Chapter Seventeen

The missionaries asked the chief priests and elders for a piece of land on which to build a church. They gave them a plot of ground in the Evil Forest. They believed that the Evil Forest was filled with the power of darkness. The missionaries accepted this ground much to the bewilderment of the leaders. They figured that the missionaries would be dead within a very short time. However, the missionaries survived and proceeded to build a church and gain converts. Because they did not die by the end of twenty-eight days, more people came to see what they were talking about because they appeared to have strong power.

Okonkwo's cousin, Amikwu, passed by the church and saw Nwoye worshipping. He went directly to Okonkwo and told him the news. When Nwoye returned home, Okonkwo began to strangle him because he was so angry. He began hitting him until Uchendu came in and told him to stop. Nwoye walked away from the compound and was never seen by his father again. Okonkwo was very angry and he was also worried that his other sons would follow Nwoye's example. I was kind of surprised that Uchendu intervened. It seems like in their culture a man can do whatever he wants to his family. I am glad that someone had the courage to stand up to Okonkwo.