The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka - Summary & Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The play takes place over the course of a single day and is divided into three scenes: Morning, Noon, and Night. On Sunday morning, Sidi walks past Lakunle’s schoolhouse with a pail of water balanced on her head, and he interrupts his lesson to talk to her. Lakunle admonishes her for her traditional behavior and dress while also asserting his belief that men are superior to women in matters of intelligence.
THE PLAY ANALYSIS
MORNING
The setting of the events is at the edge of the market at the village center near the bush school.
Sidi is seen with a pail of water, she passes near the school. Lakunle stops teaching and goes to her. This scene shows how Sidi and Lakunle love each other because when Lakunle rembers Sidi about his request of marrying her, she shows that she is ready to marry him any time but paying bride price should be fulfilled first.
“I’ve told you, and I say it again
I shall marry you today, next week
Or any day you name
But my bride-price must first be paid”. Says Sidi
To Lakunle as a modernist, he is not ready to pay the bride price because he sees it as buying a heifer of the market stall. While to Sidi, getting married without the bride price for a girl, the culture counts a such girl as a prostitute that is to say she has no virgin. She marries to hide her shame.
Therefore in this morning we see the big conflict between Lakunle and Sidi caused by the interpretation of the bride price in marriage.
Other things which Lakunle want to introduce in the society (Ilujinle village) includes the following:
- Eating by using knives and forks
- Using breakable plates
- Wearing high-healed shoes for ladies
- Attending night clubs
- Dancing the waltz
- Kissing couples to express deep love
“ I kissed you as all educated men and Christians – kiss their wives.
It is a way of civilized romance.” Says Lakunle (Page 9)
At the end of morning we see Baroka (the lion) enters in conflict with Lakunle after meeting him with Sidi and other village girls. Sidi and the girls influenced Lakunle to dance with them celebrating on the images brought by the stranger. Seeing this Baroka accused Lakunle for he says Lakunle is trying to steal the village girls.
“You tried to steal our village maidenhead” Baroka tells Lakunle (page 17)
Then the Lion announces to start hunting the Jewel.
“Yes, yes…..it is five full months since last I took a wife …….five full months……”
NOON
The scene is set at the road by the market, Lakunle and Sidi are seen. Lakunle is carrying a bundle of firewood which Sidi is sent out to obtain.
Sadiku (Baroka’s eldest wife) meets them. She comes with the message from the Chief. The message is for Sidi that Baroka wants to marry her.
“I bring the message from my Lord “says Sadiku. “ Baroka wants you for a wife” she adds (Page 19). Sidi rejects this for she is now aware about so many things. She claims that Lakunle has taught her about her rights. She disagrees Baroka for she says he is older than her.
“Compare my image and your lord’s-
An age of difference!” Sidi tell Sadiku.
“Tell your lord that Sidi does not sup with married men” she adds. (Page 23)
Sadiku as a traditionist does not believe this because it is unnormal and never happened before for a girl to reject Chief’s offer of a supper or marriage. When sends the answer to Baroka, he also does not believe it that Sidi has rejected him.
“She says …that I am old
That I am much too old? Did a slight?
Unripened girl say this of me?” The chief wonders.
Then we see Baroka at his great trick. He tells Sadiku that he has lost his manhood (he is impotent). He claims that it is a week now since this state happened. So he needed Sidi thinking that his manhood would reactivate after seeing a beautiful and young girl like Sidi.
“No more. I am no man , Sadiku. My manhood
Ended near a week ago.” Baroka says
“I wanted Sidi because I still hoped –
A foolish thought I know, but still - I hoped
That, with a virgin young and hot within,
My failing strength would rise and save my pride”
He adds.
The Chief Baroka warns Sadiku that he has told no one of his wives except her who is his eldest and faithful wife. So, Sadiku is warned not to parade his shame before the World.
It is in this section we get to know Baroka’s backgournd that Okiki was his father and died at 67 leaving female twins. And baroka himself has 62 years. Then he falls a sleep.
NIGHT
At the village center. Sidi is standing by the schoolroom window staring at her photos as usual. Sadiku comes with the carved figure of Baroka and mocks at it in laughter near Sidi.
Sadiku begins to dance rounding the tree, chanting;
“Take warning, my masters
We’ll scotch you in the end.” She sings repeating more than once. (Page 34)
The woman celebrates Baroka’s impotence, this teaches us that perhaps all days she has been living in her marriage she is not happy. This is because it is unnormal for a wife to celebrate her husband’s problem (sickness). Sadiku calls this as a victory not to herself alone but to all women in Ilujinle and the World at large.
After the celebrations, Sidi comes with an idea of going to the place for the aim of going to mock, jeer and torment the devil (Baroka). Sadiku supports the idea and says;
“Goad him my child; torment him until he weeps for shame” (page 35)
No body of the two women is aware that Baroka has just made a trick to get Sidi. Though Lakunle warns Sidi not to go to the palace but Sidi runs and disappears.
“Ta-raa school teacher. Wait here for me” (Page 35)
Then we see Sidi and Baroka at the palace. After a long talk, Sidi trying to investigate the truth of Baroka’s claim to be impotent. Sidi ends up having sexual intercourse with the lion and it is disclosed that it was just a trick ………………………………………..for the lion to get Sidi (The Jewel) sidi comes back. she throws herself on the ground. she beats herself on the ground. she tells sadiku and Lakunle that Baroka lied about his impotence.
“fool. You little fools! It was a lie.
The frog. The cunning frog!
He lied to you Sadiku” says Sidi.
Since Sidi is no longer a virgi, she is preparing herself to marry Baroka to fulfill the cultural needs. Though Lakunle shows that he is ready to break the culture that no man is supposed to marry a woman who is not virgin otherwise he must be the one destroyed her virginity. Sidi is an upholder of her culture and she knows now that Baroka is her real husband now as he is the on who has destroyed her virginity.
“ Did you really think that you and I .............................
Why, did you think that after him.
I could endure the touch of onother man?” Sidi tells Lakunle (Page 63)
FORM AND CONTENT
A: FORM
1. The title
The title of this play is called “The lion and the jewel” this title is symbolic as it represents the oppressive nature of the leadership. Here the lion represents the male domination in the society represented by the chief Baroka.
Baroka is very fond of using his power to oppress women, for example;
- Baroka marries as many wives as he can
- As the chief, he has an offer of having supper with a new virgin girl every day.
- After having a supper he must at the end have sexual intercourse with a such girl
- Worse enough, it is his will to marry or leave a such girl as a concubine
This behavior of Baroka is what made Wole Soyinka to compare him with the animal called the lion. The animal which keeps on feeding on other animals cruelly.
The word Jewel is used to represent women who are the victims of men’s oppression. Sidi – the beautiful village girl is the one referred to the jewel. Because of deep rooted cultural practices (unhealth cultural practices). She ends up having sexual intercourse with the lion without her will. Due to the culture of the village, Sidi is forced to marry the chief Baroka. So, despite her valuable attributes and awareness she has some causes by Lakunle, she ends up being eaten by the lion- the powerful and strong chief Baroka.
Generally, we can say, the title reflects what is written in its content symbolically since we have the lion (Baroka-the chief) and the Jewel (Sidi-the beautiful and an innocent girl)
2. Setting
The play’s setting is Ilujinle village- Yoruba (Nigeria) during the time of western education penetration.
3. Plot
The plot used by the playwright is straight forward. The events are arranged in three sections. Morning, noon and night. There is direct connection between the events happening in morning, noon and night.
4. Style.
The playwright has used the following as his style;
- The use of lines (verses)/ use of poetic style
- The use of straight and flashback narration (style)
- The use of symbolism
- The use of dialogues
- The use of point of view
- Use of songs.
5. CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATION
BAROKA.
- He is the Chief of Ilujinle and the husband of Sadiku.
- The son of the late Chief Okiki who died at 67
- He is the one refers to the lion
- He enjoys his people’s ignorance (he dislike modernity in his village)
- He does not respect women and uses them for leisure.
Eg. As a chief he has an offer of having a girl at every supper and does sexual intercourse at the end.
- He is an oppressor/exploiter and discriminator of women
NOTE: He is used by the writer to show people who use their power/leadership to humiliate/discriminate the women/ weak people (citizens).
SADIKU
- She is Baroka’s eldest wife.
- As Baroka her husband, she lacks formal education.
- Before marrying Baroka, she was the last wife of Chief Okiki (Baroka’s father)
- She is among the discriminated women.
E.g. she is sent by Baroka to seduce Sidi for marriage (She is a go between)
- She is an upholder of Ilujinle culture as she believes on the power of bride price in marriage.
NOTE: She is used by the playwright that men sometimes use women to hinder the women emancipation (liberation) processes. It is this woman who leads Sidi (the Jewel) to fall in tha hands of the greedy Baroka (the lion).
SIDI
- This is the girl called the Jewel/Belle.
- She is the beautiful girl of the village.
- She lacks formal education like Baroka and Sadiku.
- She is proud of her Ilujinle culture.
Eg, She believes that bride price is very important to express love.
- Being at the age of her maturity, she enters in love with Lakunle.
- According to her, she can’t marry Lakunle without the bride price.
- She is taught by Lakunle about her rights to the extent of being capable of denying Baroka’s offer to have her.
- She is a victim of Baroka’s dictatorship system.
- At the end, she gets herself in Baroka’s hands for she fails to overcome Baroka’s efforts and tricks.
NOTE; she is used by the playwright to show that the struggle for women emancipation needs time.
LAKUNLE
- He is a bush school teacher.
- He is among the early few youths who have attended western education
- Because of his education, he is aware about all bad practices in the society.
Eg;
- Side effects of ignorance to people
-Side effects of polygam marriage like of Baroka
- Side effects of inheriting widows
-Side effects of Bride price in marriage etc.
- He is wishing to change the World upside down by starting with Ilujinle village.
- He is in love with Sidi who also loves him.
- Lakunle is a male feminist though his efforts fails
NOTE: The playwright uses Lakunle to show that it takes a long time for education to bring changes in the society.
LANGUAGE USE
The language used in this play is normal/clear. It is common to readers to understand what is written.
SYMBOLISM
There is the use of symbols (symbolism) in this play. The words lion an Jewel are used symbolically.
The lion: the literal meaning of the word refers to the carnivorous type of an animal. It is the rude and crue animal which feeds on other animals (herbivores)- animals which feed on plants. The lion in the play refers to the chief Baroka who shares the behavior with this type of an animal. Baroka oppresses women and he is a selfish leader who always think to enrich himself.
The Jewel: this refers to the precious stone or anything that is designed as an ornament. It is a valuable thing. Sidi in this play is the one refered to the Jewel. She is very beautiful, valuable and innocent village girl who ends up being the victim of Baroka’s regime. This shows how valuable people suffer in the rotten system.
FIGURES OF SPEECH
The following are the figures of speech used;
SIMILE
But you are as stubborn
As illiterate goat (Page 2)
- And you must chirrup like a cockatoo (page 7)
- My love will open your mind
Like the chaste leaf in the morning (page 6)
METAPHOR
- I am a twinkle of a Jewel (page 23)
- But he is the hind-quarter of a lion (page 23)
- Sadiku, my faithful lizard! (page 47)
- I am no man, Sadiku. My manhood
Ended near a week ago (page 29)
- The frog, the cunning frog! (page 59)
- Do you see what strength he has given me? (page 63)
- But you, at sixty, you’ll be ten years dead! (page 64)
- Wasted! Wasted! (page 6)
- Nonsense? Nonsense! (page 6)
- But Sidi did he……………(page 59)
- Charity, they say begins at home (page 5)
- A prophet has no honour except
In his own home. (Page 5)
- Wise men have been called mad (page 5)
- Shame belongs
Only to the ignorant (page 5)
- If the snail finds splinters in his shell
He changes house (page 6)
- If the tortoise cannot trumble
It does not mean that he can stand (page 42)
B. THE CONTENT
Under the content, the following are things to assess;
- Themes
- Conflicts and
- Messages
1. THEMES
WOMEN EMANCIPATION/ LIBERATION.
This appears to be the central theme in this play. The playwright shows that in Ilujinle village, women have no power to make their own decision on various matters affecting their welfare. Characters like Sadiku, Ailatu, Sidi and other girls taken daily for supper by Baroka represents the victims of male domination. Lakunle appears to be their saviour for he wishes to educate all women starting with Sidi about their rights in the society. So, Lakunle is a male feminist.
NOTE: feminism means the fight for women’s right.
BRIDE PRICE
According to Ilujinile society, no man can marry a woman without paying the bride price. This is the source of Sidi’s conflict against Lakunle. A well up brought girl is the one who her bride price is high, while to Lakunle, bride price makes men use their wives as they use all other properties (goods) they buy from the market. So, Lakunle want to educate the village and the world that it is possible for couples to marry each other without the bride price but he fails due to the deep routed culture among the individuals.
POLYGAMY
This is the state of a man marrying more than one wife. Baroka (the lion) is a polygamous. He has Sadiku as his head wife and Aitatu the last wife. There are other wives in between Sadiku and Ailatu and he stil marries others everyday at supper. Wole Soyinka as other African writers has shown us this culture from Ilujinle village, still we see also in our other African societies how men practice this culture. It is our challenge we the new generation to assess its importance to date.
LOVE
The playwright has shown the marital love between Lakunle and Sidi. The two love each other very much since they are the age mates. Sidi dares to reject Baroka’s request at noon for Lakunle’s love. Lakunle’s delay to pay the bride price makes Sidi end up of their love since Sidi is no longer virgin.
MISUSE OF POWER
To misuse power is when a leader uses his/her position to fulfill his/her needs.
In this play Baroka is a village chief. According to hear says of Ilujunle, once rejected the construction of roads and railway in his village fearing that when such things are brought, people would be aware and hinder his profits he gets from his power to get any beautiful girl of his choice in Ilujinle village. Lakunle says Baroka is very careful in selecting the girls.
“Baroka has such a selective eye, non suits him
But the best…..” Lakunle says (page 25)
TRADITIONAL DANCES
We see Sidi with her fellow three village girls have the dance of the lost traveler, the dance which Lakunle rejects to dance claiming that such dance is for idiots.
We also see the traditional dances when Sidi is preparing herself to marry Baroka, the crowd of musicians comes to sing and dance for her. They sing in their native tongue to show that Ilujinle (Africa) has its ways of expressing the culture through dances.
“ Tolani Tolani
T’emi ni T’eminni
Sun mo mi , we mo mi
Sun mo mi , fa mo mi
Yarabi lo m’eyi t’o le d’omo” The musicians sing (page 64)
MODERNITY
In modernity we assess new ways of living suggested by some modern characters in the play. Wole Soyinka uses Lakunle the school teacher who has received the formal education. Because of this type of education which he has received, he has changed completely in many aspects
- He want to abolish bride price and bring marrying free.
- He want to abolish polygamy marriages and bring monogamy.
- He want to abolish traditional dances and introduce waltz(the modern once),and so many others.
This is the state of having ability to know why things are of the way they are. In this play, Lakunle is the only character who knows the reality of chief Baroka and his exploitative system. Because of his awareness, he succeeds to challenge the chief in some areas like that of rejecting the roads construction in Ilujinle. Lakunle succeeds to influence Sidi so that she could also know herself and defend her female rights. Because of Lakunle, Sidi dares to reject Baroka’s need for supper and marriage by saying that she can’t marry him because of their age differences; she also says that she does not sup with married men.
IRRESPONSIBILITY
Lakunle is an irresponsible teacher. He is like Ngoswe in the play of “Ngoswe penzi kitovu cha uzembe”. At the time of working hours, Lakunle is busy wooing Sidi for love. In page 13 he says;
“I cannot stay. It’s necessary time to take primary four in Geography”
Baroka as well is also an irresponsible leader. He is busy hunting for girls instead of building the village to make his people get development.
POSITION AND ROLES OF WOMEN
Women in this play are portrayed in various ways. We can shortly present them into; negative and positive ways.
Negative ways (position).
- A woman is portrayed as a tool for enjoyment e.g. Baroka uses girls for enjoyment in sexual desires, at every supper he has a beautiful virgin girl and at the end he enjoys them for sexual intercourse.
- A woman is a weak and discriminative person. In this play, women have no say to make their own decision. Baroka as a leader uses them in any ways he wants.
- A woman is sold like any other commodities at the market. It is done through paying bride price.
Positive positions.
- A woman is portrayed as a hard worker.
Sidi argues with Lakunle that women are not weak since they are ones who work in farms, pounding the yams and bending all day to plant the millet with children on their backs.
- A woman is important in bearing children.
Sidi as a woman is proud and happy with this position. She wonders why Lakunle her upcoming husband scorns child bearing in a wife (page 8). The same Sidi is seen asking blessing from Sadiku when she prepares to marry Baroka. She asks the similar blessings from the musicians to sing for children bearing.
“Come, sing to me of seeds of children, sired and the lion stock” says Sidi.
- A woman is a good upholder of her culture(Sidi, Sadiku etc)
CONFLICTS
The following are the conflicts portrayed in this play.
- Inter personal conflicts (one person against the other)
- The conflict between Sidi and Lakunle.
-It is caused by the bride price payment.
- The conflict between Baroka and Lakunle.
-It is caused by the love of Sidi.
- The conflict between Sadiku and Lakunle.
-It is caused by Sadiku who advices Sidi to go to Baroka.
- The conflict between Lakunle and village girls.
-It is caused by the traditional dance which Lakunle calls it is for idiots.
- Intra-personal conflicts /Psychological conflicts.
- Baroka is in the conflict.
-It is caused by Sidi’s denial to marry him.
- Sidi is in the psychological conflict.
-It is caused by the truth of Baroka’s impotence.
- Conflict between cultures.
- The conflict between modernity and traditionalism.
-Baroka,Sadiku , Sidi and others, represent traditionalism while Lakunle and stranger represent modernity.
MESSAGES
The playwright teaches us so many thinks from the characters (actors) of events.
- For youths, the bride price cannot prove true love. Sometimes, couples miss to get the husbands and wives of their dreams because of culture.
- Ignorance to majority is the source of underdevelopment in the society/country. Baroka uses his people’s ignorance to enrich himself.
- Educated people should be the voice for weak people in the society. Women in this play are humiliated to the society. Women in this play are humiliated to the extent of failing to know and understand about their rights. People like Lakunle should work for them.
RELEVANCE
The play is very relevant to the current society since everything portrayed is found in our environments. Eg. The issue of gender discrimination. In most African societies, women are not respected much by men as they do to their fellow men. The issue of bride price payment as well in most cases hinders many youths to lose their real lovers since girls like Sidi and their parents demand full bride price to settle the marriage.
