Sunday, October 26, 2014
Foreign Gods, Inc. by Okey Ndibe-Chapters 4, 5, and 6-English II*H P. 1" due 10/31
One way to look at the novel you are reading is through a variety of viewpoints, elements of any controversy, and connections between what the real world is talking about and class subjects. Discuss Ike’s ambition and torments as depicted in chapters four, five, and six. Discuss the irony and the cultural gaps in relation to the unit of study” Money Makes the World Go Around.” Do you think Ike’s intentions to selling his cultural artifact-heritage justified? Elaborate your response. Please note that you should support your response with textual evidence.
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Andrew Black Mr.Igoudjil English II H P.1 28 October 2014 Foreign Gods, Inc. Ike’s ambition to be successful in the United States to me seems far out of his reach if he is trying to sell his cultures sacred deity to make a few hundred dollars he this depicts his lack of pride and his thoughtlessness he is offended when someone puts his culture down but is willing to travel half way across the world to sell a piece of his culture he is proud of to the same men that insult him. Novels such as these are always ironic because instead of money making the world go round it tears cultures and countries apart. Questions I have for chapters four, five, and six are, why is Ike so contradictory? , Why does Ike do things that bother him like keep things he does not like? , and does Ike expect to steal something so important without anyone noticing?
One of the connections I had with these few chapters, was that the past always come back around whether that person had overcame the past. In my class our daily lesson is money makes the world go around. Ike in the story needs money to take care of his sister, mother, and bills that he has. Ike is having a hard time being in America with his accent and not getting a job because of his accent. Ike is contemplating on whether he should steal the god (Ngne) and give it to Mark Gruels or just try and be a cabdriver. Ike plans on going back to his hometown to take the artifact from his heritage. But he also has a lot of doubts and his conscious gets to him at times. This story shows everyone in life has to make an important decision that they can not decide what to do. The fear of Ike getting caught by the people in his village, thinking of what might his sister and his mother might say. Ike in the story feels he will betray his own uncle and father. He is starting to become an alcoholic. For example, “Insomnia made crave alcohol, but he had run out of beer. His only option was a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey he had hidden under the bed.” This quote explains how all the stress Ike has, is starting to affect him. He is taking his stress and pain out on a beer bottle(s).
Questions:
1.Will Ike sell the artifact from his heritage?
2.Will Ike keep drinking?
3.What will Ike do after he gets the money from the artifact?
4.Will Ike ever get married?
5.When Ike finally gets the money will he take care of his mother and sister?
Based on chapters four through six inForeign Gods, Inc. Ike needs money to take care of his sister, mother, and bills he has to pay. He is having a hard time in America. Ike tries to decide between stealing and selling the artifact from his heritage to Mark Gruels or just remain being a cabdriver because he is scared of the consequences, such as his family disowning him. Ike’s drive to make it in this world is admirable. However, selling his heritage sacred deity just to make some money shows the lack of respect and honor he has towards his culture. Ike gets upset when someone disrespects his culture, but he is willing to sell a sacred piece of his culture to a man who insulted him. I do not believe that trying to make it in this world justifies Ike’s reason for selling his artifact-hertiage. At the same time, I understand why Ike is willing to do such an extreme thing. He has to provide for his family and make something of his life and getting this money could make things extremely better for him. While trying to figure out what to do, Ike becomes an alcoholic. So far, these chapters depict an ironic tone because instead of money making the world go round, it makes people lose themselves and forget about their morals while trying to earn a couple dollars. These are some questions I have: Does he feel bad at all about his actions? Is Ike really going to stoop to such a level just to make some money? Will Ike stop drinking? Is Ike going to sell his cultural artifact-hertiage?
In Foreign Gods, Inc. by Okey Ndibe the ambition that Ike has in chapters four, five and six is to get Ngene so he can sell it to Mark Gruels. At first he did not agree with what Gruels did, but after two or three weeks the disagreement with Gruels disappeared. So he planned to go get it. After he sold it to him he would be able to take care of his mother and sister and pay off all the debt he has. Ike’s intentions to sell his cultural artifact-heritage does justify. As it states in the text, “God has told Pastor Uka that it is time to destroy Ngene… The statue will be thrown into a huge fire.” This quote explains that Ngene will be destroyed, so why wouldn’t Ike go and get it if it is going to be burned anyway. He could make money off of something that they do not need any more in his village. Also, Ike has to be extremely caution about who he talks to when he arrives at Nigeria. He did not want to be nervous while he is there, he needs to get the statue quickly. Will Ike finally get Ngene? What will his mother and sister say to him? Will he tell them that he got married just to get a green card? Will getting Ngene be worth it?
Alex Ventura
Mr.Igoudjil
English I I *H.P.1
29 October 2014
FOREIGN GODS, INC.
Ike's ambition to be successful in the U.S is admirable, seeking a come up to sell
his cultures sacred deity to earn more money to not only supported himself but his love ones
also. The irony that Ike's story faces in this novel is that most foreigners/natives that come to this
country come here for opportunity with various backgrounds. Foreigners/natives such as Ike for
example come to this country educated in their home countries with degrees and knowledge but when
in the U.S most have to completely start over again educationally and financially. Questions I have for
chapters four, five and six are Why does Ike feel that his mother and sister shouldn't know how the
barrage of their emails torment him ?, Why did Ike say he doesn't trust Nigerians ? and Why does Ike do
things that bother him ?
In the novel Foreign Gods, Inc. by Okey Nbide, Ike is desperate and ambitious attempts to hunt down the root of all evil has gone too far. Ike believes that Gruels will pay big money for Ngene, the powerful war god of his native tribe. Ike wants to sell this statue just for some money, but is it worth him selling out decades of his culture and heritage for material things. Money problems have been a big obstacle for Ike's life. It has even turned him into an alcoholic. His skill and knowledge far surpasses the job of a taxi driver. He is frustrated with his current situation in life. Coming from a foreign country, I know how it feels to be belittled by people who could have never spoken to you that way in your native country. I know he is angry that just because of his accent he can not get a decent job. Even Though all these things may hinder him and make his life miserable, it is not worth selling out your heritage for. The western world has stolen from Africa for so long, and now he is willing to give in and to sell his soul. Paragraph 4,5, and 6 has really tied the novel, into our classroom subject of "Money Makes the World Go Around.” Just on the premis of being able to get a large sum of money, Ike has sold his people's background and everything they beleive in. While reading this novel it lead me to wonder, if I was in Ike's position would I do the same thing?
Questions:
1. Did Ike and Gruels discuss a certain amount of payment for the statue as an incentive for him to steal the statue?
2. Has Ike told his family that he is not successful?
3. Does Ike care about his heritage?
In Foreign Gods, Inc. I have identified the contradiction. The contradiction in the novel is that Ike would sell his cultures deity that help them in times of war, for money. Not only is he stealing from the people who raised them, but he will also give the deity to the same people who discriminates him. For example the text illustrates, “By the end of December, Ike had made up his mind to travel to Nigeria, snatch the war deity his people called Ngene, and sell it to Gruel’s gallery.” In this quote, it seems to me that Ike didn't even take another thought about taking the deity the way to speaker says “snatch.” To say snatch, makes it sound like you have no feelings for what you’re taking. But I think the only justification Ike has is if were to take care of his mother and sister. If Ike was to use the money for something that he wants but doesn't need, then there is really no reason for him to take Ngene when he shouldn't be taking it in the first place.
1.Does Ike think it will be easy to steal a statue?
2.What will Ike do with the money if he get it?
3.If Ike were to get caught, what will his people think of him?
In Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of the novel Foreign Gods Inc. By Okey Ndibe it really shows us the true hardships that Ike must face. These chapters also relate to the theme "Money Makes The World Go Round". I say this because throughout the story Ike needs to money for everything he does. He needs money to provide for his family back in Nigeria. He needs money to provide for his wife. He especially needs money to provide for himself. In life everything requires money and Ike learns this lesson the hard way. Even the little money he makes must go to either his family or wife. There also irony in the novel too. Ike received a degree in economics but is have troubling making any. With a low paying job as a taxi driver he barely makes any money. Now he must disgrace his familie’s honor and culture by stealing the statue of Ngene. Money can make you do crazy things and Ike has to make a life changing decision. In addition, to Ike's financial problems he also faces problems because of his race. He had to marry a female that uses all his money on food and that he only likes sexually. Furthermore, his sister constantly emails him about problems they have back home. Ike experiences a lot of problems and struggles due to the lack of money. Money makes the world but right now Ike's world is stuck and only money can fix it.
Questions:
1. Why can’t Ike be honest with his family?
2. How did his father die?
3. Why did he really come to America?
In this story the Foreign Gods, Inc. there’s only one reason to why Ike cannot do certain things because of his accent. For example the job at the bank he was told he couldn’t work their because of his accent. The story relates to the real world because people today could care less about what something means/stands for all they see is the money. In chapters four-six Ike’s plan was by December he would travel to Nigeria, steal the war deity, known as Ngene, and then sell it to Gruel’s gallery. Some of the torments Ike’s went through were trying to figure out the plan all the way through. The irony of this story would be that since our class topic is “Money Makes the World Go Around” that Ike is selling his own heritage-artifact because he has very little money. So he decides to sell it to make some money. It’s also ironic because we just went over how spiritual wealth is greater than material wealth. No I don’t think Ike’s intentions are good. I think that selling his cultural artifact is bad because he’s selling something that really means a lot to his people.
While reading chapters four through six in Foreign Gods, Inc., I began to get bored. Toward the ending of chapter six, I was shocked of Ike’s decisions. I thought Ike was going to stick with his plan of stealing Ngene, but he decided to protect it. Although Ike is doing it for the right reason, he’s doing it for plenty of wrong reasons. On the one hand, Ike is doing the right thing by not stealing Ngene anymore; on the other hand, Ike is only doing it because it’s benefiting him. If he destroys Ngene, he will become filthy rich, and he can get married. In class we’re learning that Money Makes The World Go Around, so the book connects with the main theme. Ike is so in love with money that he was willing to steal a special piece from his country and sell it for money. In fact, he wasn’t thinking about his heritage and how special it was; all he cared about was the money. Furthermore, Ike’s sister and mother always called for money, so I wonder if it is true that Money Makes The World Go Around. What will Ike’s final decision be? Will he decide to steal Ngene again or keep protecting him? If not will he stay in his home town or continue to be a cabdriver? So far, I like the book it teaches us life lessons, and I can somewhat relate to the book.
In the book "Foreign Gods, Inc." to me it seemed like Ike had money problems. Coming from a different culture and society is hard for him. Ike did anything he can to get money. For instance, he had to sell a statue which is a piece of his culture and heritage just to get money in his pocket. Ike ran into a lot of obstacles. But he kept facing them head on. He keeps pushing forward because he knows he have to get money for his family back home in Nigeria. I like this book because as a African American I can respect the struggle he is going threw. Because at some point in life everyone went threw it. He had goals to make and he di d everything he could to make it. Ike is money hungry but it is only for the sake of his self and his family back home. Ike is willing to steal the god Ngne. I like Ike for this reason because he know he has to make a way for his family.
1: If Ike steal the artifact is he going to get caught?
2: Will Ike drinking effect his goals and hinder his future?
3: If Ike get caught stealing what will happened to his family back home?
Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Foreign Gods, Inc justifies the classroom subject of "Money Makes the World Go Around". Ike has been contemplating wether or not he should steal the deity for the much needed money that the owner of the company is willing to pay. Ike is using it for his own selfish reasons and also to other's benefits. He's aware of his mother and sister's lack and need of money. Another benefit from stealing the artifact is to stop war in the country he now lives in. I personally do not agree with him stealing from the very beloved country he has descended from. He fails to realize that who he's selling the deity to are the people who has been stealing from his country for centuries and does not respect his country not even a little bit. Though, it was quite wrong to be stealing for any reason, I agree that some times, people have to do what they believe is necessary in order to survive. Furthermore, I believe in blessings and maybe a miracle will happen and his plan works out to his satisfaction. I would like to keep reading to understand more about Ike. What will his future consist of? Who else will we discover in the story? Will Ike's plan work out ?
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