Juno- Tortoise (& other tales and proverbs)

Chinebe Achebe is an Nigerian Author that includes little snippests of proverbs that you stumble upon when reading the book. Although it may seem like that proverbs are confusing and let alone outlandish when reading. They tend to draw you away from the book, then into it. However, this proverbs seems to give an underlining effect to the story when read. In fact, Achebe tells a proverb of a tortoise and a bird. The tortoise being married ( of course..?)is so greedy that he wants all the food for himself. However, the birds trick him by making him say, "For all of you ", as a custom in order for them to serve you when I Have eaten. ( pg.98) Of course when i first read this story i was complete confused. But, the proverb seemed to forshawdow that other tribes, and how their traditions are important to become accustom too. The tribe of Umofia host feast for wedding, deaths, whatever. Yet, their customs are to celebrate the cause together in unity.

Achebe's underlineing proverbs almost give a sneak peek to where he is going next, and how it will all come together , or APART ( hint HInt ) in the end.Another proverb captolizes a man who is a wrestler and has "defeated hundreds of cats, and has never fallin once, sending him word to fight for us once" (pg. 51) That later tells us how Oknoknos masculitity tested when his daughter is taken away, while he waits with his machete. Achebe's proverbs seems to embellish the fact that some of the traditions and cultures do not make sense, just like the complexity of the characters, thier beliefs, and thier actions. Achebe seems to almost puts a facade on the book, while he trys to teach his own lesson of what life should be like.