Marriage is a Private Affair

by

Chinua Achebe

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Nnaemeka’s fiancée. At the beginning of the story, Nene is eager to for Nnaemeka to share the news of their engagement with his father, Okeke, believing that the man will be thrilled. Her naivete, however, does not allow her to anticipate Okeke’s firm resistance to their marriage. As a woman who grew up in the cosmopolitan culture of Lagos, Nene struggles to grasp the different norms and ideas that govern rural life, and has trouble understanding how sidestepping these conventions in a community that so greatly values tradition can be a serious offense. Thus, she urges her husband to talk to his father, convinced and optimistic that Okeke’s love for his son will supersede any anger and disappointment. Nevertheless, she must grapple with the fact that her ethnic identity and role as a teacher are enough to disqualify her as a suitable wife for Nnaemeka when she realizes that Okeke has harshly cut her out of her own wedding picture. This does not stop her from trying to win him and others over, which speaks to her persistence. She eventually wins over the Ibo community in Lagos by showing how capable of a wife she is, and people begin to respect how happy her marriage is as well. In her persistence, she sends a letter to Okeke about what his absence in her son’s (his grandchildren’s) lives are costing them as a family, a move that points to an eventual resolution within the family.

Nene Atang Quotes in Marriage is a Private Affair

The Marriage is a Private Affair quotes below are all either spoken by Nene Atang or refer to Nene Atang. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Urban vs. Rural Spaces Theme Icon
).
Marriage Is A Private Affair Quotes

“You have lived in Lagos all your life, and you know very little about people in remote parts of the country.”

Related Characters: Nnaemeka (speaker), Nene Atang
Related Symbols: Lagos
Page Number: 22
Explanation and Analysis:

At last she said, “You don’t really mean that he will object to your marrying me simply on that account? I had always thought you Ibos were kindly disposed to other people.”

Related Characters: Nene Atang (speaker), Nnaemeka, Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:

“Father,” began Nnaemeka suddenly, “I have come to ask forgiveness.”

Related Characters: Nnaemeka (speaker), Nene Atang, Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:

“I shall never see her,” was the reply. From that night the father scarcely spoke to his son. He did not, however, cease hoping that he would realize how serious was the danger he was heading for. Day and night, he put him in his prayers.

Related Characters: Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father (speaker), Nnaemeka, Nene Atang
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:

“It amazes me that you could be so unfeeling as to send me your wedding picture. I would have sent it back. But on further thought I decided just to cut off your wife and send it back to you because I have nothing to do with her. How I wish that I had nothing to do with you either.”

Related Characters: Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father (speaker), Nnaemeka, Nene Atang
Related Symbols: Lagos
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:

“Our two sons, from the day they learnt that they have a grandfather, have insisted on being taken to him. I find it impossible to tell them that you will not see them. I implore you to allow Nnaemeka to bring them home for a short time during his leave next month. I shall remain here in Lagos.”

Related Characters: Nene Atang (speaker), Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father
Related Symbols: Lagos
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
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Nene Atang Quotes in Marriage is a Private Affair

The Marriage is a Private Affair quotes below are all either spoken by Nene Atang or refer to Nene Atang. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Urban vs. Rural Spaces Theme Icon
).
Marriage Is A Private Affair Quotes

“You have lived in Lagos all your life, and you know very little about people in remote parts of the country.”

Related Characters: Nnaemeka (speaker), Nene Atang
Related Symbols: Lagos
Page Number: 22
Explanation and Analysis:

At last she said, “You don’t really mean that he will object to your marrying me simply on that account? I had always thought you Ibos were kindly disposed to other people.”

Related Characters: Nene Atang (speaker), Nnaemeka, Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:

“Father,” began Nnaemeka suddenly, “I have come to ask forgiveness.”

Related Characters: Nnaemeka (speaker), Nene Atang, Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:

“I shall never see her,” was the reply. From that night the father scarcely spoke to his son. He did not, however, cease hoping that he would realize how serious was the danger he was heading for. Day and night, he put him in his prayers.

Related Characters: Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father (speaker), Nnaemeka, Nene Atang
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:

“It amazes me that you could be so unfeeling as to send me your wedding picture. I would have sent it back. But on further thought I decided just to cut off your wife and send it back to you because I have nothing to do with her. How I wish that I had nothing to do with you either.”

Related Characters: Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father (speaker), Nnaemeka, Nene Atang
Related Symbols: Lagos
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:

“Our two sons, from the day they learnt that they have a grandfather, have insisted on being taken to him. I find it impossible to tell them that you will not see them. I implore you to allow Nnaemeka to bring them home for a short time during his leave next month. I shall remain here in Lagos.”

Related Characters: Nene Atang (speaker), Okeke / Nnaemeka’s Father
Related Symbols: Lagos
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis: