Written by africas well known dramatist, wole soyinka, the play the lion and the jewel has its setting in the village of ilunjunle in yoruba west africa. Introduction of the characters, setting, and the basic conflict. Lakunle the teacher as a lion does in the forest as the king of the jungle. The character of sidi in the lion and the jewel from.
Lakunle is portrayed as the civilized antithesis of baroka and unilaterally attempts to modernize his community and change its social conventions for no reason other than the fact. As opposed to sex which refers to biological characteristics, gender is culture based. Click to enlarge the lion and the jewel is a comedy set in the small remote village of ilujinle. He is portrayed by soyinka as clumsy in both actions and words, throwing together phrases from the bible and other western works in hope of sounding intelligent. A young girl flaunts her dancing buttocks at lakunle and he rises to the bait. This study guide consists of approximately 31 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis. The lion and the jewel symbols, allegory and motifs. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka analysis by samson. The lion and the jewel characters from litcharts the creators of. Lakunle is a case of a town occupant who wants change. Print buy and download the lion and the jewel study guide.
Each character has different thoughts about one another and each views the society in a different way. With western civilization influence advancing into soyinkas nigeria the vvillage school teacher, lakunle has become fonder of the modern way of life and wants the vaillage of ilunjile to. The lion and the jewel essays are academic essays for citation. Upon all the contributions of women in the development of the nation n igeria as mentioned before, they are denied socioeconomic and political opportunities.
The the lion and the jewel quotes below are all either spoken by sadiku or refer to sadiku. The character of lakunle in the lion and the jewel from litcharts. She is young and beautiful, and is known as the village belle. The jewel is sidi, the most beautiful girl in the village, whom many men long to obtain as their own. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the lion and the jewel by wole soyinka. The first african writer to win the nobel prize for literature 1986, wole soyinka, a yoruba from western nigeria, is a distinguished playwright, poet, novelist, essayist, social critic, political activist, and literary scholar.
The play the lion and the jewel represents a dialogue with the european tradition of comedy and of plays about impotence from terence. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka, 1963 online. What is a character sketch of sidi from the play the lion and the. Characters map for wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka essay 1209 words cram. Soyinkas the lion and the jewel is, without a doubt, a funny and magical piece of work. The the lion and the jewel quotes below are all either spoken by lakunle or refer to lakunle. Therefore, extracts are rendered at the beginning of each focal point of the analysis. What is an analysis of the character lakunle in wole. He deeply admires western culture and seeks to emulate, often to comically inadequate effect he is portrayed by soyinka as clumsy in both actions and words, throwing together phrases trom the bible and other western works in hope of sounding intelligent, he is in love with sidi, but has not married her because she demands that he pay. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Lakunle,an eager but naive schoolteacher who accepts western ideas and modernity without really understanding them. If the lion and the jewel is meant to be read as a fable about colonization, baroka represents traditional village culture, and lakunle represents colonial culture.
Lakunle is portrayed as the civilized antithesis of baroka and unilaterally attempts to modernize his community and change its. Lakunle is a schoolteacher of the village who is a young man of twentythree years who is bent on bestowing western culture onto the people of ilujinle. He deeply admires western culture and seeks to emulate, often to comically inadequate effect. The lion and the jewel study guide by cristianmgarcia includes 18 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. What is the role of lakunle in the lion and the jewel. The battle between lakunle and baroka for sidis hand in marriage is the main plot of the play and reveals a confrontation between their two ways of life. It was published in 1963 by oxford university press. Lakunle is one of the main characters of the play the lion and the jewel, written by nigerian playwright wole soyinka. The lion and the jewel exam tips and literary devices comedy. The play is characterized by culture conflict, ribald comedy and love, where the old culture represented by the uneducated people in ilunjunle, led by baroka, sidi and the rest.
Observations the lion and the jewel fighting with words. Complete summary of wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. He has received the garments of westerners and their standards for innovation. The performing arts department continues this deceptively lighthearted carnival of dance and song as its spring mainstage production this weekend, april 2527. Print word pdf take our free the lion and the jewel quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that. The two are met by sadiku, an elderly woman who is the bales first wife and in charge of his female household. Wole soyinkas lion and the jewel acted out by students of wcc, chennai, 2012. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. In spite of the fact that he begs sidi not to work like a customary lady, lakunle still harbors the idea that ladies are the more fragile sex. A beautiful yet somewhat egotistical village girl who is wooed by both baroka and lakunle. Nigerian culture in this play the lion and the jewel. Lakunle suffers from the traditional society and at the same time has inner conflict because at the end of the play, he embraces the thought that since sidi is not a virgin, therefore, he cannot.
It is important that you choose one that meets your budget. This essay introduces and describes each character and analyses their role in the play. The brideprice is a traditional african custom of marriage. Baroka and lakunle are soyinkas male characters in his famous and popular play the lion and the jewel. In the lion and the jewel, there is a challenge from lakunle for rapid change and ambition but the other one baroka with his danger manage to dominate. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including the lion and the jewel. Sidi sidi is the jewel referred to in the plays title. The status of women in the lion and the jewel the lion and the jewel 1 963 is a play written by wole soyinka, and it is the main stream of this paper. It chronicles how baroka, the lion, fights with the modern lakunle over the right to marry sidi, the titular jewel. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka 1207 words 123. The term gender is relatively new in such disciplines as sociology, anthropology, political science, sociolinguistics, let alone with literary linguistics. Celebrating brilliance, originality and spirit in the early works of some of the worlds great playwrights and theatre artists. Learn the roles and relationships of the characters in the lion and the jewel, and how they contribute to the plot. Lakunle is obsessed with sidi and attempts to marry her but does not.
He is replaced by two of his pupils, aged roughly eleven, who make a buzzing noise at sidi, repeatedly clapping their hands across the mouth. After baroka rapes sidi, lakunle tries to step up and marry her anyway, but hes actually exploiting sidis tragedy to try to avoid the brideprice. Lakunle lakunle is the schoolteacher of the village. The concept of post colonialism is clearly depicted in the character of baroka, whose character represents the attitude of a lion. Postcolonial literature often deals with themes of hybridity and otherness as decolonized people struggle to identify their culture. Along with sadiku she hopes to trick baroka, whom she also dislikes and. What is an analysis of the character lakunle in wole soyinka.
The aim is to have a critical look at the character s idiolect viz the way language is used by male and female characters through a lexicogrammatical transitivity patterns analysis in order to pinpoint in one way or another the ideological positioning of soyinka towards gender issues, at least, as it is construed in the lion and the jewel. The terms lion and jewel of the title refer to the two main characters. The the lion and the jewel quotes below are all either spoken by baroka or refer to baroka. Like the title suggests, the lion and the jewel is symbolic. The character of lakunle in the lion and the jewel from. A study of wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel in. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does.
The main characters are sidi the jewel, a true village belle and baroka the lion, the crafty and powerful bale of the village. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka analysis by samson mwita the lion and the jewel. The jewel in the play the lion and the jewel refers to the character sidi. He is young, arrogant and modern, having been educated in the west.
In the play the lion and the jewel the theme women in society is observed. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka the three main characters in the lion and the jewel are called sidi, lakunle and baroka the bale. Her choices are lakunle, a schoolteacher, and baroka, the bale of the village, meaning its senior authority figure. Get an answer for describe the dramatic roles of sidi, baroka, and lakunle in the play the lion and the jewel. The main characters in the lion and the jewel are as follows. The lion and the jewel study guide contains a biography of wole soyinka, literature. Introduction in the play the lion and the jewel we can see the ignorant atmosphere of the people in the village of ilujinle in such village we can saw a cunning woman sidi who wanted to attract many men but wanted a husband of royal status who would pay a brideprice for her let as see about it and getting a cunning response for sidis cunning wish. The main characters are sidi the jewel, a true village belle and baroka the lion, the crafty and powerful bale of the village, lakunle, the young teacher, influenced by western ways, and sadiku, the eldest of barokas wives. Sidi represents an aspect of tradition in the play.
The idea of the spectacle is an important one in the lion and the jewel a examine a spectacle that both sidi and sadiku create b discuss the theme that is highlighted by sadikus spectacle 3. The balance of power in a view from the bridge and the lion and the jewel. Laban erapu writes he condemns brideprice in so many words that we realize he is pleased it gives him a chance to show off his store of words, in notes on wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. The lion and the jewel major character analysis freebooksummary. What are the similarities between lakunle and baroka. Lakunle, the young teacher, influenced by western ways, and sadiku, the eldest of barokas wives. A study of wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel in the. Test 2 the lion and the jewel name anglican cathedral. Overview context characters summary act summaries morning. How the lion hunts the jewel is the theme of this ribald comedy.
Detailed analysis of characters in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. As for lakunle, he ca lls the system of brideprice a s a. The lion and the jewel characters from litcharts the. This study guide consists of approximately 31 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the lion and the jewel. Apr 16, 2008 photo by david kilpermen versus women, modern versus traditional, culture versus colonization. Get an answer for what is an analysis of the character lakunle in wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel. Using the information from the adopt a character sheet, write a detailed character sketch of your adopted character. The play starts with lakunle pouring out his heart to sidi but she does not want to pay attention. Sidi, the beauty of the village, expects lakunle to pay more brideprice for her beauty and virginity. Pdf gender issues in the lion and the jewel by wole. Full text of gender issues in the lion and the jewel by wole. Lakunle now reappears below the window and makes for sidi, stopping only to give the boys admonitory whacks on the head before they can duck. The main aim of this study is to evaluate soyinka s play. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts.
Such conflicts lie at the heart of the lion and the jewel, a sly and subversive comedy by nobel prizewinning author wole soyinka. Lakunles supposed platonic love for sidi is no match for the bales cunning and experience, and lakunle. If only lakunle can pay dowry then she would marry him. Though, the title of the play captures only baroka the lion who is the baale chief of. Lakunle is a britisheducated schoolteacher who longs to leave nigerian tradition behind and encourage his village to embrace modernity.
The happy scene of the market at the end shows the cyclical nature of life, as no one cares about barokas crime and lakunle finds a new girl to pursue. This is one of the bestknown plays by africas major dramatist, wole soyinka. A powerful blend of satire, songs and dances in wole soyinka. Learn everything you need to know about sidi, baroka, and more in the lion and the jewel. Baroka, the sly and powerful leader bale of the village. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka africa book club. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka tells the story of sidi, a young woman living in an isolated nigerian village in the 1960s, as she decides who to marry. He approaches her and chastises her for carrying her water on her head and stunting her shoulders. But lakunle, who has european sensibilities, is an iconoclast of the african traditional manner. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka wole soyinka. Free pdf download since i had no prior service, i had no choice presented. Baroka, the village chief, who sees modern ideas as a threat to his power.
Soyinka tries to bring out the conflict between the tradition and the western culture. The main characters are sidi the jewel, a true village belle and baroka the lion, the crafty and powerful bale of the village, lakunle, the young teacher, influenced pdf by western ways, and sadiku, the eldest of barokas wives. The play is set in the village of ilunjinle, nigeria. Complete list of characters in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. Bale baroka is the lion of ilunjinle, who is a chief and has. An example of ths can be seen between the two characters sidi and lakunle. Analysis and discussion of characters in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. May 02, 2015 lakunle repeatedly questions the tradition of the village and assumes superiority because of his western education. Sidi, a beautiful young woman also known as the jewel, carries her pail of water past the school where lakunle, the schoolteacher and a village outsider with modern ideas, works. Jun 14, 2015 the main characters in the lion and the jewel are as follows. The lion and the jewel, 8 according to the custom of africa, a girl marrying without the brideprice is a disgrace to the bride. The lion is baroka, the village chief who is considered wild and strong. Sidi is a beautiful young woman who is coveted and pursued by both lakunle and baroka during the play.
The the lion and the jewel quotes below are all either spoken by sidi or refer to sidi. The character of sadiku in the lion and the jewel from. Two characters experience tragedy throughout the play the lion and the jewel. Pdf a study of wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel in the. The lion and the jewel important quotes supersummary. What is an analysis of the character lakunle in wole soyinkas play the lion. Lakunle mourns the way that this railroad line would have brought ilujinle into current occasions, along these lines verifying it a spot in the dynamic world.
The plot of the play revolves around who sidi will choose to. Act two summary sidi is engrossed in the magazine containing her pictures, while lakunle carries a bundle of firewood for her. Lakunle is obsessed with sidi and attempts to marry her but does not want to pay the traditional brideprice. In the newly colonized village of illunjinle, its people follow in patrinoal and polytheistic custome where men are alowed many wives which are to be completely subservient to him. Sidi speaker, lakunle, baroka, sadiku, the stranger.
The lion and the jewel tells a funny story involving four main characters. She first appears carrying a pail of water on her head, a traditional womens task. Lakunle is a funny character, continually communicating in extravagant language and rehashing verbose language he has gotten in his investigations. The lion and the jewel is a play by nigerian writer wole soyinka that was first performed in 1959. It chronicles how baroka, the lion, fights with the modern lakunle over the. Lakunle in accepting colonial language adopts its frameworks for understanding people, and he uses it to align himself with the civilized world outside the village key passage 6 lakunle. The lion and the jewel major character analysis supersummary. A detailed description of the lion and the jewel characters and their.
In wole soyinka in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. Need help on characters in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. Explain the concept of the unities and discuss the ways in which the play conforms to this convention. He is the village schoolteacher and one of the suitors of sidi, the jewel. Describe the dramatic roles of sidi, baroka, and lakunle. Learn all about how the characters in the lion and the jewel such as sidi and baroka contribute to.
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