Reflection & Stimulation

·      What did you learn about your character and other characters from participating in the role play?

What I learned during this activity about my character is that Unoka has actually a very absent and silent role during the entire novel. It is true that he may have build the character and nature of Okonkwo in the present in a total different way than he would have expected his son to be, but one is never really able to recognize Unoka’s true values and beliefs. This happens because we can never listen to his own words, through which he would express his ideas, opinions and beliefs directly to the reader. This character’s actions are only being explained through the narrators voice and point of view, which doesn’t make his personality a hundred percent clear. Because of this during the activity one is not able to be sure about how Unoka’s reaction towards any of the situations would be, one is only able to predict an idea.

• Why did certain characters act the way they did during our experience in the Village of Umuofia?

The way all the characters behaved during the activity depended mostly on who they where and with this in mind, in what situation they found themselves. There was a lot of agree-and disagreement when a variety of situations were planted, in other words; controversy was a factor that couldn’t be avoided. Of course they behaved the way the did because they have different beliefs taking into account the roles of each character e.g if you were a woman or if you were a foreigner.

• How was your experience similar to and different from the novel?

Before doing this activity, I had never taken to much attention to the role of Unoka in the novel because of his absence during it. I used to have an indifferent point of view towards this character (and others) until we made this activity, where I finally realized how relevant they actually were for the development of the story. Unoka is the one who build his son as a person, maybe not in a positive neither negative way, but Okonkwo wanted to make sure that he was never going to be like his father. In a way, I realized that Unoka is actually present during the entire novel, haunting the past of his son, reminding him always to not end like him. I can now recognize Unoka as one of the main instigators of the story because he was the one who made Okonkwo the man he was.

• How has your experience in the Village of Umuofia “virtual reality” changed or enhanced your understanding of the novel and the historical events on which it is based?

This activity has helped me comprehend not only mine, but all the character’s intentions during the novel better. I especially feel very confident knowing exactly how every character would react towards any situation because I now have a better understanding about their beliefs and opinions towards different factors like religion or overall culture. It definetly has enhanced my understanding of the novel when we talk about the context and the different points of view of every single character.