Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s <i>Death and The King’s Horseman</i>

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke; Chijioke Macdonald Uwah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke, Chijioke Macdonald Uwah

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Received: 7 February 2023 Accepted: 4 March 2023 Published: 20 June 2023

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Abstract

Wole Soyinka is considered one of the foremost Nigerian literary writers of Yoruba descent. His corpus traverses all the genres of literature and covers a wide range of themes and subject matters. One prominent concern of his work is the juxtaposition of Yoruba tradition and Western notions. This paper uses his play text, Death and the King’s Horseman, as a case study to examine the injustices of male autocracy that objectify women and men under the Yoruba feudal and British colonial milieu. Masculinity has often been associated with being a breadwinner, being sexually aggressive, unemotional, etcetera; while power is often construed as a tool of authority, superiority, and influence. The consequences of the misconception include intolerance, humiliation, intimidation, and opportunities. The paper is thus a critique of the masculine presumptions that underpin the ruling class in the play. The main argument advanced in this paper is the greedy, dominant, and unprincipled masculinity practiced by characters like Elesin Oba and Simon Pilkings, which is destructive, not only to other people but also ultimately to its practitioners. By portraying abusive characters and their challenges in Nigerian drama, this paper situates the arguments of the masculinist theory within the textual construct of the play with detailed rationalization. One major finding of the paper is that masculinity is largely a defense mechanism used to cover up for the deep sense of inadequacy in the characters who advance it.

Published in	English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12
Page(s)	28-34
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Masculinity, Power, Hegemonic Masculinity, Soyinka, Drama

References

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[2]	Adetunji, Barihi and Adetunji, Aderonke. Reconstructing Masculinity and Power in Africa through Open Distance Learning for Sustainable Development: A Critical Analysis of Wole Soyinka’s Climate of Fear. US-China Education Review. Volume 6 (8), 2009. Pp: 39-41.
[3]	Bukenya, Austin. Rapacious Masculinity: Gender and Ethno-Colonial Politics in a Swahili Novel. In Masculinities in African literary and Cultural Text. Helen Mugambi and Tuzyline, Allan (eds.). UK: Ayebia Clarke and Publishing Limited, 2010. P: 144.
[4]	Carrigan, Tim, Lee John, and Connell, Bob. Towards a New Sociology of Masculinity. Theory and Society. Volume 14 (5), 1985. P: 592.
[5]	Chafetz, Janet, S. Masculine, Feminine or Human? An Overview of the Sociology of the Gender Roles. (2 nd Ed.). Itasca, Il: F. E. Peacock Publishers, 1978. P: 38.
[6]	Clegg, Stewart. Framework of Power. London: Sage, 1989, P: 239.
[7]	Connell, Raewyn, W. Masculinities. Berkeley: The University of California Press, 1995. P: 71.
[8]	Craig, Alan, Kimmel, Michael, and Lang, James. Men, Masculinities, and Development: Brooding our Work Towards Gender Equality. Gender in Development, Monograph Series. Volume 10, 2000. P: 6.
[9]	Ifatimehin, Olagoke, O. Contrapuntal Significations in Wole Soyinka’s Death and King’s Horseman. Ekpoma Journal of Theatre and Media Arts. Volume 6 (1-2), 2017. P: 14.
[10]	Hanke, Robert. Redesigning Men: Hegemonic Masculinity in Transition. In Men and Masculinity and the Media. Steve, Craige (ed.). Newbury Park, Ca: Sage, 1992. P: 190.
[11]	Jeff, Hearn. From Hegemonic Masculinity to the Hegemony of Men. Feminist Theory. Volume 5 (1), 2004. P: 51.
[12]	Irele, Abiola. Ezeulu as World Historical Figure. In The Responsible Critic: Essays on African Literature in Honor of Professor Ben Obumselu. Diala Isidore (ed.). New Jersey: African World Press, 2006. P: 141.
[13]	Osofisan, Femi. Myth and the Revolutionary Ethics: The Humanistic Dilemma. Journal of Commonwealth Literature. Volume 22 (1), 1987. P: 169.
[14]	Peteet, Julie. Male Gender Rituals of Resistance in the Palestinian Intifada: A Cultural Politics of Violence, Imagined Masculinities. Ghoussoub, Mai, and Sinclair, Emma (eds.). London: Saqi Books, 2000. P: 107.
[15]	Richard, Tarnas. The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the Ideas that have shaped Our World View. London: Pimlico, 1996. P: 441.
[16]	Robert, Morrell, Jewkes, Rachel, and, Lindegger, Graham. Hegemonic Masculinity/Masculinities in South Africa. Men and Masculinities. Volume 15 (1), 2012. P: 11.
[17]	Sedgwick, Eve, K. Gosh, boy George. You must be Secure in your Masculinity. In Constructing Masculinity. Maurice, Berger, Brain, Wallis, and Simon, Watson (eds.). New York: Routledge, 1995. P: 13.
[18]	Soyinka, Wole. Death and the King’s Horseman. London: Methuen, 1975. Pp: 10-73.
[19]	Thompson, Edward and Pleck, Joseph. The Structure of Male Role Norms. American Behavioral Scientist. Volume 29 (5), 1986. P: 28.

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APA Style

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke, Chijioke Macdonald Uwah. (2023). Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman. English Language, Literature & Culture, 8(2), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke; Chijioke Macdonald Uwah. Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2023, 8(2), 28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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AMA Style

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke, Chijioke Macdonald Uwah. Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2023;8(2):28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12,
  author = {Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke and Chijioke Macdonald Uwah},
  title = {Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {28-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20230802.12},
  abstract = {Wole Soyinka is considered one of the foremost Nigerian literary writers of Yoruba descent. His corpus traverses all the genres of literature and covers a wide range of themes and subject matters. One prominent concern of his work is the juxtaposition of Yoruba tradition and Western notions. This paper uses his play text, Death and the King’s Horseman, as a case study to examine the injustices of male autocracy that objectify women and men under the Yoruba feudal and British colonial milieu. Masculinity has often been associated with being a breadwinner, being sexually aggressive, unemotional, etcetera; while power is often construed as a tool of authority, superiority, and influence. The consequences of the misconception include intolerance, humiliation, intimidation, and opportunities. The paper is thus a critique of the masculine presumptions that underpin the ruling class in the play. The main argument advanced in this paper is the greedy, dominant, and unprincipled masculinity practiced by characters like Elesin Oba and Simon Pilkings, which is destructive, not only to other people but also ultimately to its practitioners. By portraying abusive characters and their challenges in Nigerian drama, this paper situates the arguments of the masculinist theory within the textual construct of the play with detailed rationalization. One major finding of the paper is that masculinity is largely a defense mechanism used to cover up for the deep sense of inadequacy in the characters who advance it.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman
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AU  - Chijioke Macdonald Uwah
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AB  - Wole Soyinka is considered one of the foremost Nigerian literary writers of Yoruba descent. His corpus traverses all the genres of literature and covers a wide range of themes and subject matters. One prominent concern of his work is the juxtaposition of Yoruba tradition and Western notions. This paper uses his play text, Death and the King’s Horseman, as a case study to examine the injustices of male autocracy that objectify women and men under the Yoruba feudal and British colonial milieu. Masculinity has often been associated with being a breadwinner, being sexually aggressive, unemotional, etcetera; while power is often construed as a tool of authority, superiority, and influence. The consequences of the misconception include intolerance, humiliation, intimidation, and opportunities. The paper is thus a critique of the masculine presumptions that underpin the ruling class in the play. The main argument advanced in this paper is the greedy, dominant, and unprincipled masculinity practiced by characters like Elesin Oba and Simon Pilkings, which is destructive, not only to other people but also ultimately to its practitioners. By portraying abusive characters and their challenges in Nigerian drama, this paper situates the arguments of the masculinist theory within the textual construct of the play with detailed rationalization. One major finding of the paper is that masculinity is largely a defense mechanism used to cover up for the deep sense of inadequacy in the characters who advance it.
VL  - 8
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Author Information

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke

Department of English, Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Nigeria
Chijioke Macdonald Uwah

Department of English Studies and Comparative Literature, University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape, South Africa

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APA Style

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke, Chijioke Macdonald Uwah. (2023). Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman. English Language, Literature & Culture, 8(2), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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ACS Style

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke; Chijioke Macdonald Uwah. Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2023, 8(2), 28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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AMA Style

Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke, Chijioke Macdonald Uwah. Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2023;8(2):28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12,
  author = {Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke and Chijioke Macdonald Uwah},
  title = {Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {28-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20230802.12},
  abstract = {Wole Soyinka is considered one of the foremost Nigerian literary writers of Yoruba descent. His corpus traverses all the genres of literature and covers a wide range of themes and subject matters. One prominent concern of his work is the juxtaposition of Yoruba tradition and Western notions. This paper uses his play text, Death and the King’s Horseman, as a case study to examine the injustices of male autocracy that objectify women and men under the Yoruba feudal and British colonial milieu. Masculinity has often been associated with being a breadwinner, being sexually aggressive, unemotional, etcetera; while power is often construed as a tool of authority, superiority, and influence. The consequences of the misconception include intolerance, humiliation, intimidation, and opportunities. The paper is thus a critique of the masculine presumptions that underpin the ruling class in the play. The main argument advanced in this paper is the greedy, dominant, and unprincipled masculinity practiced by characters like Elesin Oba and Simon Pilkings, which is destructive, not only to other people but also ultimately to its practitioners. By portraying abusive characters and their challenges in Nigerian drama, this paper situates the arguments of the masculinist theory within the textual construct of the play with detailed rationalization. One major finding of the paper is that masculinity is largely a defense mechanism used to cover up for the deep sense of inadequacy in the characters who advance it.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Masculinity and Power in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman
AU  - Onuoha Beatrice Nwawuloke
AU  - Chijioke Macdonald Uwah
Y1  - 2023/06/20
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 28
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20230802.12
AB  - Wole Soyinka is considered one of the foremost Nigerian literary writers of Yoruba descent. His corpus traverses all the genres of literature and covers a wide range of themes and subject matters. One prominent concern of his work is the juxtaposition of Yoruba tradition and Western notions. This paper uses his play text, Death and the King’s Horseman, as a case study to examine the injustices of male autocracy that objectify women and men under the Yoruba feudal and British colonial milieu. Masculinity has often been associated with being a breadwinner, being sexually aggressive, unemotional, etcetera; while power is often construed as a tool of authority, superiority, and influence. The consequences of the misconception include intolerance, humiliation, intimidation, and opportunities. The paper is thus a critique of the masculine presumptions that underpin the ruling class in the play. The main argument advanced in this paper is the greedy, dominant, and unprincipled masculinity practiced by characters like Elesin Oba and Simon Pilkings, which is destructive, not only to other people but also ultimately to its practitioners. By portraying abusive characters and their challenges in Nigerian drama, this paper situates the arguments of the masculinist theory within the textual construct of the play with detailed rationalization. One major finding of the paper is that masculinity is largely a defense mechanism used to cover up for the deep sense of inadequacy in the characters who advance it.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

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