Final answer:
In Chinua Achebe's "Marriage Is A Private Affair", two main strategies are employed to persuade Okeke to accept his son's marriage to Nene: rational persuasion by Nnaemeka and direct communication from Nene. Both strategies fail due to Okeke's deep-seated traditional beliefs, highlighting Achebe's commentary on cultural and generational conflicts in postcolonial Nigeria.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Chinua Achebe's short story "Marriage Is A Private Affair", the main characters are caught in a struggle between traditional values and modern beliefs. The primary conflict arises when Nnaemeka, a young Igbo man, chooses to marry Nene, a woman from another ethnic group, against his father Okeke's wishes.
The first strategy to convince Okeke to accept Nene is through direct confrontation and rational persuasion. Nnaemeka tries to explain that love, rather than tradition, should guide marriage choices. However, this approach fails because Okeke's staunch adherence to tradition prevents him from accepting Nene.
The second strategy involves Nene herself reaching out to Okeke, writing letters attempting to bridge the gap, and later, involving the grandchildren. Despite these efforts, Okeke remains unmoved, demonstrating his inability to forgive and let go of his prejudices.
The ultimate failure to persuade Okeke speaks to the larger message of the work. Achebe highlights the generational divide and the tension between holding onto tradition and embracing new values. This story serves as a commentary on the postcolonial experience in Nigeria, emphasizing the cultural and generational conflicts that arose from colonial influence.
In conclusion, "Marriage Is A Private Affair" showcases the failed attempts by Nnaemeka and Nene to sway Okeke. It extols the importance of flexibility, understanding, and the complex interplay between traditional customs and modernity, especially in postcolonial societies where cultural identities are in flux.