Chapter 6-10 Themes and Settings

Chapter 6
Themes:

Masculinity and strength, Wrestling is a big Tradition in Umuofia

culture. In this chapter Obierika's son Maduka wins some fame by
finishing his match extremely quickly.

Settings:

The community is gathered in the village and celebrating the Igbo

New Year. It's a time of festivals and parties; everyone gathers together
to watch the wrestlers compete.

Chapter 7
Themes:

Masculinity, Okonkwo now tries to teach the boys about how to be

men by telling them about waran activity in which strength and
aggression is key. While Nwoye prefers to be more peaceful "feminine"
Tradition vs. Change, Nwoye begins to detach himself from tradition as
well, repulsed by the violent customs of his people against those who
are weak.

Settings:

Chapter 8
Themes:

Fate vs. Free Will, Okonkwo believes that he had no other choice when
it came to striking down Ikemefuna, since the Oracle announced that
Ikemefuna had to be killed.
Masculinity, Okonkwo doesn't acknowledge that he was afraid of being
seen as feminine because he did not want to be apart of the killing.

Setting:

Okonkwo wishes for work to distract him, but this is the season of rest
between the harvest and the next planting season. He calls himself a

woman for his reaction to killing Ikemefuna. He doesn't eat for two
days, drinking only palm-wine instead he also stops sleeping at night.

Chapter 9
Themes:

Language, Ezinma calls Ekwefi by her first name this shows that there
relationship is of equals.
Religion, they believe that Ekwefi is cursed with an ogbanje, she fights
back with the medicine man's ritual. Ekwefi's nine previous children
died in infancy, and a medicine man said that each child was the same
ogbanje.

Setting:

Ekwefi wakes Okonkwo early in the morning saying that Ezinma is

dying. He begins preparing a medicine of leaves and grasses and
barks, while Ekwefi kneels beside Ezinma, measuring her fever.

Chapter 10
Themes:

Masculinity, the men are more involved in the justice system, with the
women only spectating on the edges of the ceremony.
Religion, The justice system is combined with the religion in Umuofia.

Setting:

Large crowds gather around the village playground, the ceremony is

for men, but women look on from the edge of the crowd. The ceremony
is a trial between a woman, Mgbafo, and her brothers against Mgbafo's
husband, Uzowulu, and his family.