Marriage is a Private Affair
...iYanni 253) By ignoring his obligation to tradition he was the first in his tribe “to marry a woman who spoke a different tongue.” (DiYanni 255) Achebe uses the word “cosmopolitan” in describing the city where Nnaemeka met Nene. Cosmopolitan means composed of people from many parts of the world; especially not provincial in attitudes or interests. This is the perfect definition for Nnaemeka as well, since he goes against his provincial attitudes by rejecting his tradition. Not only does the setting of the story contribute to the theme but so does the language and detail. Achebe includes religious detail and language to help describe the antagonist, Nnaemeka’s father Okeke. Okeke is a stern follower of tradition and very stubborn he reads his Bible and since the latter is true he is also a Christian. When his son tells him the news of his engagement he tries to dissuade him saying, “I owe it to you, my son, as a duty to show you what is right and what is wrong.” (DiYanni 255) Yet he quickly gives up, and when other “old-men” from the tribe tried to persuade him to help his son he replied, “If my son wants to kill himself let him do it with his own hands. It is not for me to help him.” (DiYanni 255) It is ironic that Okeke as a Christian didn’t go after his son to try and save him but instead forsook him. This detail from the story gives the idea that Okeke is struggling with accepting his sons’ marriage and it has led him to become a hypocrite. The minor characters in the story which are the Ibio towns’ people criticize the marriage proclaiming “it has never been heard of.” (DiYanni 255) They begin to contemplate on reasons why this has happened and first they discuss the theological side. Some of them see this as a sign, and announce that in the Bible it is written that son’s will rise against their fathers. Others believe it is more serious and state, “It is the begging of the end.” (DiYanni 255) They follow that discussion with a practical perspective telling how Okeke should go to a herbalist and have some medicine prepared containing “Amalile.” (DiYanni 255) When a man named Jonathan (a Biblical name) speaks he makes us aware that he rarely argues with those men because “they were incapable of re...