The Lion and the Jewel : Characters
The Lion and the Jewel is a notable literary work by Wole Soyinka. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Lion and the Jewel.
Characters
Main Characters
Sidi: Sidi is the beautiful young woman of the village. Everyone admires her looks. Both Baroka and Lakunle want to marry her. She represents the fight between old traditions and new, modern ideas.
Baroka: Baroka is the clever and charming chief of the village. He uses his smart thinking to get what he wants. He wants to marry Sidi. He wants this both for love and to keep his power in the village. He shows how leaders control others in traditional society.
Lakunle: Lakunle is the village schoolteacher. He believes in modern ideas like progress, education, and women’s rights. But his views often clash with the old ways of the village. He also wants to marry Sidi. However, he refuses to pay the bride price because he thinks it is an old-fashioned custom.
Sadiku: Sadiku is Baroka’s oldest wife. She is respected in the village. She often acts as a messenger between characters. She stays loyal to Baroka. She also helps move the story forward by sharing secrets and news.
Minor Characters
The Wrestler: Baroka hires the wrestler to wrestle with him and help him stay strong.
The Favorite: She is Baroka’s current favorite wife.
The Stranger: The stranger is a photographer from Lagos. Although he never appears on stage, his photographs of Sidi make her even more famous in the village.