Chinua Achebe’s short story “Marriage Is a Private Affair” was written in 1952 and it talks about the conflict between Nnaemeka and his father, Okeke, because of Nnaemeka’s choice to marry Nene, a woman who did not come from their tribe and is pursuing a career in teaching (which Okeke believes that it violates the teachings of the Bible). The conflict between Okeke and Nnaemeka lasted for eight years, and the couple had to endure the oppositions of Okeke and the Ibo tribe (the tribe where Nnaemeka came from). In the end, Nene sends a letter to Okeke, telling that her sons want to see him, and the readers are left to wonder about what Okeke’s decision will be. Chinua Achebe is known for his expertise in writing novels and short stories relating
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Negritude movement is concerned with the awakening of race consciousness of the black people in Africa. The movement started as a rejection to French imperialists done by educated, francophone Blacks in Paris. In the story, Achebe wrote about the beliefs of traditional African people regarding marriage. Achebe was able to define and to describe the differences of the way of living of people from Lagos (the previous capital of Nigeria) and the different ethnic tribes that compose the state. Lagos is known for having different warring tribes in the vicinity, and although the short story did not focus on the actual violent wars happening among the tribes, Achebe showed the wars happening because of their different beliefs and opinions. Negritude movement also aims to debunk the myths and break the stereotypes of the Black people. Achebe clearly wrote in his story that Nnaemeka is an “educated” man who has a dignified occupation while Nene is a teacher in an all-girls’ school. Achebe’s description of the couple is an enough evidence to prove to the non-African readers that Africans are actually educated and civilized and are capable of having proper occupations. The story also showed the traditional African values present in their society until now, which includes the importance African people place on patriarchy and the respect they have for the parents’ decisions and opinions regarding their children’s …show more content…
Postcolonialism is concerned with the struggles that occur when one culture is dominated by the other. Although Postcolonialism literary analysis was meant for the colonizers of Africa, it can also be used in stories which do not talk about actual colonialism. In this story, for instance, the “clashing cultures” are Okeke’s traditional viewpoint about marriage and Nnaemeka and Nene’s modern, westernized belief about it. Okeke’s traditional belief about marriage tells that marriage should be arranged by the parents and that marriage does not require having love. This belief goes against the more Western opinion, which states that marriage should have romantic, individualistic notion, and this belief influenced Nene and Nnaemeka, that is why despite Okeke and his tribe’s opposition, the couple still continued their relationship. This clashing opinion about marriage has created a strife between Okeke and his son. The Western belief about marriage dominated the traditional belief; Okeke knew that he could not change Nnaemeka’s decision anymore. Even in the latter part of the story, Achebe wrote that Okeke was already “fighting a losing battle”, which shows the readers that despite Okeke’s firm beliefs about marriage, he could not make Nnaemeka go back to the traditional beliefs again. The only thing left for him was to accept his son’s
Negritude movement is concerned with the awakening of race consciousness of the black people in Africa. The movement started as a rejection to French imperialists done by educated, francophone Blacks in Paris. In the story, Achebe wrote about the beliefs of traditional African people regarding marriage. Achebe was able to define and to describe the differences of the way of living of people from Lagos (the previous capital of Nigeria) and the different ethnic tribes that compose the state. Lagos is known for having different warring tribes in the vicinity, and although the short story did not focus on the actual violent wars happening among the tribes, Achebe showed the wars happening because of their different beliefs and opinions. Negritude movement also aims to debunk the myths and break the stereotypes of the Black people. Achebe clearly wrote in his story that Nnaemeka is an “educated” man who has a dignified occupation while Nene is a teacher in an all-girls’ school. Achebe’s description of the couple is an enough evidence to prove to the non-African readers that Africans are actually educated and civilized and are capable of having proper occupations. The story also showed the traditional African values present in their society until now, which includes the importance African people place on patriarchy and the respect they have for the parents’ decisions and opinions regarding their children’s …show more content…
Postcolonialism is concerned with the struggles that occur when one culture is dominated by the other. Although Postcolonialism literary analysis was meant for the colonizers of Africa, it can also be used in stories which do not talk about actual colonialism. In this story, for instance, the “clashing cultures” are Okeke’s traditional viewpoint about marriage and Nnaemeka and Nene’s modern, westernized belief about it. Okeke’s traditional belief about marriage tells that marriage should be arranged by the parents and that marriage does not require having love. This belief goes against the more Western opinion, which states that marriage should have romantic, individualistic notion, and this belief influenced Nene and Nnaemeka, that is why despite Okeke and his tribe’s opposition, the couple still continued their relationship. This clashing opinion about marriage has created a strife between Okeke and his son. The Western belief about marriage dominated the traditional belief; Okeke knew that he could not change Nnaemeka’s decision anymore. Even in the latter part of the story, Achebe wrote that Okeke was already “fighting a losing battle”, which shows the readers that despite Okeke’s firm beliefs about marriage, he could not make Nnaemeka go back to the traditional beliefs again. The only thing left for him was to accept his son’s