In both "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," young men fret that their fathers will disapprove of their potential wives. Compare these two stories by looking at how the personalities of the young men and their fathers help to shape the eventual outcomes
In "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," the personalities of the young men and their fathers play a significant role in shaping the eventual outcomes of the stories. While both stories revolve around the theme of a generational conflict when it comes to marriage choices, the different personalities and relationships between the young men and their fathers lead to contrasting resolutions.
In "Marriage Is a Private Affair," the young man, Nnaemeka, is depicted as a progressive and independent thinker. He falls in love with an educated girl named Nene, from a different tribe, who represents modern values and beliefs. Nnaemeka is willing to go against his father's wishes in order to marry Nene. His father, Okeke, on the other hand, is portrayed as a traditionalist who strongly adheres to his tribal customs and beliefs. He vehemently opposes the idea of his son marrying outside their tribe.
Due to their clashing personalities and values, the outcome of this story is one of distance and estrangement. Nnaemeka decides to elope with Nene without informing his father, which leads to a strained relationship between them. Despite initial resistance, Okeke eventually comes to accept his daughter-in-law and his grandchildren, but the damage to their relationship is irreversible. The clash between Nnaemeka's progressive nature and Okeke's traditional mindset ultimately shapes this unhappy ending.
In contrast, "A Meeting in the Dark" portrays a slightly different dynamic between the young man, John, and his father, Odero. John is depicted as a timid and obedient young man who respects his father deeply. He is engaged to a girl from his own tribe, Wamuhu, and fears his father's disapproval of their relationship due to her lower socioeconomic status. John is torn between his own desires and his desire to please his father.
Unlike in "Marriage Is a Private Affair," the resolution in this story is more optimistic. When John finally musters the courage to approach his father about the proposed marriage, Odero surprises him by accepting Wamuhu wholeheartedly. Odero's personality, portrayed as understanding and accepting, shapes the outcome of the story into a harmonious one. John's fear of his father's disapproval is proven to be unfounded, showing the significance of their relationship and his father's open-mindedness.
Overall, while both stories revolve around young men worrying about their fathers' disapproval of their potential wives, the differing personalities and relationships between the fathers and sons shape the outcomes. In "Marriage Is a Private Affair," the clash between Nnaemeka's progressive personality and Okeke's traditional mindset leads to a strained and distant relationship. In contrast, "A Meeting in the Dark" presents a more optimistic outcome as John's fears are proven wrong due to his father's accepting nature.