Albert and Esene by Frances Khirallah Noble - Article Example

This story revolves around two central characters; Albert and Esene as the name of the article indicate. Other characters in the story, namely Safiyah, Amelia, Hasna, and Nasef who are Albert’s widowed sisters, mother, and father respectively. Albert briefs Esene on how to carry herself in the family after marriage so that she develops comfortable relationships with the in-laws. Albert teaches Esene how to read and write that surprises the couple as well as Esene’s in-laws. Albert finds time to help Esene learn cooking.

With Albert’s help, motivation, and cooperation, Esene undergoes a radical improvement in her skills of different kinds. The most important message about life that can be retrieved from this story is that with mutual love and cooperation, a married couple can not only improve the quality of their own life but also serve as a source of inspiration for others.The most prominent elements of Albert and Esene are the challenges faced by women in adjusting to the new families after their marriage, the dynamics of the relationship between the bride and the in-laws, an adaptation of the bride to the new culture, and the importance of the role of the husband in making it achievable for the bride.

Albert tells Esene how to behave with her in-laws; “Don’t get drawn into it…It’s the only way they know how to speak. If you say little…and act less, they’ll think you agree with them. No one will argue. There’ll be no one to convince” (Noble 163). Taking his advice helps Esene adjust to the new family. Noble has illustrated this theme using a conflict and showing a way to resolve it. The conflict in the story was Albert’s attempt to empower Esene by inculcating in her new skills; “Shades are drawn.

Front door locked. To prevent discovery because Albert wanted it to be a surprise, his surprise to unveil like a repainted statue” (Noble 163). Albert achieved this goal with determination, motivation, and love. “As for Esene, even though she didn’t love to study, even though Albert pushed and prodded her, she began to realize the power of what she was doing” (Noble 165). It was not easy for Albert to bring her on the track, but with love, patience, and consistency, he achieved what he wanted to in her.

Noble has drawn upon the importance of empowerment using examples like the deaf and blind father of Albert to show that not having certain traits or qualities makes you dependent upon others; in Albert’s father’s case, lack of the sight and the sense of hearing, “Albert’s father, in his old man’s sweater, stood holding his lightly crushed brown hat in both hands, uncaring, impassive, waiting to be urged in the right direction by a son-in-law’s hands” (Noble 166), and in Esene’s case, lack of the ability to read and write whose removal empowers Esene and makes her more independent and influential for others.

To sum up, some of the prominent themes of the article are that nothing in this world is unachievable provided that one is determined to achieve it, and the warmth and intimacy inherent in the relationship between a husband and a wife has transformation power that can show wonders not only to the couple but also to others around them. The larger meaning of this story is to embark upon the importance of the husband’s attention, love, and cooperation in the life of a wife. With mutual cooperation, a husband and a wife complete each other by reducing each other’s weaknesses and increasing each other’s strengths.

This theme relates to the larger issue of the weakening institution of marriage in society. People tend to find ways to excel in life by being more independent of relationships and compromising upon their marriages, which is in fact, regressive. Noble has left it to the readers to gauge the power of love and sincerity in marriage and the positive effects it can have on their lives.