Question

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe. "What did Our Lord say?” asked another gentleman. "Sons shall rise against their fathers; it is there in the Holy Book.” "It is the beginning of the end,” said another. The discussion thus tending to become theological, Madubogwu, a highly practical man, brought it down once more to the ordinary level. "Have you thought of consulting a native doctor about your son?” he asked Nnaemeka’s father. "He isn’t sick,” was the reply. "What is he then? The boy’s mind is diseased and only a good herbalist can bring him back to his right senses. The medicine he requires is Amalile, the same that women apply with success to recapture their husbands’ straying affection.” "Madubogwu is right,” said another gentleman. "This thing calls for medicine.” "I shall not call in a native doctor.” Nnaemeka’s father was known to be obstinately ahead of his more superstitious neighbours in these matters. "I will not be another Mrs. Ochuba. If my son wants to kill himself let him do it with his own hands. It is not for me to help him.” Which statement best describes the cultural divide that this passage illustrates?

Answer 1

The statement that best describes the cultural divide that this passage illustrates is: "The discussion thus tending to become theological. Madubogwu, a highly practical man, brought it down once more to the ordinary level. 'Have you thought of consulting a native doctor about your son?' he asked Nnaemeka’s father."

In this passage we can see how Madubogwu tries to deviate the conversation from the theological point of view it was reaching, and tries to bring Nnaemeka’s father back to his origins: the native's beliefs. This was very frequent considering that, during colonization, tribes were imposed Catholic religion in order to avoid insurgency, and frequently they would leave aside their beliefs in order to adopt the new religion.

Answer 2

Beggining from the line "The discussion thus tending to become more theological...", it was clear that the charaters would engage in an argument over the boy's health involving their religious beliefs. The characters appear indeed to argue and stand by their own ideas and solutions.

Since there are no options present to choose from, I would say the best statement that describes this cultural divide is: Because of their pride, people would rather yield someone else's life before giving up their differences and cooperate.