Justify the Title of the Drama “The Lion and The Jewel”

Answer

Consider the correctness of the title of the drama The Lion and the Jewel by W. Soyinka.

Or Justify the title of the drama The Lion and The Jewel. 

The title of Wole Soyinka’s (1934-present) drama, “The Lion and the Jewel” (1959), is very fitting. The ‘Lion’ refers to Baroka, the cunning and powerful village chief, while the ‘Jewel’ refers to Sidi, the beautiful village belle. The play tells the story of how Baroka fights with the modern schoolteacher Lakunle over the right to marry Sidi. Baroka’s character is like a lion—wild and powerful. Sidi is the jewel of the village—rare, valuable, and admired. The title also suggests the play’s themes of power, deception, and the relationship between tradition and modernity.

The Lion: Baroka: Baroka, the Bale (chief) of Ilujinle, is referred to as the ‘Lion’ because he is strong, wise, and cunning, like the king of the jungle. He is a symbol of tradition. He represents the older generation in the village. Baroka sees it as his duty to preserve the customs, such as polygamy and the bride-price. Polygamy is Baroka’s way of maintaining traditional customs. Baroka marries a new wife every few months. He says:

“It is five full months since last

I took a wife.”

Despite his age, Baroka is still active and proud of his masculinity. Baroka’s cleverness is like that of a lion hunting its prey. In the play, he pretends to be impotent and uses this lie to trick Sidi. When Sidi comes to his house to mock his manhood, he rapes her. Ultimately, he gets her as his wife. The title highlights Baroka’s dominant role in the play. The title also suggests Baroka’s ability to outsmart others, especially Lakunle, the modern-thinking schoolteacher.

The Jewel: Sidi: Sidi, the ‘Jewel,’ represents beauty, youth, and vitality. She is the pride of the village. Her stunning appearance makes her the center of attention. The title refers to her as a ‘jewel’ because jewels are rare, valuable, and admired, just like Sidi is admired