A Critical Overview of Chinua Achebe's “Marriage is a Private Affair”

Abstract

A story plays a vital role in human life, we all are born story tellers knowingly or unknowingly. That's why they charm us since time immemorial. But we like to read and listen to the story of others and narrate our own stories. The writers with their sheer craft of imagination and creativity catch readers in their bait. The aim of this paper is to rekindle the interest of short stories in general and consolidate the position of Chinua Achebe's as a story writer in particular. Achebe has written not only interesting short stories but he tried to bring to fore the most pertinent change which is occurring in this ever changing world. The paper analyses the short story, Marriage is a Private Affair written by Achebe, through various facets of human life. The present paper concerns the most important institution of human life “marriage”. The paper attempts to understand the concept of this sacred institution. It discusses how the institution of marriage is for a man and a woman and not for the customs and traditions of the society at large.