Comparison Between Maintenance And Kirinyaga

1943 Words4 Pages

The first instance of differing opinions between Maintenance and Kirinyaga is shown when Barbara Eaton asks Koriba about whether the baby had free will or not. She asks, “was that baby you killed given such a choice?”(9). Resnick demonstrates the two differing opinions about whether babies have the freedom to decide or not. Here we see that the women from Maintenance represents the western culture’s belief that humans have the freedom to decide what they want and how they want to act. On the other hand, when Koriba replies back by saying “it was not a baby but a demon” (9) , the author provides the opposing belief when Koriba compares the innocent baby to a devilish being. In other words, the tradition decides for the baby who he or she is; …show more content…

She states, “but surely you must see the difference between the torture of animals as a religious ritual and the murder of a human baby” (9). Right after this quote, Koriba starts explaining to her what happened when they abandoned their religion and became westernized. Resnick illustrates the difference in religious beliefs between Maintenance and the tribe of Kirinyaga. He includes the word “human” to highlight how Barbra feels there is a striking difference between babies and animals for religious sacrifice. In western culture, there is a common belief that killing of any sort is murder, and Barbara agrees. With this said, Koriba feels “they are one in the same”(9). In his religion, they do not see any more or less humanity in a baby then they do an animal. Therefore the people of Kirinyaga do not believe there is a distinction between killing and sacrificing. Their religion is based on upholding tradition and anything or anyone who disrupts that should be taken care of, and it does not matter whether it's a child, elder, or …show more content…

For me personally, if I do not like someone and I know they do not like me either, I will not go out of my way to try to understand or even sway their opinion, but she tried to do that. All Barbara needed to do was address the situation but she did more. Also, growing up in the western world, I learned it is important to help my neighbors and treat those the way that I would want to be treated. I concur Barbara especially, would have the same belief about assuming that everyone must extend a hand to their fellow citizens. Even though it does not state what her religion is, she is a product of that society and Christianity is a major religion that is practiced in the western world. So, I think that Barbara has the same mentality as the one I learned in my home, which supports why Ms. Eaton wants to be an ally for Koriba and his

Open Document