What is the symbolic meaning of ‘Death ‘in the Swamp Dweller”.

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NAME:GOHIL  BINKALBA NAREDRASHINH

COURSE: M.A ENGLISH

SEMESTER: 4

BATCH: 2016-2018

ENROLMENT NO-  2069108420170010

SUBMITTED TO – Dr. Dilip Barad
SMT .S.B.GARDI

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

MAHARAJA KRISHNAKUMARSINHJI BHAVNAGER UNIVERSITY

EMAIL ID –BinkalbaGohil1995@Gmail.Com

              PARER NO- 14 African literature.

             TOPIC:” What is the symbolic meaning of ‘Death ‘in the Swamp Dweller”.

                                                                

Introduction:

                          Soyinka excelled himself in the use of 'Symbolism' in his plays. The plays like The Swamp Dwellers; the Swamp Dwellers are rich in its symbolic value. Polar opposites are placed in juxtaposition with each other; drought and flood, scarcity and surfeit, corruption and juxtaposition, arrogance and humility and above all frustration and hope. The swamp as the setting is suggestive of dirt, or mire, in the literal sense as well as figurative.

                         The reverie Swamp suggestive of the Niger Delta is nature's own mire, with loose mud, spelling ruin and very rarely productive. In addition some poisons chemical compounds; 'oils' as they are referred to, ooze out at times, rendering its products not edible. "The play deals with sudden wealth and its impact on relationship in a hither- to subsistence economy"

 How symbolical’ Death’ represent by Wole Soyinka in the play ‘Swamp Dweller’?

                                                              

                              There is no physical death in it but there is death of relations in it. Just like that death is being used in it. Relationship between mother and son is death. Because when Alu is believes in the custom of the swamps. She thinks that the river bed is the ideal bridal bed. She has more concern for Awuchike who is in the city. She has anxiety for his safety. Alu has twin sons.  She worries that one of them has died. Makuri protests that he is not dead. He has just moved to the city.The myth is that one twin will call the other to follow him in death – or in this case, to the city. A connection is made between the swamp and the city.  Gonushi’s son left for the city and he went the same way as Awuchiki.

                           Her anxiety makes her shoot questions. Her questions make Makuri think of her as a fussy neurotic wife. She is hospitable like Makuri. Her reaction to the words of Kadiye shows her to be a traditionalist. Though she is outspoken, she is not for change. Alu’s understanding of the world is very limited. Igwezu’s words about his brother Awuchike set her anxiety at rest. All said, Alu is a loving and a loveable mother.

                              Makuri also He represents the of tradition in the play. His affection for his wife is unsentimental. He is more intelligent than his wife. Igwezu exposes Kadiye’s corrupt practice. Makuri feels offended over it. He is afraid of facing the wrath of the villagers. Soyinka through Makuri emphasizes the importance and the value of marital ties between husband and wife. He does not have delusions about the character of Awuchike. Nor does he have it in him to console Igwezu who has come back betrayed by his wife Desala.

                            Igwezu is bitter against Kadiye. Yet, he says it is better that he comes so that he would explain a few points. On being repeatedly questioned Igwezu informs that his brother lives that he is well, in fact "healthier than you or I. And a thousand times as wealthy". All the same, Awuchike, is dead to his parents, and to his parental home; it is better not to raise his ghost. He asks his mother whether she does not want to hear about his wife 'the simple and unspoilt child' whom she had wooed on her son's behalf. He added, much to the shock of the father, that his brother Awuchikc has managed to win over Desala. He wonders whether all women are taken in so easily with wealth. Makuri proudly replies that all women are not the same, and Alu his wife, was different.
                  
                              The swamp dweller the play is comparatively short of all of wole soyinka play.  If relates a story of a poor family residing in Niger Delta region. When the play opens we find Makuri and Alu waiting for their beloved younger son igwazu. They fear that their younger son igwazu  should not go missing like their elder son Awuchicke ,  who had gone to the city  some 10 year ago both the brothers had left the village to seek their fortune in the City.

                             The swamped Dweller play by wole soyinka deals with many themes like poverty, religious conspiracy, village, Relationship Death.  Basically death in relation so Soyinka has created characters in contrast to each other. By this relationship emerge settings also is symbols of tradition and modernity. Plays setting are Nigerian village and city one is symbol of tradition and other is modernity.

                            Swamp dwellers live in village they are poor and the superstition they cannot think on their own. So corrupt Priest like kadiye makes use of them he's here villages by Serpent of the Swamp. He says that he can control The Serpent if they will give him money and grain their crops will be good. People do what he says for villages city is place of corruption. This is the picture of traditional village in opposite City represent in modernity igwazu. The younger son of alu and makuri goes to city to earn some money and experiences there he loses job His wife and all.

                           The elder brother awuchike was already in the city he had forgotten his family money was all for him. So there is relation death found on that way. Thus village and city standard for and there is conflict between them.

                          Two brothers also a symbol of death and they are totally different from each other. So they are also example of conflict between tradition and modernity igwazu who is younger son and take care of his parents as traditionally it has been done he also goes to city like or auwchike but he does not change from there also he helps his family.

                       In opposite of him out auwchike represent a modern man. He had leaved the village 10 years ago and now was totally different for more than men, money is everything. Auwchike is wealthy now and he does not think about his parent. he married with his younger brother's wife desala. When both had came to city so he has no morality these two brothers also are examples of conflict between tradition and modernity.

                     There is character of blind beggar also he is a modern thinker. His thoughts are advanced and different from the villages. He also is a symbol of modernity when he comes to village and finds kadiye.  Is corrupt ways of earning money he tries to stop people believing in him. But people do not believe him, even makuri belive him wrong.

                                                                       

Conclusion:

             Here in the thought play representation of Death very symbolically. We can’t find physically any characters died, In all, the play itself is a symbol of the rots in the society. The rottenness of the era which is part of the origins of poverty is presented in more physical terms by the ugly sight of the swamp where the masses dwell.

(soyinka)

Works Cited

soyinka, wole. SOYINKA'S use o symbolism. 1 4 2018 <http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/103269/10/10_chapter-iv.pdf>.

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