Monday, March 3, 2008
Ezinma
I am still baffled by Chapter 11 where Ezinma goes through this dramatic scene with Chielo and her mother, Ekwefi. I understand that Ezinma is an ogbanje but after the medicine man found her iyi-uwa and her illness is cured I am confused why Chielo would come for Ezinma. I think the bond between Ekwefi and Ezinma is made clear when Chielo takes Ezinma from Okonkwo's compound. As the frightened girl travels on the priestess's back, her loving mother followed at a safe distance throughout the night. It is obvious Ekwefi fears her daughter's life and return for she does not remain in her hut and waits for her safe return. However, the question still arises why the priestess took the recovering Ezinma in the first place. Why would priestess need to take Ezinma into the caves? Taking a look back in Ezinma's character, she is recognized as respectful daughter who even Okonkwo is fond of. Numerous times, Okonkwo find's himself wishing Ezinma was one of his sons because of her personality and excellent work around the compound. By neglecting the fact that Ezinma is an ogbanje and Ekwefi's only child, she is a normal kid in the Umuofia tribe. Why then is there such a dramatic scene between Ezinma and Chielo the night she is recovering from her sickness? What prediction could you make about why the priestess came for the child that night and what the purpose was for bringing her into the caves.
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Ezinma is an ogbanje who is responsible for making her mother suffer. The medicine man discovers her iyi-uwa and releases the curse set upon Enzima, breaking her free from hurting her mother. The tribe sees this as a way of life. The reason why the priestess needed to take Ezinma to the caves was simply a calling from the gods. The gods needed to see the child possibly to assure that she was free from the ogbanje spirit's harm.
I think that Achebe chose to put this dramatic scene during Ezinma's sickness in the novel is to reveal traits of the characters. As Chielo states, "How dare you, woman, to go before the mighty Agbala of your own accord? Beware, woman, lest he strike you in his anger" (Achebe 101). Ekwefi choose to go against god's word and follow Chielo. As a mother, she shows great strength, will, and love. This probably proved to Okonkwo that his wife was just like him and not separated by the so called gender barrier set up in their society. That is why Okonkwo chose to come to Ekwefi's defense and follow Chielo to the caves also. They both showed doubt in trust for the gods and needed to protect their daughter and ensure her safety.
I am also confused with the original reason why the priestess needed to take Ezinma while she was recovering. It is left to the reader’s imagination to determine what went on inside the cave while Ezinma and Chielo were inside. I do not think that it was anything bad or dangerous for Ezinma, but maybe Ezinma truly is a special child. She did not die immediately like the other nine children of Ekwefi. Ezinma lived and survived through childhood before her iyi-uwa was found. I think that Ezinma is brought to the gods so that the gods can understand what makes this child so special in her family and essentially the tribe.
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