The Sacrificial EggEssay Preview: The Sacrificial EggReport this essayChinua Achebes short story “The sacrificial Egg” illustrates the life of a young African native Julius Obi, and the arising conflicts between two cultures. This short story takes place in a very small village in Africa, called Umuru in the mid 1900s. This young African Native, although no native of Umuru finds himself trapped between his own culture, beliefs and the westernized culture. Although Julius has embraced the western culture, after certain events he eventually finds himself coming back to his own beliefs. Achebe, uses these two very different cultures to demonstrate the clash it produces in this young mens life and, how no matter how hard he has embraced the western culture he was always going to go back to his own beliefs.
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When you read this novel, and it is on the cover, you can see how the words “western colonialism” and “Western medicine” are juxtaposed, by the fact that Julius Obi and his friends are both natives of Umuru. There is a huge amount of history and cultural significance, both on land and in your own family. There was a lot of history written by African missionaries, writers and people, but not much about the fact that these people were not really known by everyone.
It is very clear that there are great differences of culture between Julius Obi, and his other compatriots, who are not only on the opposite side of this conflict, but also at a similar time. There is also an extremely clear divide between them, and what we are seeing is a much larger conflict in society than in history. How will this impact our children, and how will they see themselves? Is this the time to make your own peace with the world if we have to? Our children have so many differences of history and culture to learn, whether they be through an oral tradition, or through history books and books, or even when their lives have been taken. In our world we live in a world of conflict and bloodshed, of all places you might imagine. And where do we end up with this conflict? Will we continue to do our own dirty work when the war comes by, or will our children see themselves as masters of their own destiny, taking on the responsibilities of their tribe? There are numerous ways we can change people’s views on life and civilization. It’s easy to stop the war when you have lost power. It’s even easier to take up arms when you have power. But when people see themselves as masters of their own destiny, it’s still up for them to stand up and fight back. We are all children, we must always fight, and in this chapter you provide a strong example to make it clear that you will fight.
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But for Julius Obi’s sake, I don’t understand the idea that we have to do some sort of work with people who are not good enough, or can’t meet the conditions. The time has arrived and I know how it is, and I love your family. For Julius Obi. He has sacrificed so much to help his people, and now he is on the ground fighting against what he believes is our enemy. This story was written in the style of historical novel. Julius Obi is not one to waste ink. But he needs to write more. Your book is a clear statement on the war is going to continue. I think that the world has begun to witness a change, and there is no choice, and that I hope that we learn from history how to take it into our own hands. Thanks for the feedback we got. We hope for a peaceful and peaceful world for all human beings.
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If you have any questions/comments for Dr. Chinua Achebes, (as well as in this comment thread), feel free to send me an e-mail at [email protected]
The small African village in this story has being taken over by the western culture. Westernization is shown in the beginning of the story. “Julius Obi sat gazing at his typewriter.” “There was an empty basket on the giant weighing machine.” In these two quotes the typewriter and the weighing machine, odd objects for the African native of this village show perfectly how this town has being westernized. “Julius Obi was not a native of Umuru. He had come like countless others from some bush village island. Having passed his Standard Six in a mission school he had come to Umuru to work as a clerk in the offices of the powerful European trading company “This quote shows how Julius has himself being westernized. Westernization wasnt welcomed by many of the Umuru natives. The natives had long prayed for their town to prosper and grow. “The strangers who came to Umuru came for the trade and money, not in search of duties to perform…” This shows that people who now came to town, came strictly for business and money, which tells the reader how the town isnt what it used to be. “And as if it did not suffice, the young sons and daughters of Umuru soil, encouraged by schools and churches were behaving no better than the strangers. They neglected all their old tasks and kept only the revelries.” This show how even the young ones of this village have being westernized to the point, where they completely neglect their own traditions and beliefs.
The small African village located on the bank of the river Niger has a story of its own, that only the old and wise are able to describe. In its own time this village was a market, called Umuru. During one particular day called the Nkwo day, a deity would cast a spell which called men and women from the four corners of the world to come buy and sell products. “It was said that she appeared in the form of an old woman in the center of the market just before cock-crow and waved her magic fan in the four directions of the earth-in front of her, behind her, to the right and to the left- to draw to market men and women from distant places.” This quote comes to show how these traditions and beliefs were once born in this village. It also shows that these traditions go far back to ancient myths. “The market, tough still called Nkwo, had long spilled over into Eke, Oye and Afo with the coming of civilization and the growth of the town into a big palm oil port.” This quote in particular shows that even if this market has being westernized, people who live there still believe in their traditions.
There are two characters in particular who have both learned to accept westernization without putting their own beliefs aside. One of them is Ma, the mother of Juliuss bride to be. Although Ma has been westernized trough the conversion of religion she still holds