Skip to main content

Marriage as a Private Affair

Add-English Assignment for CIA-1
Marriage as a private affiar
                                                                    -Chinua chebe                                                                        

We have made this assignment in a group as we have divided each section to our individual member of our group. Each section is done with thorough reading and preparation.

1.) Introduction
Marriage is a Private Affair is a Story about a Father named Okeke who is trying to find his son a wife who will suit him. Little did he know that he wanted to Marry someone else who his father did not approve of. This leads to some judgement coming from his father as he feels his son could choose somebody better that is from his tribe that he feel will make him happy. Marriage is something that is treasured deeply and is held to a certain standard in many countries, and In this Literary Analysis I will be breaking down this story and going in depth on how seemingly important Marriage and who you Marry is in some cultures. He really took it so far to the point where he basically disowned his son, and wanted nothing to do with his wife or their marriage. While many feel that he is definitely wrong for his accusations and the way he acted toward his son and wife, we must remember that this is his religion that he believes strongly in.
2.) Analyzing the Theme
By the title of the story, I’m sure we can guess that the theme probably has something to do with Marriage and how important it is. I personally believe that the theme is, Marriage is sstory draws to a close. None the less, it’s a touching moment when he comes to find out he has grand kids, and actually considers letting the family back into his life.
3.) Analyzing the Setting
The story takes place in a city called Lagos which is located in a remote country, that is home to a couple of tribes. I believe the setting takes place close to the modern day century, as they describe large cities and metropolitan areas, although they speak very traditionally and also follow certain rituals and rules. This tribe seems to  be very focused on religion and the different virtues and norms that must be followed, particularly the main character’s father who was absolutely stunned when he told him who he wanted to marry. The mood in the beginning seems very calm but then turns into a bit of suspense when we find out the son must tell his father something important. After that the mood becomes very sad and disappointing as we watch the process of the Father being so cold and heartless to his son and wife, basically due to the fact that he married someone from not only a different tribe, a tribe that is a rival to the one the Father and Son belong to. Towards the end however, you begin to notice a change in the mood and it starts becoming happier yet still suspenseful as we’re stuck wondering if the Father will allow his grandchildren and son back into his life, and perhaps also his wife, the person he shunned the most.
4.) The most important part of any story- The Plot
Rising Action:
The rising action of the story begins when we come to the exchange of our main character Nnaemeka and a woman named Nenel. They are talking about telling Nnaemeka’s father some news that he’s afraid to speak on, this makes the reader wonder what it is that’s so important that he must tell him. We then come to find out about some sort of engagement that is happening between Nnaemeka and Nenel, and that his people or members of his tribe will be upset at the fact that this engagement and marriage was not arranged by them. Soon enough we come to the meeting between Nnaemeka and his father and before he could explain anything, his father comes out and tells him that he’s found him a wife that will suit him perfectly, because he has all the attributes he feel his son should have in a wife. His son then finally comes out and tells him that he is wants to Marry Nenel, which is the thing that has been on his heart most of the day. We can figure that his father is not amused by this one bit, and begins to shun him as he is disappointed and upset with his choice of who he wants to be with.
Minor Conflicts(3)
1.)One minor conflict of the story includes the very beginning with Nnaemeka talking to Nenel about what he wants to tell his father. He’s having an internal conflict or a character vs. himself type of conflict because he is afraid of what his father will say and how he is going to react to telling him who he wants to Marry. He feels as if he’s going to disown him or shun him which he almost does to him which is what he almost does to him. This is one of the main conflicts that leads to the major conflict in the story later on as we keep reading.
2.)Another conflict taking place in this story line includes the conversation that the father has with the people of Lagos. They for some reason think his son is sick and infected with something, and believes he should take medicine because of the choice he made to go against both his father’s and
omething that although it is important and sacred in most religions and cultures, should not be something that is decided for the people to be married, thus supporting the title of the story. Marriage is the unity of a Man and a Woman, and is mostly decided by true love for one another. This is not something that should be decided by someone who is not feeling what they are, being married to a complete stranger who you do not know or truly have feelings for. The son went against his father’s wishes and chose someone outside of his tribe. They went on for many years separated and did not talk with one another. This was until his son’s wife wrote him a letter explaining that they had children. These children are the symbol of the story to me, because in a way they represent the love that the the Father’s son and his wife had for each other, and they are also the turning point for the Father’s hate and pride. While many people were happy for his son and wife, he shunned them, and disconnected them from his life. However, would he ever do the same thing to children who don’t know him? Could he be that heartless? These are all things to wonder as the the tribes rituals and norms. They bring their religion into the explanation as they say sons shall rise against their fathers, which is something spoken of in their holy book/bible. They begin to blame Nenel for his “wrong doings” against the tribe, further increasing their dislike for her which is something that I believe is unfair. All this and more continue to fuel his father’s dislike for both his son and his wife even after six months pass.
3.) The final conflict is at the end of the story when Nnaemeke’s father finds out that he has grandchildren after his his wife writes him a letter. This is yet another internal conflict/character vs.self conflict as his pride wants to keep them away because they did not follow the rules of their culture, but at the same time his heart ends up starting to get the best of him as he feels it would be horribly wrong to deny seeing children and being so cruel to them. He would be inviting not only his grandchildren but his son back into his life, and finding it in his heart to maybe even let Nenel into his life after being so cruel and cold to their family for so many years.
The Story’s Climax and Resolution:
The Climax of the story begins when Okeke, Nnaemeke’s Father receives a letter from Nenel. He doesn’t want to read it knowing it’s from the woman who in his mind, stole his son from him and diseased him. At this point it’s been about eight years since he has spoken to or seen his son, and even told him that he
didn’t want him in his house. Despite his pride, he began to read the letter and found out that he has grandchildren, and begins to wonder if it would be right to deny them to see their grandfather, as he absolutely wanted nothing to do with Nnaemeke’s marriage or family. But is it really right to treat them with such cruelty and harshness he wonders? Nenel even volunteered to stay home as they visit, to avoid prejudice he might have against her. The end of the story or the resolution comes to a close with him contemplating about letting them into his house, both his grandsons and his son after he said he didn’t want him there. A quote at the end of the story specifically says, “That night he hardly slept, from remorse—and a vague fear that he might die without making it up to them.” This assures us that he truly took it into consideration, and that he actually might put this prejudice and animosity behind him and meet these children and his son again.
                                                                                                                        BY
                                                                                                Tashi Sandup(4CME)(1640117)
Anuj Jain(4CME)(1640102)                                      Himanshu Singh(4CME)(1640176)
                                                                                                Manish Kumar(4CME)(1640108)      

                                                                                    Amit john(4CME)(1640174)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AS ONE LISTENS TO THE RAIN

AS ONE LISTENS TO THE RAIN    I. THE POEM PUT TO SONG:  - Submitted by HARSHIT 4CME 1640106 & DARVIN RAJ P. 4PME 1640305 II. AN ANALYSIS OF THE POEM - P. SAMUEL WESLEY 4PME 1640312 The poem is written in the first person narrative and appears to address someone. While the poem itself is open to many interpretations, one can however analyse the literary structure, themes, language, and the literary devices used. This is precisely the goal of this Section. LITERARY DEVICES The poet has employed several visual imageries from Nature that very adequately appeal to the senses. With a tranquil tone throughout the poem, the poet creates an ambiance of peace wherein the readers can develop their own perspectives about the poem. The poet has also used Personification as in the line, “steam rises and walks away, night unfolds and looks at me.” Techniques like Repetition and a steady rhythm are also employed. This becomes most app...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflections on An Avenger by Anton Chekov and As One Listens to the Rain by Octavio Paz

An Avenger: ·           Morality and Justice            By Vemuri Sai Gayatri, 1640728, 4BCB In the eyes of the law, murder is the ultimate crime for which there is no justification. The protagonist, Sigaev, knows that he will be severely punished and sent to prison if he kills his wife and her lover. However, society’s concept of justice and morality is filled with ambiguity. If one party in the marriage contract violates its terms of eternal faithfulness and monogamy, the other is seen as entitled to seek vengeance, no matter how extreme a form it takes. In Sigaev's world, it is commonplace for a wife to cheat on her husband, a matter of course for a cuckold to commit murder or suicide. It is so mundane that the gunsmith discusses it conversationally, the way one would talk about the weather. He complains about the corruption of morals while making money off it. Sigaev himself goes about...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review on " An Avenger"

In An Avenger, Anton Chekhov has set the theme of infidelity, trust, revenge, shame, and pride which was taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection. The story is narrated in the third person and from the beginning of the story, it becomes clear to the reader that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of infidelity.  Sigaev finds out that his wife has been unfaithful to him. He wants to take revenge on both his wife and the lover. Hence, He pays a visit to the gun shop. However, at times, he also considers killing himself after killing his wife and her lover because he may be looking for sympathy from others and show others that he is the one who is offended. His wife and her lover are the guilty parties and their romantic engagements have driven him to the point of madness i.e. killing himself, his wife and his lover. It would be insanity for Sigaev to kill himself because of his wife or her lover over the fact that his wife was being unfaithful. Something that beco...
Post a Comment
Read more