Literature-In-English Paper 3 WASSCE (PC), 2023

Question 3      WOLE SOYINKA: The Lion and the Jewel
How are women presented in the play?

The requirement of this question is to discuss the presentation of the women in the play. Most candidates were able to meet the demands of the question.
A good response should contain:

  • The theme of the clash of cultures i.e. the conflict between tradition and modernity, and gender roles in a patriarchal society.
  • Character identification of Sidi and Sadiku.
  • Role of women in Ilujinle according to custom: they are expected to function as mere material possessions of their husbands, only satisfying their husbands’ sexual pleasures and desires and bear children. Women are expected to fetch firewood for cooking and water to drink. They are also gossips – when Baroka wants the false news about his impotence to spread he uses Sadiku.
  • What women represent in the play: they are people who are not capable of leading independent lives. Both Baroka and Lakunle firmly believe that women must remain dependent on their husbands. Women are admired for their physical beauty.  Women are seen as gullible. They are caught up in the battle between tradition and modernity with a stronger pull from tradition
  • Effects of the negative representation of women in society.
      • They are treated as sex objects – Baroka wants Sidi for her physical beauty
      • They are treated as mere hewers of wood and drawers of water – Lakunle, at least laments this state of affairs for women in his altercations with Sidi and Sadiku.
      • In spite of the negative representation, women are able to celebrate some victory over men however short-lived.

Candidates’ performance was commendable.