Marriage is a private affair (Four levels)

 
Literal Comprehension

The story ‘Marriage is a private affair’ written by the popular Nigerian writer ‘Chinua Achebe’ where he portrayed the real picture of Nigerian or African Culture. It begins with a question asked by ‘Nene’ to her newly married husband ‘Nnaemeka’ in their room Kasanga Street, Lagos. This is the couple living far from parents and had an inter-tribal marriage. Nnaemeka’s father was dissatisfied on their marriage as it was not arranged marriage, as well as the lady, was not belonging to “Ibo” tribe. She was a Christian and used to deliver a speech which was not digested to the people in the remote part of the country where Nnaemeka’s father lived. Knowing this bitter reality Nnaemeka has planned to tell his father about their marriage during his vacation. When his father heard about marriage and self-decision of a son, the background of daughter-in-law became upset and broke the relation of father and son. Father (Okeke) remained silent in his dissatisfaction so Nnaemeka returns to Logos being unsuccessful to convince his father.  Actually, Okeke has shown a girl (Ugoyo) for his son who was from the same tribe. After six months of their marriage; Nnaemeka sent a letter to his father with couples of photographs which was returned after cutting (removing) picture of Nene (daughter in law). That made Nene very sad but the situation got a remarkable turning point when Nene wrote a request letter to Okeke (father in law) to let visit her two sons to their respective grandfather. She also mentioned that her two small boys are having a keen interest to visit the place of their origin, to meet and receive blessings from her grandfather. At the same time, she also said, “I shall remain here in Lagos.” This letter made the old man Okeke very emotional and enforced to think about lovely grandchildren who might be standing out of the gate during heavy rain. At last, Okeke accepted his son and son’s affair. In this way, the writer insists on love marriage as well as a private marriage affair.

Writer: Chinua Achebe
Interpretation

Achehe (author) is trying to show us the conflict between the young generation and the old generation on the prospect of marriage. This lesson talks about cross-culture which is the major issue of Nene, Nnaemeka, Okeke and Ugoya. Ugoya was chosen bride for Nnaemeka by his father but Nene was selected by Nnaemeka. This significant problem creates intertribal, inter-ethical, inter-rational and generation problems.

Critical Thinking

The story portraits the picture of real society and its traditions and culture, but it also leads us to a quest:

  • ·        Is it still remaining in these countries which are developed than Nepal?
  • ·     Why didn’t Nene write that letter just after the first baby? She could invite father-in-law during baptism?
  • ·        How can we say that private or love marriage always create happiness?
  • ·     Is it possible for Okeke to accept the marriage and forgive his son only with a letter?

Assimilation

After reading this study, I remembered the incident of my own cousin brother who had done inter-cast marriage. Parents were very aggressive, upset as he had married with so-called lower caste and due to this brother and sister-in-law decided to live and struggle far from the parents. They were not having communication for a long time but they are now united after having two children, they have proved a proverb ‘SAMKO BHANDA BYAJKO MAYA’.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BA / BSW First Year Compulsory English Question Setting / Question Model

  Tribhuvan University Question Setting Guidelines Compulsory English I   Level: BA Year: First                                                               Full Marks: 70 Subject: Compulsory English—Paper I                          Pass  marks:   28 Course Title: Reading and Writing in English                            Time: 3   Hours Course Code: ENGL 401   Long Question   Answer any 02 out of 03 questions. (02x15=30) 1.          An essay question from outside Patterns of College Writing , and sometimes based on ―Writing                     Workshop‖, but on the genres taught in this book . 2.            Application of four levels of interacting with a text from outside the prescribed course books. 3.            Heuristics of reading and writing from Patterns of College Writing .   Short Questions (From Reading) Answer any 04 out of 05 questions. (04x10 =40
Read more

A 1996 Commencement Speech (Four Levels) Flax Golden Tales:

Image
  Literal Comprehension This is a commencement speech delivered by Salman Rushdie during graduation day of Bard College graduates students. Rushdie was happy due to two main reasons; firstly, he was accepted by the students for key speaker after rejecting to Jean Kirkpatrick, secondly all of the people were listening to him very interestingly. During the speech, he shared his own experience of graduation day when he graduated from Cambridge University in 1968. In the speech, he shared his bitter experiences as his room was damaged with a bucket of gravy and onion sauce. Though the mistake was not done by himself, he was imposed to pay the fine of the damage. He paid the compensation before the graduation day because without paying it, he was not eligible to take part in the program. There is next evidence also it is about brown shoes. During his graduation day, he was marching with brown shoes due to which he was plucked out and imposed to have black ones. There, Rushdie bowed his he
Read more

Question Model for BA/BSW for Compulsory English, TU Format

Image
  CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE Kalanki Chowk, Kathmandu Ph: 075219858, 5218003, 5234474   Sub: Compulsory English (ENG-401)                                                                                F.M. 70 Level: BSW-I Year                                                Time: 3hrs                                             P.M. 28   Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far as practicable. The figures in the margin indicate full marks of each question.   Group A (Long Questions)   Answer any TWO questions, Question No. 2 is compulsory.                                   (02x15=30)   1.        Write an essay in which you describe a food that is as meaningful for you as pulao is for Lahiri. Make sure that your essay has a clear thesis and that it includes at least one reference to Jhumpa Lahiri‘s essay. Be sure that you document all the materials that you borrow from Lahiri‘s essay.
Read more