Discuss the major themes of Wole Soyinka’s play “The Lion and the Jewel”.

Answer

Discuss the major themes of Wole Soyinka’s play “The Lion and the Jewel”.

1986 Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s (1934-present) play “The Lion and the Jewel” (1959) is set in the Nigerian village of Ilujinle. The play tells the story of how Baroka, the cunning village chief, fights with the modern schoolteacher Lakunle over the right to marry Sidi. Through their interactions, Soyinka explores themes like the clash between tradition and modernization, gender roles, marriage, pride, and trickery. We will discuss the major themes below.

Tradition versus Modernization: The central conflict in the play is the struggle between traditional African values and Western modernization. Baroka, the Bale (chief) of Ilujinle, represents cultural tradition. He values the old ways of life. He sees the village as a place where these traditions must be preserved. Lakunle, on the other hand, is the village schoolteacher and a symbol of modernization. He admires European ways of living, including technology, Western marriage customs, and gender equality.

Lakunle refuses to pay Sidi’s bride-price because he considers it an outdated and barbaric tradition. He values modern thinking over tradition. Lakunle thinks paying bride-price for a wife is like buying a cow from the village market:

“To pay the price would be

To buy a heifer off the market stall.”

Lakunle wants a modern marriage where he and his wife are equals. He wants Sidi to be a modern wife, as he says:

“Be a modern wife, look me in the eye

And give me a little kiss.”

Baroka, however, views Sidi as a prize to add to his harem of wives. 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.”

In the end, Baroka tricks Sidi and rapes her. Sidi chooses Baroka over Lakunle. This fact suggests that tradition still holds strong in the village. However, Soyinka suggests