RE: ADSactly Short Story - The Endless List
Beyond disagreeing with arranged marriages, I understand that they are very common in many cultures, @churchboy. In the story I find several interesting, special elements for the development of the plot. We see how from the first moment Peterson is characterized as a small person, who is mocked and who looks younger. This reminds us of a man of little respect, "who does not live up to the commitment", which immediately makes us see him as an antagonist. On the other hand Neji, who appears for the marriage, begins to earn our respect, especially because we see that although it is an arranged marriage, between him and Nne there is a feeling. I like the background that there is in making a long list and that is expressed in your story: It's a long list so that the husband knows what he had to live to marry and has no intention of doing it again and the other is that since marriage is for life, things must also have that sense of infinity. Always excellent stories! Greetings
Thanks @nancybriti. This one is meant to bring to light the process of marriage among certain tribes in West Africa. The marriage is not arranged marriage actually. Nne and Neji could have met in the United States of America or anywhere else in the world, but for their community to recognize their marriage under the customary law, the man has to pay the bride price locally and meet the requirements. This was not meant to be an expensive task but it was designed to take time and required dedication to complete it. For one thing, the requirements are not expected to be met in one day. The custom requires that some of the rites be done weekly for over two months. The negotiations are not easy either and would often seem impossible to complete. But, as the elderly man told Nne, everyone who wants to get married, gets married. The woman is not sold, therefore, you can never pay complete. She is also a gem, therefore marrying her is not meant to be easy. Patience is also a mark of a mature man, so they would test the patient of their in-law to the limit. In ancient times, a man who got angry and lost his patience along the way, would lose all he had invested towards marrying a wife.
I appreciate your comments as usual. All the best.