger brought oil it soiled the others.” (Pg. 125)
Have you ever had a punishment that seems harsh more harsh than the "criime?" Why do you think that happened? Is it fair? Why or why not? What does the harshness of the punishment to Okonkwo mean to his villagers?
It means that once one person does something wrong then others may think its ok for them to do something wrong. I have had many punishments that seemed way to harsh for the crime. like when my moms in a bad mood. I always end up getting grounded for no reason. But the bad part is that i get grounded for so long. But i do believe if the crime is bad then the punishment should be bad. BUt it should also teach the person a leson of what there crime was. well thats just what i believe.
The proverb means is an example and i look at it like this; if you place your hand into the mud the rest will suffer with it. This proverb shows that okonkwo suffers but so does his family and other villagers. I think that all humans have done somthing and in return have gotten an undeserving punishment. I think this can happen for a few reasons, one being the person giving the punishment had a bad day and is taking their anger out on you. Another reason could be that they want to teach you a lesson so you will never do it again. I in some ways do not think it is fair but i am on both sides for this. It teaches a lesson but it also just angers the "criminal" even more. The villlagers all agree that the harsh punishment is a just one. in most societies would sent the criminal to murder themself.
I do not understand the proverb. I have never had a punishment that seemed more harsh than the crime. I think punishments happen for a reason. If you don't get a punishment, you'll do it again. If you get a punishment, you might learn a lesson, depending on how bad the consequence was. It is defnitely fair. I think that the punishment to Okonkwo means that he should be more careful next time.
This proverb explains the harsh punishment given to Okonkwo because if you start something bad it will spread quickly. Everybody picks up on everything okonkwo does becuase he is there leader. If he does something it will spread through the whole village. Since okonkwo killed the boy others may want to take after him and kill someone as well. I have never had a punishmen that seems more harsh then the one that Okonkwo had. This shows that the village was not ok with okonkwo killing the boy. Even though okonkwo didnt mean to kill him he will still get punished. I think that this will teach okonkwo a valuble lesson.
The proverb explains how others view the punishments of crime. They are saying if you do something wrong, it can effect the whole village. They are very harsh to Okonkwo i believe but they seem nothing wrong with it. I have had a few punishments that have seemed unfair to me. I get home past midnight sometimes and get in trouble. I will have to give up driving for a bit or either clean most of the house. I can understand why my parents have these restrictions. They are just looking out for me. The harsh punishment of Okonkwo means the other villagers have to follow a strict punishements.
I haven't had the misfortune of having a harsher punishment compared to the crime committed, though many would think that I have if they'd walked in my shoes. One such time in which I thought that I was being punished more severely than I should have been hearkens me back to eighth grade. I had started hanging around a group of friends that I shouldn't have hung out with, and as such I started shoplifting from various stores. At first it was small items, but as time progressed and I didn't get caught I had 'graduated' up to stealing items in large quantities and with high price tags. It got out of control. I partly did it because I enjoyed that rebel feeling and the rush that came after I made it out of the store without getting caught, and partly because I wanted things that I couldn't afford and had stupidly thought that I had perfected the art of not paying, so to speak, and partly because I wanted to be Billy Badass at that time, as I was sort of a loner back in eighth grade - very soft-spoken, quiet, unfunny, and plain unlikeable to many. I wanted to be known for once. Shoplifting was not the answer as I learned.
On June 5th, 2006, I had entered K-Mart in hopes of stealing an item that I'd wanted, and I made it out of the store. I did it! Or so I thought. No sooner had I gotten out of the store when I felt a hand firmly place itself on my shoulder, pulling me back in. I was with a friend who I'll leave unnamed for this blog, and he, too, was swept back into the store.
Let me tell you: however much I enjoyed the rush of shoplifting was entirely countered by this anti-rush as it were of being caught and pulled to the security office. I had a very bad vibe about the stealing even before, during, and after I had opened the package that was sealed. I should've placed the item back onto the shelf after I'd opened it, but I didn't. I went for the gold and got shit instead. Upon entering the back of the store and watching the videos that proved our guilt, I was terrified...no, mortified. Luckily, the security man let me off rather easily; he gave me the option of calling home and explaining what had happened or calling the police for them to pick me up. I opted for the former.
I phoned my parents and explained everything to them in the most nerve-wracking conversation that I'd ever been engaged in. My voice was as trembly as can be, and such feebleness was righteously countered by my mother's sternness. I won't lie, I expected an ass-whooping when I arrived at my house, but fortunately my expectations were a bit off. Instead, I was grounded. And by grounded I don't mean what the usual teenage grounding is, and that is to have something like their phone taken away what is supposed to be one month but is shortened to eight days because of the child's constant bitching and nagging and whining.
No, that was not my punishment. My punishment was to sit in my room each day with no social contact whatsoever and contemplate where I was headed, and where I would be had I not been caught: a wanted felon who makes his living earning a five-finger discount at nigh any mall outlet in the US. Okay, so maybe that's a little drastic but you can catch my pitch.
At the time, I thought that the punishment was "fucking retarded" (I believe that was the terminology that I'd selected). "Why should I have to sit all day each day simply thinking about where my life would be if I'd kept shoplifting. I would have stopped eventually, even if I hadn't got caught!"
...That was the bullshit that I forced myself to believe for the duration of my grounding, but who was I kidding? Had I not been caught, I might not be able to sit on this computer and write this blog; I may be gazing at the world through vertical bars until I'm eighteen. That, thankfully, was not the case. The security manager at K-Mart convinced me that there are two ways of learning a lesson.
The easy way, or the way that I should have learned it by not hanging around such a crowd of people and shoplifting with them to begin with.
And the hard way, which is to get caught and punished for your poor choices. Sir Issac Newton's third law of motion forever rests at the back of my mind: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."
My punishment was a very deserved one, and looking back at it I am very gracious that my parents gave to me such a punishment. It made me a much stronger person and truly etched in a gap that was previously missing.
In many respects my eighth grade summer was the worst of my life; imagine not having the ability to speak with anyone aside from your mother and brother for your entire vacation. Then, it was a form of torture that my parents had cruelly invented. Now, it was a form of self-fulfillment that I took advantage of and truly reincarnated myself from the antisocial, awkward boy that I was into the open, optimistic young adult that I am.
Thank you, mom.
- Ryan Moore.
Not only do our actions and choices have such a great impact on us, but also on the people closest to us. We forget that there is a chain reaction with making the wrong choice with everyone around us because we tend to think that our actions=our consequences. But that is not usually the case.. Okonkwo's harsh punishment was only because we needed that lesson taught to him. That what he was doing wrong in the village was weighing down everyone in the village.
Just on a daily basis, getting in trouble for what I say or what I am doing at home always causes a harsher punishment that was is really needed. When I know I am doing something I shouldn't be, but get yelled at or punished way more harshly then they actual situation even started out to be it is just unfair. I usually don't even try to defend myself anymore because I can already predict the outcome most of the time, so I know that plays a big role in my punishment too. Because my mom doesn't really know the whole story, because I don't bother to even begin telling it. So in a way, I am really asking for it, but the punishment is always much harsher than should be the outcome. I know in my heart it is only to teach me a lesson, as well as the situation with Okonkwo was, but the harshness shouldn't be takin farther than needed, like in Okonkwo's case. This punishment really opened the eyes of the people in Okonkwo's village showing them that they reall need to be careful of their actions and pay extra attention to what they are doing because the worst and harshest punishment can always be the outcome.
I have been punished many times and many times more than i thought was nesessary. For example, last time i missed a couple blogs my dad grounded me for a week when i still had a great grade. I think this happend because my dad thinks that it would teach me to do my homework. I personally, thought this was way to harsh because i was just having a bad week. i mean it wasnt like i was never doing blogs again. I do not think this is fair but life isnt fiar so its something we have to deal with. The harshness of Okonkwo's punishment shows the villagers that no one is above the law even someone with a standing such as him.
Tom Hall
the proverb explains basicaly how someone can ruin something for the group. all it takes is one thing to happen, and everything is ruined. okonkwo needs to be treated harsh, to break his spirit. i do think i was the victim of a harsh punishment. i was suspended in third grade, for a juvenile thing. i think it happened to instill fear and respect into me in heinsight. okonkwo's punishment makes the villagers fear for themseves, so as they do not choose to repeat the stunts of okonkwo.
What a funny coincidence, we just talked about punishments during the 18th century period of enlightenment. This ideal is quite similar to Baccaria's idea of punishment to prevent others from doing the same and making the community look bad. That's basically, I think what they meant by punishing Okonkwo. One bad apple spoils the lot.
For a punishment that I feel was harsher than the crime was when I was six and called my mom a bitch because I heard it on the TV. Just goes to show you how wonderful the media's influence is. I was watching a show that really wasn't for me and the guy said bitch, so I thought it was something you said to people. I called my mom after that, and when she didn't pick up I called her a bitch in the voice message. Oh man, I remember that I was in such deep shit after that. I look back on it now though as an unfair punishment for what I did. It was an innocent mumbling of a kid, but I was grounded for six months and my dad gave me a whuppin'. Yep, ever since that I saw them as the two Sith Lords of Westland. BUT I WILL NOT BE TURNED TO THE DARK SIDE!!! *cackles* I'M NOT A BAD JEDI!!!!!!!
Let's see how many people that freaks out.
Yes, i have had a punishment harsher then the crime. This occured when i was with the "wrong people at the wrong time" kind of thing. I made a mistake but in doing that mistake i made some responsible decisions. My dad on the other hand didnt see the responsibilty in the situation and acted very harshly. I think he did this because he wants to make sure that i am safe and that i dont get in trouble. He is a very protective person but still should have looked at the situation as a whole and not have focused on one thing. I think that Okonkwo punishment was good for the villagers to witness because they will think before committing their crimes and will think of the consequences.
The proverb in the quote means that if one person does everything then everybody else will never learn how to do things. I have never had I punishment that is more harsh then a crime. I think if the person does something bad they know they are going to get punished for it. The punishment should be depended what that did. The more damage they did the bigger the punishment they are going to have. The punishment to Okonkwo is not ok to the villagers. He didn’t mean to kill him but he did and it would be the same for anybody else.
Saldy yes in my life i have had some punishments that seeem a little bit over the top but in the end i have to say ive learned what is right. There are so many people in our world who never learn thier lesson and its really sad. Think there are thousands of people who are in jail right now and right when they get out they are thinking about going right back to what they were doing to get them there in the first place. Half the people in this world never learn their lesson at all...most jails these days are almost like a home away from home, they have workout facilitys, cable tv, and even outside playing areas...not that personal fitness is bad but if you are in jail for doing bad then you shouldnt be able to do what ever you want while you are in there. If people learn from their mistakes then they will not do it again.
Scott Roteman
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