Find something from this rich chapter that you find interesting and important. Identify your topic and then explain what it means and why it is important to understanding the the novel.
Find something from this rich chapter that you find interesting and important. Identify your topic and then explain what it means and why it is important to understanding the the novel.
February 22, 2009 at 9:20 pm |
The courage and willingness of these women to never give up is astonishing. How could these women put up such a great fight? The answer is simple. They were fueled by the desire to succeed. Traditionally, it has always been the men providing for the women, but that statement has truly faltered. These women are providers and quite frankly they are backbone of the operations. Their precise strategic methods of attacking the policemen were innovative and unexpected. These women led by Mame Sofi, Rama, and N’ Deye are a force to be reckoned with. Rama in particular exuded a leadership quality that was a key element in the fight. She was the fuel that propelled everyone to participate. It is important to note that Rama is a peacekeeper as well. She volunteered herself up in order to settle the omnipresent destruction. She along with these women are significant characters that demonstrate the what women are capable of, but also what they are willing to sacrifice. In my opinion, women are instrumental, or maybe even more instrumental to the strike then men. Their voices of intellect have seeped into the ears of many men, and I believe their voices will ultimately end the strike, and peace will be bestowed upon the community again.
February 23, 2009 at 7:06 pm |
When N’Deye Touti was explaining the consequences that Ramatoulaye faced with the police she did not support the Ramatoulaye matter of fact she wanted Ramatoulaye to pay the consequences because she had broken the law. By N’Deye Touti explaining all this with her educated reading and writing skills. I loved how even when N’Deye Touti was doubting and putting down the women, the women still stuck together. It was it a profound example of Women uniting at once! The women have changed so much throughout the book its truly amazing that they are no longer afraid of any man nor the white men. As long as they have the support of each other they could care less about some one coming after them and sending one of them to prison. I absolutely agree with Gulaid when he says that the relationship and the strength that has developed with women is important and positive that hopefully this strike will come to a peaceful end.
February 23, 2009 at 8:39 pm |
Like Muna and Gulaid, I was astonished and encouraged by the unity of the women in this chapter. They banded together and stood up for what they believed in, even though the fights were long and hard, and the opposition was tough. Despite the fact that the women are continually oppressed and their rebellions continue to be put out by the Europeans, they have grown so much in their trust and confidence in themselves and each other. The role of women in the culture is complicated because women are not seen as the equal of men, but these women know that they need to fight the Europeans as well if the strike is to succeed. They come through for their husbands and the men of the community in a very important manner, and I think that the unity and resolve of the women will be crucial in the community maintaining some of its identity as it resolves and hopefully peacefully ends the strike.
February 23, 2009 at 11:12 pm |
I think along with everyone else the power of the women is truly remarkable. What stood out for me particularly was when N’Deye Touti feels ashamed and angered by the white men when she overhears them talking about her. She feels very angry afterwords and I wonder if she still views them with the same view as she did before.
What is really amazing is the fighting spirit of the women as well. It’s amazing, especially Mame Sofi who continues to fight no matter what and encourages everyone else. I agree with people before me who have said that the unity of the women will be vital in bringing the strike to an end.
February 23, 2009 at 11:12 pm |
The fire is a cycle of destruction that ends on a positive note. The women and children have no food or water so when they finally have an animal to eat, they stand up for themselves. Now other soldiers on horseback have been sent for to take care of them. As protection against the soldiers, and in an effort not to surrender, the women throw burning coals at these “Saphis”. unfortunately a fire is started and because of the original issue, no water, there is nothing with which to put the fire out. This situation represents the trapped predicament most Africans found themselves in during colonial times. It seems they cannot win. In defending themselves they cause more damage. Those against the strike have again cut off a resource that would allow them to defend themselves and survive. Another interesting aspect is that it was not purposeful it all happened very quickly. Maybe it was unfortunate luck that these exterior forces gained so much control over Africa. Maybe the africans tried to defend themselves but found they needed some cultural aspect that the europeans had already taken from them such as tradition and religion. The fire represents the idea that africans were completely trapped and to survive was to surrender rather than defend. And yet, by some miracle the fire is carried away. Here the women are rewarded for their bravery. This moment gives hope to a small situation that represents a much greater one. The compound is saved by some miracle and the officers go away. So maybe the message is there is hope, no matter how miraculous, in fighting back.
February 24, 2009 at 12:44 am |
When Houdia M’Baye says, “…listen to her, anyone would think that she would be happy to see the police come back! Is this what they teach you at school, N’Deye – to turn your back on your own people” (112). This quote shows the deep rooted uneasyness that colonialism and the strike has placed upon the community. It also signifies the fragmentation that the society of woman ahs undergone, and the pressure of avoiding starvation. In the story of N’Deye Touti, and her european education, she is being singled out for even the slightest connection to the white men. This shows the paranoia and hatred that developes, and will continue to develope throughout the book.
February 24, 2009 at 3:17 am |
In this chapter, N’deye Touti struggles with where exactly she belongs. When N’deye comes upon the white officers after the fire, she feels the urge to go and show her intelligence but is reluctant. In doing so, she overhears the chief of police saying “Right now they’ll go to bed with you for less than that.’ … He turned around and, seeing that N’deye Touti had not budged, he shouted ‘Are you still there? Do you want my boot up your ass?” (118). In this moment, N’deye realizes that the Europeans are not all what she has thought of them to be, and that they can have terrible thoughts, only thinking of the Africans as nothing. This leads to N’deye questioning where exactly she should be, for her whole life she has only thought of Africa of being able to provide her with nothing and Europe as a way to escape. However, this seems to switch in this moment, learning that Europe may not be able to help her, an African native, because of how the Europeans see the African people as a whole, as savages.
February 24, 2009 at 3:24 am |
On page 110, Ousmane says “Proudly the women held up a red military fez, and it was passed around like a trophy of war.” Like most have been talking about, I find it significant that the women were able to act as strongly as they did. Furthermore, I find it interesting that Ousmane elects on comparing the fez to a ‘trophy of war’, seeing that war, like we saw in ‘Things Fall Apart’ is clearly a man’s battle, and that being a warrior translates to achieving high rankings in the community. So, this sentence to me, puts the women in this high ranking position and shows how their role has changed over the course of the strike. The role of women is becoming increasingly vital to the community and like Greer said I think will prove important in the resolution to the strike as well as the changing definition of the community itself.
February 24, 2009 at 3:28 am |
What to me is so remarkable about these woman, or specifically about Ramatoulaye, is their devotion to their principle. When the fight was started with the water carrier, the women were not worried about whether or not what they were doing was lawful, they just knew that the children had to drink. That was their ethic. This was echoed by Ramatoulaye when she explained why she killed the ram, Vendredi. She said that she didn’t do it because the wanted to get back at El Hadji Mabigue, but because the children needed to eat. Every other action that the women take thereafter stems from that ethic. That they continue to disobey the authorities shows that they are the only characters who stick to their morals. Ramatoulaye is unable to apologize to her brother because she did nothing wrong. She, and the other women, crafted a principle which they stuck by.
February 24, 2009 at 4:30 am |
Even just as the chapter starts out, women are the main component, showing how they came together to try and fight off the police. Leading these women were Mame Sofi and Ramatoulaye, and even N’Deye Touti initially doubted the women as well as the police. As Joey said, their yearning for any nourishment to their children was what drove the women to such lengths as finally fighting back. Even after their battle with the police was over, Mame Sofi even egged a policeman on whilst he was looking to arrest Ramatoulaye, and she was only being arrested as she had killed Vendredi, the ram belonging to her brother El Hadji Mabigue. Overall, the fact that the women actually made a stand showed that the strike had created a greater evolution and change that they hadn’t been aware of until now.
February 24, 2009 at 5:34 am |
As everyone has been saying, I think that the women’s willingness to fight for what they believe in is remarkable. But I also think that it is a little frightening. In this chapter, it was clear how quickly this fight escalated. Clearly the women were being admirable for banding together and fighting back, but they became unnecessarily brutal. “Some of the women, however, formed into little groups and began patrolling the streets of the neighborhood, armed with bottles filled with sand” (109). The women were described as accosting every man who they saw in the streets for no reason. To me, the most interesting thing about this chapter was how quickly and dangerously problems can escalate. And now it is not just the toubab side that is fighting the poor villagers, it has now become a full on battle between both sides.
February 24, 2009 at 11:23 pm |
An important aspect of this chapter is the focus on the women. The men hardly play a roll in the events of this chapter, something that is different than the other chapters and the other books we have read. In chapter nine the women deal with the powerful soldiers and police. They fight back with strength and determination. This strength is very similar to that of Ramatoulaye when she confronts the police. The focus on the women is significant because it shows the drastic changes in the relationship between the men and women; something that will be an important theme throughout the novel.
March 12, 2009 at 1:44 am |
The chapter fully exhibits the power and independence of women that has been discussed many times in the book leading up to this point. The policemen’s comment says it all “I’ve known this district for ten years, and if you push the women around too much there’s liable to be trouble.” I was specifically struck by the progression of emotion with N’deye Touti and her interaction with the white men. In a way, her western dreams are crushed when they treat her as just another African , despite her feeling quite western. It reminded me of Mr. Johnson. But N’deye finally sides with Mame Sofi, Ramatoulaye and the rest of the women.
March 15, 2009 at 11:53 pm |
The focus on strength and determination of the women in this chapter is very telling of the fundamental changes that are happening in the african culture. The fact that the chapter is focused on it highlights the new roles that women are taking in the african society, the fire representing the burning of their previous place in african social status and their new roles rising from the ash like a phoenix. “the fire was left to rage.. it died of starvation” the women’s old meek attitude died of starvation.