The first thing I noticed when I read The Second Coming was the ending of the first stanza "...the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity". I immediately thought of Okonkwo's reaction when the tribe elders were deciding what course of action to take with the missionaries and their courts. His ideal course of action was to fight and try to kill them while the wiser elders were strongly against a violent approach.
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Although I can defiantly see that as one interpretation of the stanza, I thought of something a little different. I thought that this line was talking about the converts, like Okonkwo’s son. Okonkwo and many other tribal elders who are considered superior and the “best” of the village “lack all conviction” in the missionaries and their new religion whereas others who had not proved themselves, like Okonkwo’s son, “were full of passionate intensity” for Christianity and eager to convert.
I saw it the same as you, Amanda. I figured it was Okonkwo who had this passionate intensity. I thought of it like he was so passionate about hating them, he did not see that most all the other people around him accepted the missionaries. Then in the end he was stranded all alone and it drove him mad.
Amanda, I also agree with you. I actually believe I mentioned something about Okonkwo's obsession, and impulsiveness with war-like actions. Fighting and killing always seem to be his first course of action, and his answer to every problem he faces. He is definitely full of a "passionate intensity" and unfortunately, that leads to his downfall, and the downfall of others.
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