Summary:
Discusses the different life styles of the characters in "Things Fall Apart" to Berl from "The Son from America."
Everyone has a different way of growing up which means everyone has a different perspective towards different things, such as power and family. Berl from "The Son from America" and Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart have totally different perspectives on power and family. This would be due to the fact that they where both raised in two totally different worlds. The amazement on how different they are very surprising do to the conditions they each are used to.
Power what can it mean to a man in a small village. Because when it comes to Berl the word power does not exist. He does not control, push, or boss his wife around. When he wants something done, it seems like he is the type of guy that would go for it. Ya, ya his wife may cook for him, but it is not because he forces her, it's because she wants to. The only power that Berl has in him is the power that he carries around in his heart, and that's where all power should come from.
Now on the other hand, to Okonkwo, there is nothing like having power. Okonkwo uses his power, to control, and beat his wives, control people that disrespect him, and to act like the real man that he thinks he is. Okonkwo thinks that everything has to be controlled by who has the higher power. There for he also knows that his gods are much more powerful than him so he does not mess with them. He only picks on people that can not defend themselves from him. To Okonkwo besides family, power is the most important thing there is in this world.
Everyone's, family relationships are different. To Berl family is very important. When his son came home from America, he was not upset at him for leaving, he greeted him right away. And although his son sent him money, he did not spend or give it away he saved it, to give back. Berl also treats his wife really respectful, he never interrupts her, and he never says anything mean to her, he always treats her like the lady she should be seen as. Berl is down for his family, and seems like he would do anything for them.
Okonkwo is a family man also, but Okonkwo is not the best family man. Although he has a lot of love for his family, and will do anything for them, he does not know how to treat them. He beats his wives, and just because his daughter is beautiful, he is cant wait to get home so that many men will give him money, in exchange for his daughter. Okonkwo does not respect his family for who they are, especially Nowoy. He means good for his family but does wrong, with out knowing it.
Growing up means a different way of living and a totally different thinking process to everyone. Berl and Okonkwo are two different men, with two different opinions on power and family, probably everything else that exist in the world today. There's not question on two people behavior, when they live two different lives styles there whole life, because the results will not every be compatible no matter how hard you try to fit the pieces together.
This is the complete article, containing 549 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
