Explore the Importance of Cultures and Tradition Essay

veronica is a short romance by Adewale Maja-Pearce. It teaches of how cultures, traditions, relationships, mind-sets and m one and except(a)y force 2 state raised in the same heathenish background, to separate and sack on, for better and for worse as their lives take disparate paths. The story shows the with child(p) separate between Afri puke village life and African t take inship life. In the story, Okek the ever-lasting male friend of veronica is drawn by the leader of the city for the opportunities he sees for himself. The young woman veronica on the otherwise hand does not desire to forswear their decomposing village for the city. She rejects Okekes head for numerous sources.The Gold Cadillac is a similar short story by Mildred Taylor. The Gold Cadillac tells the tale of a young black family from the North of the States who purchase a new and rather extravagant car. Much to the desperation of their relatives, the beat of the household decides to ride the car do wn to the south, which is soon conveyed to be very racist. This story holds similar themes to that of Veronica as it shows, the contrast in how people from different cultural backgrounds be treated in different parts of America. It is likewise similar to veronica in that we see the differentiate beliefs amongst the same culture of people within the family.In the story of Veronica we are immediately informed that the local people of this village live on under cultural tradition. The author brings emphasise to them living in a small traditional village with the potential for sinewy beliefs and cultural traditions by the use of, my native village, which suggests remote, old fashioned almost old moral ideas. This is because the word, native is often used to describe tribes, in strange undeveloped ethnic areas. This assumption is confirmed as we learn that one of these beliefs is the important contrast between men and womans expectations. Adewale Maja-Pearce calls fear to this th rough presenting to Veronicas responsibilities to the reader, a lot of the responsibility for legal transfer up the other children had fallen on her, the use of the word, fallen to a fault implies that she did not chose to be given these responsibilities, but that her cultural traditions had forced them on her.We also recognize that the society in which Veronica is living in is male dominated and that men feel that they are more important, by the use of Maja-Pearce explaining the way in which Veronicas come acts towards her, darkness after night I would lie awake listening to her screams, as her beats her. One can be certain that this is very practically the opinion of the entire village as another man, Okekes don, would not intervene, implying that this nature of behaviour towards women was common-place, cursing myself for my own physical inadequacy and my commence for his unwillingness to obtain involved.This shows the importance of these cultures and traditions to people, because a grown man would not prevent the suffering of one of his own people w here he had the opportunity, out-of-pocket to the expectations of their society, enforced by their traditions, and further shows the native peoples strong belief in it. Adewale Maja-Pearce also explores the different opportunities that men and women receive in the native village.Women, much(prenominal)(prenominal) as Veronica, were not authorised, what was in many countries at the time the story was written, the right of an education, as men such as Okek were, When I was twelve I started at the secondary school in town a few miles away, she included this to the story to enforce the strong contrast of opportunities and rights between men and women in the village Women were not furnished to attend a school in this village because in the eyes of the natives, they had no reason to as it was expected of the women to remain at their home and suffice chores, such as cleaning, caring for the younger childre n and cooking for the family, she shows this through veronicas knowledge of what she must do, I conduct to go and cook my father will be home soon, the Author also stresses this appoint by the use of , I have to, which implies that Veronica has no choice. except this further illustrates how Veronica is used to her responsibilities, enforced by the culture which she lives in and actually accepts her status quo. I cant just leave my family. This demonstrates how Veronica, as she gets older, comes to reckon that her place is the home, and that all of the responsibility and unfair expectation is justified. However there was a time in which veronica was rum close education and would have liked to go to school, and she asked me endless questions about my school. It also further emphasises her loyalty to her family, as when asked, What have they ever through for you? she replies without hesitation, showing her certainty in what she says, presumet let the cat out of the bag like tha t, they are my family, that is enough. Most interestingly, she shows often devotion and attentiveness to her father as she cooks for him despite the way he treated her throughout her life, And although her father had long stopped beating her in every other respect nothing had really altered.Caring for people for Veronica was much harder than anyone in Britain could understand, as she would have had no advanced(a) appliances everything would have been done by hand, which is much, more time consuming. The way in which she responded to Okekes remark, (stated above), with such certainty also shows that she thought it as a handicraft to her family to perform the traditions and expectations enforced by her society. In conclusion this shows how important tradition was to the people of this culture in the story because, Veronica is willing to put her family first, before her, in her order of priorities even though it jeopardized her future, because if she had of gone to the city and be come a secretary as she was offered, she may have been thriving and gained wealthiness and happiness as Okek did, however she refused because of her outstanding devotion to her family and further because it fits with the cultural tradition of women caring for their families, she did not even consider the proposal for a minute, which also shows that she, knows her place, and what is expected of her. Veronica plays a menial piece in life, but she accepts it, as she plays a subservient subroutine functional for her father, never trying to achieve anything more as she believes that she neither has the capabilities or the reason to go to the city as she already has a role to play where she is, as carer for her family, and almost slave to her father. This is why she rejects the city that symbolises success, Dont talk foolishnessThe key women in, Veronica, and, The Gold Cadillac, can be seen to have some very crucial similarities. It can be observed that both characters feel they have a very strong duty towards their families but furthermore are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the sake of these families. Veronica gave up the chance to lead a successful life in the city where she would achieve independence as she would modernize away from the chauvinistic society, I leave that for others, my own place is here. We can be assured that she does this for the sake of family by the use of, I cant just leave my family, this again shows her strong brain of duty towards her family. The same can be observed in, The Gold Cadillac. The buzz off of the story, unlike the naive children, understands the dangerous racism of the south and the possibility that he may be in danger. We can see her feeling of duty towards the family through her willingness to risk her life and her daughters just to be with her husband so that they are all together, the girls and I will be going with you. there is a large contrast between this traditional African village life and the moder n African town life. The reader is alerted of this contrast by the use of the different beliefs of the women in the Town, when compared to those living In the village who believe in the more traditional values, God has blithe us with as son, whereas the women in the village are far more, materialistic this is shown by the use of Adewale Maja-Pearce shocking Okek who was brought up on traditional village beliefs, as he found that women were not as interested in him as a person, but for his money, All the women I meet are unless interested in my money and cars. This contrast is also shown by Veronica, who believes in village traditions, when she responds to Okek, I dont believe you, she cannot understand their views.Adewale Maja-Pearce includes this bulky contrast between traditional African village life and modern African town life, so that she could separate the two characters. And show how Okek, who go on with his life became successful in the wealth area, whereas Veronica who did not let go of what she was brought up on, found much misery, but was blessed with a son and a husband. Veronica found love.I think that Adewale Maja-Pearce was trying to stress that although cultures may seem unjust with their traditions from onlookers, who cannot understand them, that are in some aspects bad, correspond by Veronicas father, where these cultures are represented in the story as the, native village life, can also please people with different moral beliefs, such as Veronica who did not desire material possessions, as these peoples cultures allow them find what they value, for veronica love and security with her own family, He is a good man, god has blessed us with a son. Whereas places of opportunity, represented by the use of the Town which Okek moved to, provide liberation, that brings material success, such as wealth, however it may not bring true happiness, as in the case of Okek who found career success, but did not make headway in love as he has no wife, I have no wife, All the women I meet are only interested in money and cars.