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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper discusses the play "Death and the King's Horseman" by Wole Soyinka. The play is set in Nigeria during WWII, but the playwright argues that it is not to be seen as a statement about colonialism. This paper discusses the story, and Soyinka's assertion. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVSoynka.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
summarizes the play and then considers Soyinkas statement. Discussion - The Play The play, in its depiction of native beliefs in contrast to white thinking, invariably reminds a viewer/reader of
other African literature, specifically Chinua Achebes Things fall apart. Here, however, the culture Soyinka explores is Yoruba, not Igbo, and the difference between them should serve as a lesson to
anyone who tends to lump all African tribes and countries into one category labeled "natives." The "celebration" of death portrayed in the play is more reminiscent of ancient Egypt than
of the strange spirits of Okonkwos village. In Soyinkas work, positions are handed down from one generation to the next. That is, the Kings Horseman in the play is
the son of the former Horseman; the "praise-singer" is the son of the former "praise-singer" and so on (Hastings, 2003). The protagonist of the play is the Kings Horseman, Elesin,
and the action of the play centers on the tradition he is supposed to obey: the king has died, and Elesin is supposed to commit suicide the night preceding the
kings funeral, so that he can accompany the king on his journey into death (Scott, 2006). However, the idea of this ritual killing deeply offends the District Officer and his
wife, Britons named Simon and Jane Parkinson (Scott, 2006). Things are further complicated by the fact that the Parkinsons have been educating Olunde, Elesins son, and trying to help
him achieve his aim of becoming a doctor (Scott, 2006). But in helping him with his education they have also passed along some of their beliefs, which put Olunde at
odds with his father. And of course, when they hear that Elesin is going to commit ritual suicide, they are horrified; this confirms in their minds the belief that the
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