Parent-Child Relationships Parent-Children Relationships Have

Parent-Child Relationships Parent-children relationships have been explored in numerous novels and short stories. Thesis: The three short stories selected for this essay, "Marriage is a Private Affair," "War" and "All is Burning" illustrate three different facets of one particular component of this relationship, i.e. parental sacrifice. Chinua Achebe's story "Marriage is a Private Affair" depicts the tension that frequently occurs between children and parents generally because of a difference in points-of-view.

In this story, a son must choose between his father and the woman he loves since his parent does not accept his son's marriage out of love. Cultural factors are crucial in this case in the sense that tension within the family arises as a result of the opposition between the modern perception of marriage, love and family as expressed by the son, and the old patriarchal order that the father upholds.

In fact, the determination with which the father wants to preserve tradition eventually causes a breach between him and his only son. This is somewhat of a paradox because the father wants what he thinks is best for his son, and rejects his son's plans to marry a young woman from the city precisely because he does not think such a marriage is right.

The opposition between what is culturally accepted in Okeke's tribe and the new order of things as Nene sees it leaves Nnaemeka in the middle, in the position of having to make the most difficult decision of his life. Communication is impossible between father and son as they do not seem to speak the same language. Although Nnaemeka tries to reach out and talk to his father, Okeke does not think there is anything to discuss because tradition and religion are not subject to discussion.

Okeke chooses to live alone and lose contact with his son for the sake of what he thinks is culturally and morally correct: "I owe it to you, my son, as a duty to you to show you what is right and what is wrong" (Achebe, 1972, lines 91-92); he cannot accept his son's marriage not only because he personally disagrees with it, but also because he knows his tribe would also condemn it: "It has never been heard,' was the verdict of an old man speaking a few weeks later" (Achebe, 1972, lines 102-103).

Nnaemeka is abandoned by his father; years go by, and communication between the two men is not resumed. Not even the birth of his grandchildren could change Okeke's mind. However, the thought of the two children softens his heart and causes him much pain and remorse: "That night he hardly slept - from remorse, and a vague fear that he might die without making it up to them." (Achebe, 1972, lines 190-191).

Okeke feels he is sacrificing his relationship with his son for the sake of what is morally and culturally right. Luigi Pirandello's story, "War," explores the child-parent relationship solely from the perspective of the latter. Seven people seem somewhat isolated from the rest of the world in a crowded railway carriage. This physical detachment from the world allows them to explore very private feelings and emotions, such as parental love, loss, and fear.

Although their discussion is anchored in reality - it refers to a historical time and a geographical location i.e. The war, and Italy - their debate is universal. This character of universality is given by the fact that the characters refer to Italy as 'Country' and do not mention any names, or a precise date. Parents have the need to commiserate, and share their grief with each other as the loss of a child is not something that can be handled on one's own.

The main focus of the debate that is spurred among the passengers revolves around whether or not it is easier for parents who have more than one child to deal with losing a son: ".. It is our only son, ventured the husband." (Pirandello, 1918, line 35).

The fat man contradicts the husband of the bulky woman who does nothing but sob: "What difference does it make? You can spoil your only son with excessive attentions, but you cannot love him more than you would all your other children if you had any" (Pirandello, 1918, lines 36-38). He evokes the loss of his son, and admits that he is both happy and proud that his son died in the front.

The fat man is the least selfish of the seven passengers because he is capable of recalling his youth, and understanding why his son was happy to die for his country. He does not focus on his pain, but on how his son wanted to die: "Why then shouldn't we consider the feelings of our children whey they are twenty?" (Pirandello, 1918, lines 74-75); he sacrifices his personal feelings i.e. those of a grieving parents in order to accept that it was his son's wish to die for this country.

Suddenly, the bulky woman turn her face to the fat man, and asks him "is your son really dead?" (Ibid, lines 116). This question generates a deeply emotional response as the man cannot contain himself and starts crying. The seven people in the compartment are reminiscent of the soldiers on the front. There is profound symbolism in the location of the seven people who are parents, aunts and uncles i.e.

A moving train; this symbolizes the effects of war that are felt everywhere, and at the same time, the fact that the grieving parents who are left behind can never truly resume their lives after the loss of their children. All is Burning" by Jean Arasanayagam explores maternal love and sacrifice. The story takes place in a small village in Sri Lanka, during a time of violent conflict between the Tamils and the Sinhalese.

Alice is a simple woman who goes in search of her daughter's loved one through hundreds of dead bodies. Alice knows her daughter, Seela, is not strong enough to look for the man she loves knowing he might be dead. The atmosphere of the story is one of fear and anguish,.