Hi everybody, today we are going to presentation about Okonkwo and his life in the story Things Fall Apart. 

First I m going to introduce Okonkwo, Okonkwo is a self-made, well-respected member of the Umuofia clan. Though outwardly stern and powerful, much of his life is dictated by internal fear. His greatest, overwhelming worry is that he will become like his father – lazy, unable to support his family, and cowardly. Okonkwo considers many of his father’s characteristics to be feminine. Much of Okonkwo’s behavior results from a reactionary desire to be completely unlike his father. This means that Okonkwo attempts to work hard, provide for his family materially, be brave, and be masculine in every possible way. As a result, Okonkwo’s becomes successful in many ways – he becomes very wealthy, holds a high-ranked position in the community, has three wives, and is known for his skill as a wrestler and warrior. But he also tends toward emotions that are extreme, and his fear motivates him to take actions which are often unnecessary and ultimately destructive. His fear of being feminine leads him to assist in the murder of Ikemefuna whom he loved, to beat his wives, be emotionally distant from his children, and to disown his oldest son.(karishma)
  As an uncompromising man’s man, Okonkwo’s relationship towards his family is one of complete dictatorship. His three wives are there to serve him his food and raise his children. By seeing them as his subjects, Okonkwo can justify his brutal behavior against them. He can beat his wives without guilt. He can threaten Ekwefi with a gun when she talks back. He can rebuke Nwoye for listening to old wives’ tales. This sense of ownership is exemplified when Okonkwo takes Ikemefuna’s life. Though he does have qualms about killing Ikemefuna, they are not qualms about whether or not he has the right to do it. Okonkwo feels complete ownership over his family.(Nhat)
    
 According to our topic, Proud, ambitious, and ill-tempered, Okonkwo is the tragic hero of Things Fall Apart. The definition of hero is a man admired for his achievements and qualities, especially one displaying great courage. An ambitious man who has risen from nothing to a man of importance in his tribe, Okonkwo rules his family with an iron fist. He is deeply dedicated to the traditions and social hierarchies of his people, and he is determined that his sons and daughters follow his demanding example. The indignities forced on him and his people by the British eventually prove to be too much for him. After an act of defiance which goes unsupported by his people, Okonkwo gives in to despair. He kills himself, partly so that he will not be executed under the white man's laws and partly because he is grieving for the death of his people.(Krish)

  Okonkwo is a self-made, well-respected member of the Umuofia clan. Though outwardly stern and powerful, much of his life is dictated by internal fear. His greatest, overwhelming worry is that he will become like his father – lazy, unable to support his family, and cowardly. Okonkwo considers many of his father’s characteristics to be feminine. Much of Okonkwo’s behavior results from a reactionary desire to be completely unlike his father. This means that Okonkwo attempts to work hard, provide for his family materially, be brave, and be masculine in every possible way. As a result, Okonkwo’s becomes successful in many ways – he becomes very wealthy, holds a high-ranked position in the community, has three wives, and is known for his skill as a wrestler and warrior. But he also tends toward emotions that are extreme, and his fear motivates him to take actions which are often unnecessary and ultimately destructive. His fear of being feminine leads him to assist in the murder of Ikemefuna whom he loved, to beat his wives, be emotionally distant from his children, and to disown his oldest son.

  As an uncompromising man’s man, Okonkwo’s relationship towards his family is one of complete dictatorship. His three wives are there to serve him his food and raise his children. By seeing them as his subjects, Okonkwo can justify his brutal behavior against them. He can beat his wives without guilt. He can threaten Ekwefi with a gun when she talks back. He can rebuke Nwoye for listening to old wives’ tales. This sense of ownership is exemplified when Okonkwo takes Ikemefuna’s life. Though he does have qualms about killing Ikemefuna, they are not qualms about whether or not he has the right to do it. Okonkwo feels complete ownership over his family.

    Okonkwo

Proud, ambitious, and ill-tempered, Okonkwo is the tragic hero of Things Fall Apart. An ambitious man who has risen from nothing to a man of importance in his tribe, Okonkwo rules his family with an iron fist. He is deeply dedicated to the traditions and social hierarchies of his people, and he is determined that his sons and daughters follow his demanding example. The indignities forced on him and his people by the British eventually prove to be too much for him. After an act of defiance which goes unsupported by his people, Okonkwo gives in to despair. He kills himself, partly so that he will not be executed under the white man's laws and partly because he is grieving for the death of his people.

My immigration experience

 1/ I came to the United States on November 2007. I and my family had to wait about 10 years for the process. When my family got the mail from my grand mother ( she was living in U.S. ).She said everything done, my family can move to U.S after get Visa and interview. When we knew about that, we had 3 months to finish all of thing to ready moving to U.S. It was hard time for my family. My parents had to do some formalities for quit their job, and waited the school give they the money for quit. That's thing took much time, and we had to give some cashes to the person do that thing. We just had hard time about quit the job, and sell the house. The interview was easy, they just gave my father the picture of his brothers and sisters. They just asked my father who is that, what is his name and this one, this one, so that was all. We passed and got ready for flying next month. 
  The first years in U.S. it was so crazy to me. I didn't understand when someone speak English. I went to restaurant I didn't know how to order. I just pointed the food picture for the waiter understand. When I went outside, I always brought 3 things, notes, pen and electric dictionary. People who didn't understand what I said, I just wrote it down and gave to them. I spent my first year in some community centers to study English, and went to work at Vietnamese factory. The second years I began looking other jobs. It was so hard to me because no where hired me. 
Finally I got a job at the Midway Stadium, I did picnic service. It was fun, but they paid not so high. Almost at this time  I didn't know much what customers want, I just guested and serviced them. Sometime the customer didn't know what I did, and they laughed me. I had 3 times so fun,scare and ashamed, the first one is I serviced a drunk customer, I asked him " what do you want ? beef or chicken " but I said the sound same " bitch". He was so angry, and wanted hit me. So lucky the one stand near me, he understood what I said and he helped me explain to that guy. The second and the third are I went wrong the women restroom, and then the security came talk to me, but I didn't know how to explain for my confusing. However, the first time is hard time for me and for everybody who are immigration, I think. 




2/ Do you think language unites or divides us?
 Yes, I think language unites us. Let think, if I live in United States, but I don't know how to speak English. Do you think I will have many friends from other countries? or can I work at some American companies? It's impossible. In other way, if I know English, I can communicate to other people. If I speak English so well, and live in U.S., I think I am American too. I think so, if I am living U.S., speaking English, who care where I am from. In U.S. has many places they open to teach english for immigrants, why do they do that? because they want unites immigrant by language. That's why I think language is so important, it helps people come closer and unities.