How we cite our quotes: Act.Line
Quote #4
Don't you remember? He's that chief with whom I had a scrap some three or four years ago. I helped his son get to a medical school in England, remember? He fought tooth and nail to prevent it. (2.75)
Here we learn that Elesin and Simon have already had a run-in over cultural differences: Simon decided that Elesin's son was so promising that he should go to medical school in England, which did not make Elesin happy.
Quote #5
Olunde. Haven't replied to his last letter come to think of it. The old pagan wanted him to stay and carry on some family tradition or the other. Honestly I couldn't understand the fuss he made. I literally had to help the boy escape from close confinement and load him onto the next boat. A most intelligent boy, really bright. (2.77)
Simon seems to have a lot of respect for Olunde… but not so much for the "some family tradition or the other" that made Elesin so upset to lose his oldest son. Do you think Simon only respects Olunde, deep down, for his cultural betrayal?
Quote #6
Who will stop it? Tonight our husband and father will prove himself greater than the laws of strangers. (3.23)
One of the women in the market is basically telling Amusa off for coming to intervene in their preparations for Elesin's suicide, refusing to accept that foreigners or "strangers" can stop their customs. You go, girl.