With his foolish wisdom and the love that cannot pay bride price, he becomes a rival to the lion, baroka who gathers women to marry as if they were a collection. The lion and the jewel is characterized by culture conflict, ribald comedy and love. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important quotes, essay topics, and key themes like tradition vs. The lion and the jewel is a play by nigerian writer wole soyinka that was first performed in 1959. Modernity appears in each scene of the lion and the jewel. Lakunle is a britisheducated schoolteacher who longs to leave nigerian tradition behind and encourage his village to embrace modernity. Even then, in order to enhance my own understanding, i have attempted differentiation between modernity and tradition in the following six contexts. Kronenefeld writes, the comedy clearly operates in terms of the characters adjusting ideology tradition or modern, or selecting convenient aspect of it. Award and the nobel prize for literature 1986, chiefly on the strength of his novel, the. Such conflicts lie at the heart of the lion and the jewel, a sly and subversive comedy by nobel prizewinning author wole soyinka.
Nigerian culture in this play the lion and the jewel. Why was there a rivalry between baroka and lakunle throughout the book. Tradition and modernity in postcolonial african philosophy. As such, one of the primary conflicts of the play pits traditional yoruba customs against a western conception of progress and modernity, as represented by the conflict between baroka and lakunle for sidi s. The performing arts department continues this deceptively lighthearted carnival of dance and song as its spring mainstage production this weekend, april 2527. Pdf cultural catastrophe in the lion and the jewel researchgate. Can you compare lakunles character with the bale in the. Philosophical reflections on the african experience, is a brilliant new contribution to postcolonial theory and will be of deep interest to scholars of political and moral philosophy, cultural studies, and african philosophy and politics, and to anyone else concerned with the efforts of nonwestern. So many discussions have been made regarding the conflict between tradition and modernity in this play wherein tradition wins over modernity through the final action of sidi. What is the conflict between tradition and modernity in wole. Born in abeokuta, ogun state of nigeria, soyinka was educated at the university college, ibadan, and at the university of london and leeds university in england, where he moved in 1954.
The present article is an attempt at probing the language used by male and female characters in soyinkas the lion and the jewel to see how gender issues are grounded in the play to let it play its didactic role. In the play, the lion and the jewel, modernity vs tradition is a focal theme. The lion and the jewel, though a deft comedy which provides excellent theatre to the audience. Baroka sticks to custom however much as could reasonably be expected. May 02, 2015 it was here that he wrote the lion and the jewel, which went on to become one of his most famous pieces. You can read online the lion and the jewel here in pdf, epub, mobi or docx formats. In wole soyinkas 20th century play the lion and the jewel, there is a constant battle between tradition and modernity as well as a postcolonial struggle seen both in a exhibited in the plays village of ilujinle. Hence, the conflict in the play concerns the traditions of village life vs. How the lion hunts the jewel is the theme of this ribald comedy. Unfortunately, he is faced by the gap between him and. Jun 22, 2017 in the lion and the jewel, soyinka combines his political ideas about colonization, cultures, and gender roles in to this vivid play.
Kronenefeld writes, the comedy clearly operates in terms of the characters adjusting ideology tradition or modern, or. It chronicles how baroka, the lion, fights with the modern lakunle over the right to marry sidi, the titular jewel. Read download the lion and the jewel pdf pdf download. No one in this play is highly modern or traditional in. 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. The balance of power in a view from the bridge and the lion and the jewel. 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. Get an answer for what is the conflict between tradition and modernity in wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel. Culture, tradition, western, gap, old, new, domination, modernity, bride price, marriage. Nov 16, 2012 tradition versus modernity in the serpents tooth catherine lim tradition is defined as the elements of a particular culture that are passed down from one generation to another either by word of mouth or demonstration, such as their beliefs, practices, and modes of thought. The lion and the jewel study guide contains a biography of wole soyinka. The conflict between tradition and modernity is the central thematic concern of the plays like the lion and the jewel, camwood on the leaves, the kongis harvest. He creates multiple conflicts between the very welldefined characters and over the course of the play the conflicts evolve into macrocosmic conflicts that readers and audiences alike can relate too.
It combines humour and romance with more serious themes of tradition versus progess and age versus youth. The main aim of this study is to evaluate soyinka s play. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Soyinkas views of modernity and tradition in the lion and. This is perhaps the most conspicuous theme in the play. Download pdf the lion and the jewel book full free. Prior to yogendra singh, the preceding sociologists such as d. A charming memoir of soyinkas first 11 years, the book offers insights into yoruba culture and its influence on his childhood. Westernized lakunle claims within a year or two, i swear, this town shall see a. What are the themes in the lion and the jewel answers. Sidi, a beautiful young woman also known as the jewel. Gender issues in the lion and the jewel by wole soyinka.
Amalgamation of tradition and modernity in wole soyinkas. A study of wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel in the. Essay about soyinkas views of modernity and tradition in the lion and the jewel a common postcolonial struggle shows itself in soyinkas the lion and the jewel between modernity and the traditional, seen both in a transparent manner as the western world clearly and gradually influences the plays village of ilujinle as well as a deeper way between two of its central characters. He argues that the indian society also contains traditions of islam and tribals. Since then i have both studied and taught this play as a drama text and it has been excellent in both cases. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka africa book club. As such, one of the primary conflicts of the play pits traditional yoruba customs against a western conception of progress and modernity, as represented by the. Cultural conflict in wole soyinkas play the lion and the.
Nigeria in the 1950s, is between indigenous tribal tradition and western modernity. In the case of lakunle in the lion and the jewel, he is a school teacher in his village and tries hard to change it to the modern ways of life. The whole doc is available only for registered users open doc. One significant change that has occurred in the world between 1900 and 2005.
Soyinkas views of modernity and tradition in the lion and the jewel. The play is set in the village of ilunjinle, nigeria. Cultural conflict in wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The lion and the jewel available for download and read online in other formats.
In tradition, society was considered more important than an individual. It has been accepted for inclusion in xulanexus by an authorized editor of xula digital commons. Soyinka tries to bring out the conflict between the tradition and the western culture. Get an answer for in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel, how does baroka symbolize the beauty and stability of african culture and values. Introduction the intent of this study is to analyze wole soyinka. Throughout this play there is a constant battle between tradition and modernity as well as a postcolonial struggle seen both in a exhibited in the plays village of ilujinle. Apr 16, 2008 photo by david kilpermen versus women, modern versus traditional, culture versus colonization. Explain the impact this change has made on our lives and why it is an important change. The lion and the jewel 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. Wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel ashli watts follow this and additional works at. The lion and the jewel major character analysis freebooksummary. Wole soyinka brilliantly writes this play to both provoke discussion and serve as a pleasure reading book.
He published the play when nigeria was struggling for independence under british control. Sidi does not want to marry either lakunle or baroka, but baroka tricks. Summary of wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel 1617 words 7 pages. The lion and the jewel is a satirical comedy with music, songs, and dance. The lion and the jewel is a great work to read for its content as well as its ability to entertain its reader. 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. Pdf the lion and the jewel download full pdf book download. The play deals with the conflict between traditional ways and modernization. Stressing the variations in meaning of modernity and tradition, this work shows how in india traditional structures and norms have been adapted or transformed to serve the needs of a modernizing society.
This article is brought to you for free and open access by xula digital commons. Overall, however, soyinkas attitude on the matter of modernity vs. Sidis choice of baroka and the victory of traditional. Modernity themetracker the themetracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of tradition vs. The lion and the jewel summary and study guide supersummary. Its major themes constitute of the notion of progress in an african setting, tradition, synchronism, love and marriage, and the conflict between traditional nigerian yoruba values and the western influence of nigerias colonizers. The lion and the jewel essays are academic essays for citation. This nigerian writer, who won the nobel prize for literature in 1986. The concept of post colonialism is clearly depicted in the character of baroka, whose character represents the attitude of a lion. This is one of the bestknown plays by africas major dramatist, wole soyinka. Baroka is the lion, and is the bale of the village. The lion and the jewel study guide by cristianmgarcia includes 18 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. The lion and the jewel has been a part of my study experience since 1994, when i bought my first copy. Read online the lion and the jewel and download the lion and the jewel book full in pdf formats.
Yogendra singh has defined indian society and its traditions with reference to hierarchy, holism, transmigration or continuity and transcendence. The lion and the jewel is a nigerian play that was written in 1959. In wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel there is a c constant confrontation between tradition and modernity. 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. Tradition and modernity both are opposite from each other. Celebrating brilliance, originality and spirit in the early works of some of the worlds great playwrights and theatre artists. It was published in 1963 by oxford university press. Wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel ashli watts, chemistry faculty mentor. Modernity a persons thoughts about the world soyinka presented nigeria as a country in tradition, attempting to mold itself out of variety of tribal cultures and a turbulent europe colonization. University of lousians undergraduate research journal. Charles baudelaire one of the major themes that continually emerges throughout this course regardless of the ethnicity, race or socioeconomic background of the author is the tugofwar battle between modernity.
However, as the play progresses soyinka defies the audiences assumptions. Learn everything you need to know about sidi, baroka, and more in the lion and the jewel. Download book the lion and the jewel in pdf format. It was here that he wrote the lion and the jewel, which went on to become one of his most famous pieces. The play the lion and the jewel evolves a subject almost classical in its worth with the juxtaposition of the values that forms a required dramatic confrontation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the lion and the jewel by wole soyinka. Download pdf the lion and the jewel free usakochan pdf. 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. The lion and the jewel by wole soyinka, 1963 online. In wole soyinka in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. Modernity the lion and the jewel was written and first performed the year before nigeria was granted its independence from great britain, and the script was published two years after independence. His the lion and the jewel explores the value of traditional yoruba ways and. For our purposes, the details of tempelss account are. The main characters are sidi the jewel, a true village belle and baroka the lion, the crafty and powerful bale of the village.
The book shows the importance of wrestling with issues of global aftermaths of slavery, audience. Apr 06, 2011 modernity is the transient, the fleeting, the contingent. The lion and the jewel 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, clashes with the new culture led by lakunle, who is educated, a school teacher by profession, is. The first ever book i am reading by wole soyinka, the lion and the jewel is. The aim is to pinpoint the way female and male are represented through a lexicogramatical analysis with a special focus on its. Wole soyinka has been recognized as one of the most talented of twentieth century writers. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the lion and the jewel, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Oct 10, 2014 even then dissimilarity of views makes a dialoguediscussion difficult. For my final paper i chose the works of wole soyinka and his play the lion and the jewel. The lion and the jewel questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the lion and the jewel. Pdf the lion and the jewel the lion and the jewel cypriel. The first ever book i am reading by wole soyinka, the lion and the jewel is rather interesting and comfortable at the same time. A study of wole soyinkas play the lion and the jewel in.
In addition, education standard creates a gap of conflict between generations. Photo by david kilpermen versus women, modern versus traditional, culture versus colonization. In the lion and the jewel, soyinka combines his political ideas about colonization, cultures, and gender roles in to this vivid play. Complete list of characters in wole soyinkas the lion and the jewel. This 28page guide for the lion and the jewel by wole soyinka includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
The lion and the jewel was written and first performed the year before nigeria was granted its independence from great britain, and the script was published two years after independence. Its a great example of the uniqueness of african drama and serves as a commentary on the tradition vs. A common postcolonial struggle shows itself in soyinkas the lion and the jewel between modernity and the traditional, seen both in a transparent manner as the western world clearly and gradually influences the plays village of ilujinle as well as a deeper way between two of its central characterslakunle representing modernity while baroka represents tradition. The lion and the jewel, though a deft comedy which provides excellent theatre to the audience, it draws heavily on the theme of colonial conflict. It initially seems like soyinka is setting a clear dichotomy between these two things, tradition embodied by baroka and modernity embodied by lakunle. Modernity and tradition are compared in the pantomime dances. 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. Lakunle detests the old traditions, similar to ladies doing hard errands he takes sidis water bucket off her head, wearing conventional dress he mocks sidi for her noteworthy clothing, and requesting a lady of the hour.
Sidis choice of baroka and the victory of traditional values. The play, the lion and the jewel is set in the village of ilunjuinle in yoruba west africa. Soyinkas views of modernity and tradition in the lion. Baroka is the parcel the chieftain of the town, and is the lion alluded to in the plays title. Debate on tradition and modernity in india your article library.