Storytelling in Achebe Essay Example for Free

Storytelling in Achebe Essay In Achebe’s novel â€Å"Anthills of the Savannah† storytelling is presented as a means to escape the effects of colonialism in Africa. He presents Storytelling in many different ways: through myth and folklore, Beatrice, Ikem and the Abazonian elder and it is clear to the reader that storytelling plays an important part in Kangan. Achebe also explores storytelling as a way to pass down historical values from generation to generation, as shown by Beatrice’s process of enlightenment at the sight of the bird. He also uses storytelling to weave traditional religious elements with that of modern society. Ikem is a clear storyteller, and the reader sees this even more as the book progresses, after he witnesses the Abazonian elder’s speech. Achebe’s purpose to have the â€Å"Hymn to the sun† written by Ikem is to set the semi-religious elements of Kangan/Nigeria, against modernity, which in, chapter 3 particularly, is shown through the combustion of traffic that Ikem faces. This shows the reader the struggle in Post-colonial African countries. Ikem writes â€Å"like anthills surviving to tell the new grass of the savannah about last year’s bush fire. † which can be a symbol or metaphor for the oppression of women in post-colonial Africa and gives the title a relevance as it shows that the corruption and political struggles in kangan is a cyclical process. The oppression of women is further explored in Ikem’s â€Å"love poem† which he reads to Beatrice to thank her for the gift of â€Å"insight†. Ikem’s love letter states that the oppression of women is a problem in post-colonial societies but it is not only a problem in Kangan as â€Å"there is no universal conglomerate of the oppressed† and this is important to understand. The reader is further enlightened on the chaos when Ikem says â€Å" Reform may sound like a dirty word but then it is beginning to look as if it is the most promising route to success,†. The supposing style of his saying created through the words â€Å"most promising†, and â€Å"may† show that there may not be a solution to the chaotic problems. It also signals a change in Ikem’s character, as the tone and style of his saying show that he has changed his mind about what could be the best solution (before he was a passionate revolutionist). This version of storytelling is what ultimately leads to his tragic death later in the novel because he voices these opinions in his radical editorials. Beatrice, on the other hand is also a storyteller but in a different way than Ikem. Through her version of storytelling, she proves that there is indeed hope for women to have a better future in a post-colonial society. She is described as a â€Å"priestess† as through her character, Achebe has fused the Kanganese woman and the woman from the â€Å"house of the unknown god. † One particular stage which plays an important part in her evolution into a â€Å"priestess† is through her experience with the bird. The bird is a symbol for the fact that the effects of colonialism are starting to be evident. This is because even the bird is given a colonial voice, through an English proverb taught to her by her mother: â€Å"Is the king’s property correct?† and this questions whether the political government in place after colonialism is right. This has allowed Beatrice to realise the struggle between the African and English culture. The reader sees her assuming the role of â€Å"Priestess† more frequently as the novel progresses as she connects to the culture of Africa. She learns the story of â€Å"Idemili† a goddess in the African myth and although she does not know the story, she herself grows into a wiser and more compassionate woman, emphasising her evolution into a â€Å"priestess†. In chapter 16, just before Chris’ departure to Abazon, he spends one last night with Beatrice, and in this particular chapter, she exerts a â€Å"jest of godessy† which Chris is attracted to. Her â€Å"jest† as a goddess gives a sense of religious ritual to their intimacy, and her role is further reinforced when they talk about the â€Å"bedbug’s excuse† as Beatrice is weaving traditional elements of African culture with that of post-colonial Africa, and through this Achebe is exploring storytelling as being everlasting. The notion that the â€Å"story is everlasting† is further explored through the Abazonian elder’s speech. He speaks at great length about the power of storytelling and tells the Abazon community a story of the â€Å"Tortoise and Leopard† which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between Sam and Abazon. Here he is conveying that the people of Abazon need to have a voice in the political regime. He goes on to say â€Å"Because it is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior .. . The story is our escort; without it, we are blind,† and this shows how through storytelling, a community can retain its history and tradition and how it can seek advice on how society can progress in the future. This is why storytelling is everlasting. Ikem however, contrasts this view in his lecture at the University of Bassa, and expresses through the same story of the â€Å"tortoise and the leopard† that the role of a writer is to ask questions and not suggest solutions to them. The idea that â€Å"Storytellers are a threat† is shown as the power of writing manifests into a threat for Ikem, who is later taken away in the middle of that night and is shot and killed, and thus, another view with which Achebe explores storytelling with. Overall, storytelling is a major technique which Achebe uses, emphasising the novel’s purpose, to question the political regime that is in place in post-colonial African society and this is why storytellers are perceived as a threat. As Ikem, Achebe’s alter-ego says, the role of the writer is not to propose solutions to problems in post-colonial Africa. However, the â€Å"story is everlasting† as it allows a community who is struggling to maintain it’s History and tradition, and perhaps, even seek guidance on how to progress in the future. Achebe has used 2 very contrasting views on storytelling in order for the reader to gain a deeper insight into the events of the novel. His reason to explore storytelling links back to the multi-narrative structure employed in this novel, which shows that people must take into account different views in order to both question the problems in post-colonial Africa and find solutions to them.

Communism In Cuba Essay -- Communism Essays

The year is 1959 and the place is Cuba. It is January 1st and Batista, the president of Cuba has just fled the country fearing Fidel Castro, a Cuban revolutionary who mounted a rebel force called the 26th of July Movement against Batista. Castro assumes power on the 16th of February and establishes a dictatorship. Communist Rule In Cuba So far, the Soviet leader, Khrushchev is in question of what political track Castro is deciding to take. Russia themselves have only one connection with Fidel which is his brother Raul who is no doubt a full communist. The Communist Party of Cuba at this time has no contacts with Castro quite yet. Unfortunately, Raul never showed his true feelings for communism to his brother, Fidel. This causes quite a predicament for the Soviet Union to make them seen and heard by Cuba. Smartly, Russia sends Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan, who held business contacts in the US, to the states as a guest of the Russian ambassador. Fidel hears of Mikoyan’s arrival in the US and invites him to visit Cuba. Although Mikoyan is traveling throughout the island, looking things over, Castro still has not identified himself as a Communist quite yet. In May of 1960, diplomatic relations between Russia and Cuba are established following Mikoyan’s visit to the island. One reason why Cuba has turned to Russia is because the US had cut off their oil supplies and imposed an economic embargo on the island because of the naturalization of US owned companies and citizens by the Cuban government. This calls for a massive oil shipment from the Soviets but unfortunately, Russia was unable to handle such a demand because of their limited overseas shipping capabilities. Subsequently, Russia puts an order for extra oil tankers from Italy, a capitalist country. When Italy agrees to the business proposition, the US is infuriated that another capitalist country was willing to help a communist country. Italy saw it as nothing more than an opportunity to make extra money, regardless of opposing economic systems. Back in Cuba, Castro has begun to make enemies for himself. The many policies he has instilled angered many who fought beside him in the revolution to overthrow Batista and many didn’t approve of the socialist reforms he made such as the naturalization of businesses and his collectivization of agriculture. Castro felt he needed protection against the United States and ... ...defeated in Vietnam in the later years to come. I feel that the Cuban missile crisis served not only as another example of how nuclear war is in fact possible but also allowed interaction between opposing systems of government that were both seeking to expand their influence on third world countries. For Russia, they have succeeded in guaranteeing that Cuba would not be invaded but they have compromised their balance of power with the United States for those missiles served as the only nuclear threat to the states where as the US had missiles positioned in various places in Europe and the Middle East all pointed towards the Soviet Union. Khrushchev has also lost face with China where they see him as a coward in retreating. The people of the United States saw this as their own victory with the removal of the nuclear threat. Bibliography Castro, Fidel. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 1998 ed. Cuban Missile Crisis. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 1998 ed. Khrushchev, Nikita. Khrushchev Remembers. USA: Little, Brown and Company, 1970. Rubin stein, Alvin Z. Soviet Foreign Policy Since World War II: Imperial and Global- Second Edition. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company, 1985.

Preparation of Isopentyl Acetate

Results and Discussion Isopentyl propanoate was prepared by refluxing isopentyl alcohol in excess propanoic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. The ester was obtained by distillation in 62% yield, bp 140-150oC (lit. 156 oC [1]). GC analysis of the distillate revealed only traces of the starting alcohol (Figure 1). The ester's structure was confirmed using IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The IR spectrum (Figure 2) shows a strong absorption at 1741 cm-1 consistent with an ester C=O stretching vibration. The NMR spectrum (Figures 3 and 4) contains all of the signals expected for this compound. A triplet at 1. 18 ppm and a quartet at 2. 8 ppm are assigned to the propionyl methyl and methylene groups, respectively. A doublet at 0. 82 ppm is assigned to the two isopentyl methyl groups. A 6 line pattern at 1. 66 ppm is assigned to the methine group (9 lines are expected), and a triplet at 4. 08 and a quartet at 1. 48 ppm are assigned to the OCH2 and CHCH2 methylene groups, respectively. Experi mental Preparation of isopentyl propanoate. Isopentyl alcohol (4. 6 mL, 42 mmol), propanoic acid (40 mL, 530 mmol), and concentrated sulfuric acid (1 mL, 18 mmol) were refluxed for 66 minutes. The solution was diluted with water (60 mL) and extracted with ether (60 mL).The ether layer was washed with saturated aq. NaHCO3 (2 x 60 mL), dried with MgSO4, and distilled at atmospheric pressure to give isopentyl propanoate: 3. 8 g (62% from isopentyl alcohol), bp 140-150 oC (lit. 156 oC [1]); IR (ATR) cm-1: 2960 (vs, CH), 1741 (vs, C=O), 1189 (s, C-O); 1H NMR (C6D6, 400 MHz) ? : 0. 92 (d, 6H, J = 6. 8 Hz, CH(CH3)2), 1. 18 (t, 3H, J = 6. 6 Hz, CH2CH3), 1. 48 (q, 2H, J = 6. 6 Hz, CHCH2), 1. 66 (9 lines, 1H, J = 6. 8 Hz, CH), 2. 28 (q, 2H, J = 6. 6 Hz, CH2CO), 4. 08 (t, 2H, J = 6. 8 Hz, OCH2); GC (120 oC, right-hand column): isopentyl propanoate (4. 8 min), isopentyl alcohol (4. 4 min). References 1.Mordechai, U. ed. â€Å"Esther's Ester Handbook, 11th Ed. â€Å", Fruity Publishing, Boca R aton, 1984. E-factor Insert list and mass of consumed materials, product, and e-yield here. Figures [GC data, IR spectrum, and NMR spectrum; label each one as a numbered figure (see above) and give the figure an appropriate title; see appendix for additional instructions] NMR Exercise Choose one of the molecules listed below. Draw its structure (show all H) and label all protons as A, B, C, †¦ (apply the same label to ‘NMR equivalent' protons). Examine the online proton NMR spectrum (follow the link; the small upper spectrum is the carbon-13 NMR, ignore it).List all shifts associated with the compound; do not list shifts for solvent, TMS, etc. , and do not list integrals or coupling patterns. Assign each signal to a particular proton. Do this on your own; do not work with others. (If you are having trouble with the assignment and would like some help from others, work on a different spectrum from the one that you turn in). Turn in 1) the compound name provided below, 2) t he structural formula and H labels, 3) the list of shifts and assignments (write the label next to its shift). Do not turn in the spectrum

My Life Teacher Whether - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1205 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/09/25 Category Advertising Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Life Essay School Essay Teacher Essay Did you like this example? My Life Teacher Whether it’s a person, song, book or whatever it might be everyone has some kind of influence in their lives. An influence can drive someone to better themselves, or maybe send them in the wrong direction. They really determine the way people turn out. Just like anyone else, I have had many influences in my life, some good, some bad, and they all cross my mind when I have to make a big decision. Over all the ones that do come across my mind my mom impacts my decision the most. Parents can be the most important, and are normally the most important and effective influence in children growing up. My mom definitely had that effective on me in a good way. She is the first to come to my mind when I’m trying to figure out the right thing to do. But like I said, I have many other influences, and they also affect my decisions. My friends are a big part in my life and I think because I’m around them most, they are the second biggest influence to me. I feel that friends, in most people’s lives are a huge influence because of the amount of time spent with them and the pressure that is put on by them. Without my friends I would be completely different than I am now. Friends have impacted me since I was just a kid, like influencing the kind of toys I would play with, the cartoons I would watch and basically everything I thought was â€Å"cool†. Growing up my friends got me into the music I listen to and the sports I play. In 7th grade they all got me to join ski-club with them at our school and got me into snowboarding. They had all been doing it for about a year but I never really got into it until ski-club. I ended up really liking it and have been doing it ever since, so I’m grateful for my friends encouraging me to get into it. Friends obviously aren’t always the best influence, especially in a teenager’s life. You see it all the time how friends pressure friends to do stupid things. Me and my group in middle school and high school weren’t exactly the staff’s favorite students. We weren’t all that bad; I guess we just always felt the need to entertain ourselves in some unusual ways. For example, tackling the huge Christmas tree our school set up every year or bringing our skateboards to school and skating around the halls jumping down the stairs until we were caught and someone would take them away. I did a lot of stupid things in school, and a lot of those ideas if not all of them were influenced by my friends. But I’ve never really been in a serious amount of trouble, so I don’t regret any of it. It just made for some good stories and funny memories. I would probably be a â€Å"momma’s boy† if it wasn’t for my dad. He definitely toughened me up in every aspect of my life and taught me a lot that I am grateful for. When I was younger my dad inspired me to start playing baseball and football and was a g reat at home coach. He helped me get a good jump start, and I think is a big reason I excelled in the sports I played. Even with skateboarding and snowboarding, which he knew nothing about, he would try to help me with it as much as he could. He pushed me to keep working at my goal until I achieved it. Every car I have had would have probably blown up on me within the first month if it wasn’t for him. It always amazed me how much he knew about cars, I would stand there with a confused look on my face whenever he would try to explain something about my car to me. Luckily, I have picked up at least a few things along the way and can keep my car running. The thing I appreciate the most about my dad is how accepting he is. Whatever it I want in life he doesn’t criticize me for it. He just encourages me to do whatever it is I feel I need to do. He gives great advice and has toughened me up mentally, teaching me not to let others bring me down and to go after what I wa nt. In my life so far there have been many people that have helped make me into the person I am today. They all influence the way I think and act, but the person who has made the biggest and most positive impact is my mom. My mom is 45 years old, was raised in Cuyahoga Falls, is the best cook I have ever come across, and loves taking care of her family. She has shown me, along with my two older brothers and younger sister, important virtues to help us succeed through life. Growing up my mom wasn’t really as strict as the other parents, and obviously me and my siblings enjoyed that, but we didn’t take advantage of it. She was lenient with us, but if we screwed up we would lose that trust and be put on a shorter leash until we could gain it back. I think it worked out because she gave us a good example to go by, that example being herself. She is a very polite person and treats her friends and family with love and respect. She always told me that If I wanted someth ing I had to go after it and put everything I had into it. She taught me how to stick with things and get things done. I hated school for the most part, but I knew I needed to get through it to accomplish my goals and my mom helped me through that. She always has time for me if I need help with school, girls, or any advice I need I know I can go to her. If she ever saw that maybe I was going to give up on something she would help me push through. A couple of years ago my mom did something huge for me and helped me get back into my faith. We started going back to church together and since then I think we have both been happier people. My religion is a big influence in my life and I’m just really thankful that my mom did that for me. She has influenced my life greatly on the way I act and think things through. I still go to her for advice a lot and go back and think of the things she has taught me and it always help me make the right decision in the end. I am really grateful to have her in my life, she has taught me so much and I know she’s not done teaching me. She has helped me become the person I am today and I would be a lot less driven without her. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "My Life Teacher Whether" essay for you Create order