In Chapter 12, Odili must confront what is arguably everything in his life at this moment: the political campaign in which he is involved, certain beliefs, and his relationships with his father, Max and Edna. In this chapter, Odili demonstrates what seem like very strong views about each of these key figures. What does Odili's strong frustration with each of these characters reveal about who he is and what he believes in at this point? Choose TWO of the THREE (again two of his father, Max, or Edna) to respond to this question and make the case for why these relationships and Odili's view of them are the best way for understanding Odili at this point.
Please develop a thorough and thoughtful response and make sure you are citing AT LEAST three key lines or passages from this Chapter.
Max:
ReplyDeleteWhen Odili heards directly from Max that he had accepted money from Chief Koko he is openly ashamed and frustrated explaining that although it had “no legal force,” it did have “moral force.” (127) His encounter with Max reveals that Odili does listen to his gut and want to follow his moral compass. However, it shows that confrontation is the furthest he will go. Beyond his talk with Mac, Odili does nothing to reverse the embarrassing, risky and immoral decision made. He simply accepts that Max will “iron out everything.” (128)
Odili’s father:
This is the first time that Odili’s father is kind and supportive to him. Although he openly doubts his son’s run for office, “So you really want to fight Chief Nanga! My son, why don’t you fall where your pieces could be gathered.” (121) The father Odili described earlier in the book would have been embarrassed and angry with his choice, but instead he expresses genuine concern. Later he even allows the C.P.C. to campaign on his property when he is an open member of the opposing party. Odili is able to experience the supportive father he always wanted and I think this will be beneficial to how he feels about his family and himself in the future.
Max-
ReplyDeleteAfter speaking with Max, Odili was both angry and worried for Max. I say worried because he does not know what the people will do to Max, "a man who takes money from another in return for service." (127) Odili was worried that Max's stupid act on taking the money would rage up the people. "You had better look out; they will be even more vicious from now on, and people will say they have cause." "Neither God nor juju would save him." Through all of Odili's frustration towards Max, his sympathy still rises, I believe this shows something about Odili.
Father-
Odili's father knows and understands Odili very well, and I think this is important, "Why did you not ask for three or four hundred? But then your name would not be Odili."(121) Chapter 12 opens with Odili's father yelling at him about his campaign in a not so supportive way. But what he is say is the truth, and I think Odili knows it. "My son why don't you fall where your pieces could be gathered." (121) I think Odili knows he is going to lose the race so my question is why is he still in it? This shows that Odili is the type of character that when sets his mind to something he will not stop till it is achieved or lost.
Odili's Father-
ReplyDeleteFor the first time Odili's father has been almost nice to him. Despite his open disbelief in his son;s campaign, "So you really want to fight Chief Nanga! My son, why don’t you fall where your pieces could be gathered.” (121). Earlier in the book, Odili's father said that he would be angry with his son's decision, but he ended up being concerned. Odili's father gives his son wise advice. "My son why don't you fall where your pieces could be gathered." (121). Odili is set on his goal and now he can say that his Dad is sort of behind him.
Max-
Odili feels very upset with Max after finding out he accepted filthy money. He says that it's wrong to take that money. He sees now that Max is "a man who takes money from another in return for service." (127). Max would do anything for the money and clearly his morals are week.
Odili's relationship with Edna changes continuously. In chapter 12 it looks as if they have definitively parted ways, but the next chapter is surprising. Throughout the book Odili has been struggling to understand why he is attempting to get closer to Edna. At the same time he has been trying to figure out the goal of his political campaign -- to weaken Nanga or to do what he believes is right? He decides to "tell her point blank that I loved her, and let the whole world know about it as well" (128). This is a key moment of decisiveness for Odili. He has stopped fearing the repercussions of his actions and is resigned to accept whatever outcome arises for his life. He seems to have decided on principle not to continue his secrecy, but he then diminishes whatever positive image he is building (for the reader, in this one paragraph) by describing her in an objectifying manner. In my opinion, we just have to accept Odili's sexism as an unchanging defect and evaluate what is left of him. I do think his treatment of Edna is very different from his view of Elsie because of the nature of his more serious feelings for her. He is at least relatively mature in trying to resolve his problems, despite his black and white view of Edna's choice between him an Nanga (a characteristic he displays frequently – we, too, are frequently too quick to categorize in our character analysis). Edna's reaction to him is emblematic of how Odili's luck is at that time. Her tongue "stung into me like the tail of a scorpion" (131).
ReplyDeleteOdili's father is another puzzling character. I think Odili is again too quick to portray his father as entirely good or bad. The first descriptions of the father are, of course, quite negative, and maybe Odili himself is surprised by the man's new positivity, or softening with age. The improvement in their relationship is one of the final stages of Odili's development and helps draw the book to a conclusion. These changes surprise Odili and, I think, remind him that he isn't always right about the world. It's nearly touching when Odili says, "This time I watched him drop off almost immediately and smiled in spite of myself" (122).
Father:
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter I think we are allowed to see another side of odili’s father that we were not able to see earlier in the book. Earlier he seemed like the worst father in the world, a drunk that was selfish and had too many wives and children that he would not support the lives of. Though in this chapter we are able to see grow as a character into more of a complex personality that is more of a father figure and a mentor. He genially seems to care about what happens to his son, and gives him advice, and even though odili does not want seem to hear it his father says, “You have to listen to my irritating voice until the day comes when you stop answering odili samaly or else until you look for me and don’t see me any more.” (Pg. 286) Odili seems to soften to his father and listen to him this shows that he does have a respect for his father and does care that he is alive and looking after him.
Max:
As for max odili is mad at him in parts of this chapter for accepting the bribe from chief nanga and does not respect his decision, “ I am sorry, max, but I think you have committed a big blunder. I though we wanted our fight to be clean…” (Pg. 299). Although he has a very high respect for max and admires him, and many of his ideas and actions this one makes him question some of max’s morals. Odili I believe is also jealous of maxs relationship with Eunice, “seeing max and Eunice once again, sharing every excitement, had made my mouth water” (pg. 300). He is jealous of him because he wants to have that kind of relationship with Edna.
In Chapter 12, the first mention of Edna shows a new side of Odili–he no longer cares about women just as objects. He was going to go search for Edna, and he says, “I meant to tell her point-blank that I was in love with her, and let the whole world know it as well” (128). Maybe Odili has changed and now cares about women the way men should. But it is still evident that Odili wants Edna for the wrong reasons. He says, “Any man who passed Edna on the side of the road and didn’t look back must have a stiff neck” (128). Odili wants a woman who is attractive so he can show her off the way Max can, and a woman with the right amount of education. He then talks about how we wants Edna to know that Nanga tried to bribe him–it is still about Odili wanting to feel superior to Nanga, and not about his love for Edna.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter shows that Odili’s father has very different values than Odili. Odili’s father wants Odili to have a good job, and he says, “When you came home with a car I thought to myself: good, some sense is entering his belly at last…But I should have known” (121). Farther back in the book, Odili’s father tells him he has more than enough education and needs to find a job and a car. All that isn’t important to Odili–he wants power, and his pride doesn’t allow him to be just a guy with a decent job and a car. Odili’s father tells him when he blows the chance to accept Nanga’s bribe, “You have lost the sky and you have lost the ground…” (121) While Odili’s father believes that a man should worry about money over everything, Odili shows that he wants more than money.
Odili’s reaction to Edna’s rejection reveals important truths about his motives and character. After leaving Edna’s house, Odili finds that he is upset not by "the terrible thought that Chief Nanga had won the second round" (123) but by the fact that he has lost his “twin hopes of a beautiful life with Edna and of a new era of cleanliness in the politics of our country" (124.) I feel that this reaction shows what is truly motivating Odili to want Edna and to win the political race: while he does think of Nanga and hopes to overpower him, his underlying motivation has to do with his morals and true feelings.
ReplyDeleteOdili’s relationship with Max also reflects the conflicting motives for Odili’s actions. Odili chooses not to accept the bribe from Nanga, and he becomes angry when he finds out that his friend has. He puts his ideas about the political campaign before his loyalty to Max, which is an interesting show of character. He also presents concern about the bribery making their campaign “dirty”: “It had moral force… we wanted our fight to be clean” (120.) This suggests that Odili does have some moral standards and hopes to uphold those in his race. However, as he continues to admonish Max, it begins to seem that he only wants to uphold those standards because it will help them win. In this way, the reader gains a valuable look into contrast between Odili’s motives: one that is based on moral standards and another that is based on greed.