Outside Reading, Week 5, Post A

While a system of law is present in almost every culture or society, the justice brought my Okonkwo's tribe seems to relatively rational. When Okonkwo is celebrating with the other warriors around the campfire to mourn the death of an elder, he accidentally kills a child when his gun explodes. Instead of simply assuming that Okonkwo purposely killed the child, the crime is analyzed with their system of law. There are "two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years" (124). Consequently, Okonkwo is forced to leave the village and all of his possesions are burned, but he is allowed to return after living for seven years in his motherland. While some may see his punishment and claim that it is rather strict when compared to his crime, especially when you look at our legal system, we must remember the legal systems in other developing countries. In many, a man may have his hand chopped off for stealing or may be stoned to death for adultery. These seem like far lesser crimes than Okonkwo's, but with far greater punishments.

In the US legal system, Okonkwo's accident could be classified as "manslaughter" which could cost him 2-11 years in prison. This seems like a relatively equitable punishment to the punishment which he actually receives in the book. In this way, our cultures are similar, but in the way the verdict is decided is much different. In the US legal system, Okonkwo would be assessed by a jury of his peers, where as in Things Fall Apart, the council of elders has ultimate say on any accident or crime. In this way, Okonkwo's sentencing may be unjust, in that he has no say in his case and the people of village are not the ones judging him, only the all mysterious elders, who have no authority to answer to.