I Lost My Talk Analysis

Vitality of Culture Civil rights activist Marcus Garvey says, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus values culture just as the character Okonkwo from the novel Things Fall Apart and poet Rita Joe do. The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and the poem “I Lost My Talk” by Rita Joe, display the theme of personal and cultural identity and how one must fight to maintain their sense of self. Rita Joe and Okonkwo’s reactions to the threats against their cultures, and the journey they partake to maintain their identity, even when those around them are not loyal to their culture, displays the theme of culture and identity and its significance. By examining Okonkwo’s

In Things Fall Apart, the character Okonkwo is proud of his culture and wants to keep it alive. He shows courage by declaring he will fight in a battle against the colonizers if it saves the traditions and customs of Umuofia. Okonkwo says, “Afraid? I do not care what he does to you. I despise him and those who listen to him. I shall fight alone if I choose” (Achebe, 201). The persona in “I Lost My Talk” tries to use communication to defend tradition and says, “Let me find my talk” (Joe 14). Okonkwo declares that he is willing to fight for what he believes in and wants those around him to follow in his footsteps. He tells the people, “If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what a man does”(Achebe, 158). Like Okonkwo, the persona of the poem experiences lose of identity and furiously says, “You snatched it away” (Joe 5), blaming the colonizers for conforming her. By examining Okonkwo’s will to fight and Rita’s anger towards the settlers, their courage is revealed and their pride towards their culture is shown. People who respect their culture refuse to give up and are willing to take whatever actions necessary to preserve