I am doing an essay question, and I just wondered if someone would answer a simple question, of wether they think that the story "Marriage is a private affair" shows external conflict. I beleive it does because external conflict is physical, and comes from other sources, and example could be another character, and when the son told his father he found a woman himself, his father dissaproved and would no longer speak to him........Because in their culture fathers would choose the women for the men, that they would marry. If you do not recall this story, the link is provided below.

The story is located on pg. 304.

I agree. That is an external conflict.

Since we don't have your book, we can't look up pg. 304. From what you describe, I agree that external conflict is obvious. Internal conflict is when a person entertains two conflicting ideas or feelings and doesn't know which is right or should be followed. External is conflict with other persons or something outside one's self.

Yes, the story "Marriage is a private affair" by Chinua Achebe does exhibit external conflict. External conflict refers to the struggle between a character and an outside force, which can be another character, society, or nature. In the story, the external conflict arises from the clash between the traditional values held by the father and the son's desire to choose his own partner.

In the story, the son, Nnaemeka, informs his father that he has found a woman he wants to marry, even though she is not from their tribe or in line with their cultural customs. The father strongly disapproves of this choice and refuses to accept it, leading to a breakdown in their relationship. This is evident when the father stops speaking to his son and even disowns him.

The conflict between Nnaemeka and his father represents an external conflict because it arises from the opposing beliefs and values held by the two characters. The father's adherence to traditional practices and his refusal to adapt to changing times creates this conflict. Therefore, this conflict is a result of an external force (the father's conservative beliefs) affecting the characters' relationship.

It is worth noting that the story also delves into internal conflicts faced by the characters, particularly Nnaemeka as he struggles to balance his own desires with fulfilling his obligation to his father and maintaining cultural traditions. However, for the purpose of this question, the focus is on the external conflict and how it drives the plot and character interactions in the story.