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30 pages 1 hour read

Marriage is a Private Affair

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1952

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Literary Devices

Point of View

This story has a third-person omniscient narrative voice, meaning the narrator knows and can convey the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the story. This narrative point of view allows the reader to gain insight into the motivations and perspectives of each character and understand the conflict from multiple angles.

Throughout the story, the third-person omniscient point of view allows the reader to understand the conflict between Nnaemeka and his father from both perspectives. The narrator conveys Nnaemeka’s frustration and disappointment with his father’s stubbornness, as well as Okeke’s anxiety about the potential loss of his cultural heritage and the desire to maintain traditional values.

The point of view also allows the reader to understand the perspectives of secondary characters, such as Nene and Okeke’s friends, who provide additional context and insight into the situation. For example, Nene’s perspective helps to emphasize the generational and cultural divide between Nnaemeka and his father, while Okeke’s friends’ perspective gives the reader insight into the traditions of the Igbo culture.

Overall, the third-person omniscient point of view in “Marriage is a Private Affair” allows the reader to gain a multifaceted understanding of the conflict and the characters involved, providing insight into the cultural and generational tensions that underlie the story’s central conflict.

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