an arranged marriage, it is likely that their marriage will be rejected by Nnaemeka's family. Worse still, Nene is not a member of Nnaemeka's village. Given Nnaemeka's tone when he shares this information, it's clear that the traditional culture of the Ibo disapproves of marriage outside one's village. Nene, who has lived in the city of Lagos all her life, finds this rejection appalling. Because she grew up in a cosmopolitan, modern culture, Nene originally thought it a "joke" that Nnaemeka's tribal heritage could prevent him from marrying whom he pleases.

Nene's outsider status is not the only conflict between cultures found in the story. When Nnaemeka visits his father and tells him that he is going to marry Nene, his father reacts with disbelief. Nnaemeka tries to convince his father that Nene is a good Christian woman, but Nnaemeka's father responds in the negative, claiming that Nene's occupation as a teacher proves that she is not a good Christian woman:

"Teacher, did you say? If you consider that a qualification for a good wife I should like to point out to you, Emeka, that no Christian woman should teach. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says that women should keep silence."

This quote also provides a good example of modern cultures clashing with traditional cultures. Here, the clash is between two different interpretations of a religious text. In the more traditional interpretation given by Nnaemeka's father, Nene's status as a good Christian woman is threatened by her occupation, as he believes that women should be "silent," which presumably means that women should not speak publicly like a teacher would. Nnaemeka obviously disagrees; rather than seeing Nene's occupation as a mark against her character, Nnaemeka believes that Nene's teaching job is a demonstration of her good character. Otherwise, he would not have mentioned Nene's job when trying to convince his father to bless their marriage.

Some of the elements in Achebe's short story are fairly universal.  The idea of a "love marriage" is still taboo, to different degrees, in different parts of the world.  Even in the most progressive of societies, there are still the generational conflicts between which young people want to marry and the person their parents want them to marry.  Another connection to modern society that can be seen is Okeke's reaction to his son's actions.  The stubbornness and the intensity of interfamily disagreements are seen in the short story.  When Okeke returns the picture of his newly married son and daughter in law with her image desecrated in a fairly brutal manner, it highlights this level of discord between family members.  This is something that is highly relevant today and while it might look different in different societies, there is a universal constant of family member disagreements representing some of the most intense of discord.  Finally, I think that the ending is something that is applicable to modern society.  When Okeke recognizes that his feud with his son is something that need to be resolved quickly because time is no longer on his side, I think that there is something there that some parents can feel towards even towards the most undeserving of children.  For parents, mortality becomes a definable end, with real and distinct features.  The ability or pressing need to "wrap up" affairs of the heart becomes vitally important, something that the ending of the story helps to bring out.  It might be here where Achebe, the teacher and educator, excels in what he wishes to bring across to the reader, especially the older one.  At some point, the intensity of blood feuds dissipate when death renders its final judgment.  In this ending, Achebe might be trying to teach a lesson.