Marriage is a Private Affair

In class today we read the story, "Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe. In this story, Nnaemeka's father, Okeke, who is part of the ibibio tribe, has tried to set him up in a arranged marriage with their neighbor's eldest daughter, Ugoye Nweke. She dropped out of school and lived with a pastor to be trained to be a good Christian wife. A important detail that Nnaemeka has been putting off to tell his father is that he is engaged and in love with Nene Atang. A Christian woman that is a teacher in a girl's school in Lagos. When he finally told his father that he was engaged to Nene, Okeke was so angry that he did not want to be around Nnaemeka. He tried to ignore him completely out of his life. Okeke's friends suggest that he should give Nnaemeka medicine but he rejected the advice and didn't care anymore. A couple of months later Nnaemeka his father a picture of him and his wife. His father responded totally different to how Nnaemeka thought he would have. Okeke cut the picture of Nene out of the picture. Nene was very sad when she saw the picture and read the letter. Years pass and Nnaemeka tried to talk to his father but Okeke wouldn't budge. he literally did not want him at his house. Then one day Nene sent a letter to Okeke saying that she doesn't know how to tell her and Nnaemeka's two sons that their grandfather doesn't want to see them. She implored for Okeke to let Nnaemeka and his two sons come to meet him while she stays in Lagos. From this letter Okeke is contemplating if he should give in or keep ignoring his son. He sees that he should see his grandsons since it is not fair that they have to suffer not seeing their grandfather. My view of this story is to love and care for your family no matter what, even when they disappoint you. Nobody wins when you ignore the person you love. I personally like this story because it shows how a father still longs for his son when he is disappointed in him. http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/ibibio-tribe.html