Who or what is being satirized in Wole Soyinka’s play “The Lion and the Jewel”?
Wole Soyinka’s (1934-present) play “The Lion and the Jewel” (1959) satirizes different ideas and foolishness of the people of the African rural area. Here, he portrays the real picture of contemporary African society.
Modernization without Sense: One thing Soyinka satirizes is modernization without understanding. Lakunle, the schoolteacher, wants to make everything modern like in Europe. He does not like traditional customs like the bride price and village life. He dreams of a future with cars, tall buildings, and modern clothes. In reality, he does not truly understand modernization. He does not respect women. He calls Sidi “an illiterate goat”. In the village, he wants to kiss Sidi like a Western man. Soyinka shows that Lakunle does not really understand modernization. He just wants to copy Western ideas without thinking about what is best for his people.
Corrupt Traditio
n:
Soyinka also satirizes traditional leaders like Baroka. Baroka uses traditional village customs to his own benefit. He pays the bride price and marries many wives. He is cunning and a trickster. He stops a railway from being built because he wants to keep his power. But later, he talks about his own stamp machine to prove his wisdom and power.
Vanity: The playwright satirizes vanity. In the play, Sidi is vain. She feels very special when her photograph is published in a magazine. She is proud of her beauty. She thinks herself more important than anyone else in the village. Sidi says:
“I am greater than ... the living god among men.”
Sidi’s sense of pride blinds her to Baroka’s trickery—who rapes her to get her as his wife.
Attitude to Women: Soyinka satirizes how women are treated. Both Lakunle and Baroka try to get Sidi as a prize. Lakunle forces her to be a “modern wife” and wants to marry her without paying the bride price. Baroka wants to add her to his harem of wives. Both men treat Sidi like property. This shows women like Sidi have little choice of their own.
In short, Soyinka satirizes nonsense modernization and corrupt tradition in his play “The Lion and the Jewel”. He also shows how men treat women in a male-dominated society. He also mocks false pride.
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