In Lagos, Ana experiences prejudice but manages to gain acceptance from the people. However, Cooke remains unaware of this prejudice as no one dares to discuss it in his presence. He has become indifferent and unemotional, but when he receives a letter from None about his grandchildren wanting to meet him, he struggles to maintain his cold demeanor. This surprises him and makes him realize that he does have emotions. Despite his love for his Bio background, he tries to ignore the thought of his grandchildren, but his conscience proves stronger. China Achebe suggests that family will always be more important than culture, even if one refuses to admit it. The main issue is a result of smaller problems, and Nickname lacks the courage to confront Cooke and provide him with a clear understanding of the situation.
Cooke's excessive attachme
...nt to his culture renders him closed off to any changes as he is blinded by his beliefs (html tag:
). Nonetheless, he eventually realizes that his family holds far greater importance than he had ever imagined, surpassing the significance of culture and traditions. This realization leads to the conclusion that China Achebe opposes arranged marriages (html tag:
). The story "Marriage is a private affair" shares many similarities with the movie "East is East". Both narratives portray a father who prioritizes the family's reputation over their emotions and feelings (Cooke in "Marriage is a private affair" and George in "East is East"). In "East is East", Nazi flees from his arranged marriage due to his homosexuality (html tag:
). Consequently, George considers him dead and severs all contact. Although Nazi i
able to live the life he desires, he finds himself longing for a life with his family. This parallel can be observed in Nickname's situation as well; he wishes to be with None, rather than the girl his father has chosen for him. Similar to George, Cooke also cuts off all ties with Nickname and wants nothing to do with him. While both characters achieve the lives they desired with their true loves, neither of them wished for a life without their families (html tag:
). Both stories demonstrate how love triumphs over culture and illustrate that, despite fiercely fighting for one's culture and religion, natural familial love can prevail.In both stories, the father ultimately recognizes his mistakes and feels remorse for his actions. The power of love triumphs over the influence of culture and religion in both cases. Thus, one can infer that devotion to religion cannot replace one's affection for their family, even if the family's actions contradict their religious beliefs.
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