Wole Soyinka examines several themes throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. He explores the themes of modernity versus tradition. Lakunle favors Western civilization and wishes that his village of Ilujinle would embrace modernity. In contrast, Baroka represents traditional Yoruba culture and thwarts continued efforts to modernize his village. Soyinka also examines the concepts of masculinity and femininitythroughout the play. Sidi, the village jewel, is desired only for her beauty. In...
Wole Soyinka examines several themes throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. He explores the themes of modernity versus tradition. Lakunle favors Western civilization and wishes that his village of Ilujinle would embrace modernity. In contrast, Baroka represents traditional Yoruba culture and thwarts continued efforts to modernize his village. Soyinka also examines the concepts of masculinity and femininity throughout the play. Sidi, the village jewel, is desired only for her beauty. In traditional Yoruba culture, women are essentially possessions and are bought with the payment of the bride-price. In traditional Yoruba culture, strength, vitality, and sexual prowess are revered, and Baroka is ridiculed for his assumed impotence. Once Baroka is said to be impotent, he loses respect throughout the village. Soyinka also explores the theme of power. Once Sidi becomes famous from her published images in a foreign magazine, she becomes conceited and wishes to be revered above the Bale. The Bale also cherishes power and fears becoming old and irrelevant.
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