Question

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair” by Chinua Achebe.

Then one day he received a letter from Nene, and in spite of himself he began to glance through it perfunctorily until all of a sudden the expression on his face changed and he began to read more carefully.

. . . Our two sons, from the day they learnt that they have a grandfather, have insisted on being taken to him. I find it impossible to tell them that you will not see them. I implore you to allow Nnaemeka to bring them home for a short time during his leave next month. I shall remain here in Lagos . . .

The old man at once felt the resolution he had built up over so many years falling in. He was telling himself that he must not give in. He tried to steel his heart against all emotional appeals. It was a re-enactment of that other struggle. He leaned against a window and looked out. The sky was overcast with heavy black clouds and a high wind began to blow filling the air with dust and dry leaves. It was one of those rare occasions when even Nature takes a hand in a human fight. Very soon it began to rain, the first rain in the year. It came down in large sharp drops and was accompanied by the lightning and thunder which mark a change of season. Okeke was trying hard not to think of his two grandsons. But he knew he was now fighting a losing battle. He tried to hum a favorite hymn but the pattering of large rain drops on the roof broke up the tune. His mind immediately returned to the children. How could he shut his door against them? By a curious mental process he imagined them standing, sad and forsaken, under the harsh angry weather—shut out from his house.

That night he hardly slept, from remorse—and a vague fear that he might die without making it up to them.

How does Okeke’s change in attitude challenge the patriarchy?

Okeke has no desire to see his grandsons because they come from a marriage he did not approve.
Okeke is insulted and disturbed that Nene has sent him such a rude letter.
Okeke wants to see his grandsons even though they are not the product of a traditional arranged marriage.
Okeke is surprised that his son and daughter-in-law have refused to let him see his grandsons.

Answer 1

Answer:

Okeke wants to see his grandsons even though they are not the product of a traditional arranged marriage.

Explanation:

After recieving such letter, Okeke rethinks about what he has done and what he has lost. Not approving his daughters's marriage has only led him to misery and the possibility of dying without meeting his grandsons. This was a senseless decision Okeke made based on ridiculous patriarchal mandates, which only cause hurt.

Answer 2

The way in which Okeke’s change in attitude challenge the patriarchy is: Okeke wants to see his grandsons even though they are not the product of a traditional arranged marriage.

Who is Okeke?

This is a fictional character in the given novel who plays the role of a strict father and traditionalist who does not accept cultures which are contrary to what he believes in.

Hence, we can see that because of this, he refused to see his grandchildren simply because they were not from a traditional marriage and this caused him tremendous pain and grief.

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