This annotation is connecting to the question, "What "cracks" do you see in Igbo culture that make it receptive to missionaries?"

This section seems to be very important when the missionaries are being questioned by the members of the community. The missionaries are later trying to find their ground in the culture because no one believes that their Gods are not going to hurt the people. In a few paragraphs below, where I didn't highlight, the Igbo people think its absolutely ridiculous that God has a son but no wife. This is one of the main differences between the two cultures, and they can't really seem to grasp the concept of the other one. This is also part of the language barrier, because the Igbo people aren't taking it very seriously whenever the missionaries say "buttocks" meaning myself. It is extremely humorous to both the readers and the Igbo people but the missionaries have no idea. This could be a crack in the culture though, because though they let the missionaries into their area, they are just mocking them. Another crack is that they are so confused about the possibility of another single God that they joke about it. The missionaries seem very innocent in the fact that they just want the Igbo people to stop being paranoid about a God that may or may not be real, just like the one they are preaching. Another flaw in the Igbo peoples culture is that while some of them are poking fun at the new religion some are taking it seriously, and they refuse to recognize this. Nwoye takes the song, about the existence of the God we know, very literally and in the text it says he's "captivated." He felt relieved while the rest of his clan thought it was ridiculous. Even having one positive person lets the missionaries have confidence in staying. As the readers we know that later it was worth it and they end up bringing in more people than just Nwoye.

Okonkwo is very concerned with his image around the clan. So much so that he decides to disobey an elder in the community, and complete a sin of killing Ikemefuna. Even in the conversation with Ezeudu, he refuses to say anything that suggests he will stay at home when they take Ikemefuna on the "walk back home." Though elders have a valuable role in the clan, the fact that the Oracle said that Ikemefuna must be killed is the most important part. Not only is Okonkwo disobeying a high power in the community, he is disobeying two. The reader would also think that Okonkwo would be depressed about the fact that one of his "sons" has to be killed. Throughout the book, it seems that Ikemefuna has only done what Okonkwo has asked, like the other wives and children, without resistance. But, Okonkwo being the static character he is, shows zero emotion in the future death of his adopted son. In the process of trying to show no emotion, Okonkwo ruined his relationship with those in his family by blood. Nwoye is extremely wrecked physically from his fathers beatings, and emotionally from the loss of his best friend. Nwoye wants to be nothing like his father, because he recognizes he has feelings and care about the women and their stories. With this decision, Okonkwo not only messes up his status in the culture, but also with his own children.

Information about Igbo Family Dynamics: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Igbo.html

I also find this section very ironic. Because of the narrators actions he has not only influenced his own life, but two others drastically. After reading to this point, the reader doesn't know why Hella is on a boat to America or why Giovanni is waiting for the guillotine. The narrator make his life seems horrible because he has lost two of his closest people, however one of them is going to lose their life and the other is on the way to some unknown country for an unknown reason. In comparison, the narrators problems seem very little and not worrisome. Even at the beginning of the chapter, our narrator is just sipping alcohol and staring out the window. This is not to make his situation seem any lighter than it actually is, but compared to Hella and Giovanni's experiences in the next 24 hours, David's experience seems okay.

This section is very interesting in Marlowe's search for identity. Through his search in the Congo, we learn much about his character and the way he sees people outside his world. In this specific section we see Marlowe's view on Africans outside his needs. He describes the man on the side of the road as something less than road kill. He doesn't even recognized that the man is dead, and possibly murdered but is more infatuated with the fact that he is taking up part of the road. We see more into his character by the fact that the dead man does not affect him or how he carries out the rest of his day. He also states that the dead body is an improvement to the road and the area. This shows how little he cares for anyone or anything in the Congo. This picture shows what the average road would look like and what would create Marlowe's view of the Congo and why he would care so little about it.

Not only does it seem normal and nonchalant that Holmes is using drugs but it shows how different the time period is compared to now. According to a source drugs were used for fun, and merely a way to pass time. This seems to be the case when Holmes offers some expensive materials to his partner. I also find this humorous because Watson not only declines his offering but says he doesn't have the money to take it. The same source stated that the drug had educational properties. This seems appropriate that Holmes then decided to help Ms. Morstan. This situation in current times would not be appropriate, nor legal. However; in Sherlock Holmes' times it was not only very legal, but encouraged by the knowledgeable of the time. Dr. Watson realized that this habit wasn't appropriate, and encouraged Holmes that the drug could affect the rest of his life. Though it is legal and appropriate during the time period, there are two types of people that agree and disagree with it. That is what is unique about The Sign of Four it can agree and contradict the setting and time period.

nmanera