Journal 12

Journal 12

"If you only hear one side of the story, you have no understanding at all."

- Achebe 

1. How do you think this quote connects to Achebe's decision to present these two drastically different missionaries?

2. What purpose do they serve in the story?

3. what purpose do these two perspectives serve in broader historical context of colonialism?

Answer:

1. This quote connects to Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith because they very different missionaries. Mr. Smith doesn't have respect for the Ibo culture, is demanding from his converted villagers and just plain mean sometimes. On the other hand Mr. Brown is very understanding of the Ibo culture, cares for his converts, is nice, patient, and respected. If we only knew one of these missionaries we would think the one that we knew is what all missionaries are like.

2. These men serve the purpose of what the villagers might think of white men, either caring or demanding. It helps us look from the villagers point of view in the story. 

3. They show the two sides of colonialism in Africa, cultural diffusion vs. destruction. The colonizing people can be the caring white men who want to slowly convert Africans to a more "modern society", or the mean demanding missionaries who have no empathy for the natives.