Religion and Cultural Conflict in Chinua Achebe’s Marriage Is a Private Affair

The Role of Religion in the Story

In Chinua Achebe’s “Marriage Is a Private Affair,” religion significantly shapes the characters’ beliefs, actions, and conflicts. The story presents two main types of religious beliefs: traditional Igbo religion and Christianity. These differing religious views cause a rift between the older and younger generations and between the rural and urban settings.

The central conflict arises when Nnaemeka, a young Igbo man from the Ibibio tribe in rural Nigeria, decides to marry Nene, a woman from a different tribe, against the wishes of his father, Okeke. Okeke’s disapproval is deeply rooted in his adherence to traditional Igbo religious and cultural values, which emphasize the importance of marrying within one’s tribe to maintain the purity of customs and traditions. He believes that the gods dictate these practices and that defying them would bring dishonor and misfortune to the family (Gale).

Different Kinds of Religious Beliefs Presented in the Story

On the other hand, Nnaemeka represents the new generation that Christianity and Western education have influenced. As a Christian, Nnaemeka believes in the Christian doctrine of individual choice. Marriage is a personal matter between two people who love each other rather than a communal affair dictated by tradition and religion.

Nene, who is also a Christian, embodies the influence of modern Christian values on Nigerian society. She is independent and educated and does not share the traditional belief in arranged marriages. Her Christian faith supports her belief in the sanctity of love and the individual’s right to choose a partner, regardless of tribal boundaries.

The clash between Okeke’s traditional beliefs and Nnaemeka and Nene’s Christian values highlights the tension between the old and the new and between rigid adherence to tradition and a more liberal interpretation of religion that allows for personal freedom. The story shows that religion can be both a source of division and a means of bridging gaps, as seen at the end when Okeke, influenced by a Christian teaching of forgiveness, softens his stance and comes to accept his grandchildren.

Work Cited

Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Chinua Achebe’s “Marriage Is a Private Affair.” 2017.

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StudyCorgi. (2025) 'Religion and Cultural Conflict in Chinua Achebe’s Marriage Is a Private Affair'. 31 May.

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StudyCorgi. "Religion and Cultural Conflict in Chinua Achebe’s Marriage Is a Private Affair." May 31, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/religion-and-cultural-conflict-in-chinua-achebes-marriage-is-a-private-affair/.

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StudyCorgi. 2025. "Religion and Cultural Conflict in Chinua Achebe’s Marriage Is a Private Affair." May 31, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/religion-and-cultural-conflict-in-chinua-achebes-marriage-is-a-private-affair/.

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