Assignment
The African Literature
Dabhi Rita A.
M. A Sem :- 4
Roll no. :- 20
Topic : Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in “ The Swamp Dwellers”.
email : dabhirita1198@gmail.com
Enrollment no. :- 2069108420200007
Submitted : Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in “ The Swamp Dwellers”.
Abstract : The Swamp Dwellers (1986) is a play by Wole Soyinka. Wole Soyinka is a writer from Nigeria, and he was the first African to be honored with a Nobel Prize, winning the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swamp Dwellers focuses on the struggle between the old and the new ways of life in Africa. It also gives us a picture of the cohesion that existed between the individual and southern Nigerian society. The conflict between tradition and modernity is also reflected in the play. The play mirrors the socio-cultural pattern, the pang and the sufferings of the swamp dwellers and underlines the need for absorbing new ideas. The struggle between human beings and unfavourable forces of nature is also captured in the play. Soyinka presents us the picture of modern Africa where the wind of change started blowing. In "The Swamp Dwellers" we find that the controversy of Modernity and Tradition are often pop up in this play through the two main Female characters named Desala and Alu.
💠Introduction :
The Swamp Dwellers is written by Wole Soyinka. Soyinka (born July 13, 1934) was the first African to be honored with a Nobel Prize, winning the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. Soyinka was politically active during Nigeria’s struggle for independence, even getting arrested later during the Nigerian Civil War. The Swamp Dwellers reflect the life of the people of southern Nigeria. He wrote many works like,
Poems from Prison (1969)
A Shuttle in the Crypt (1971)
The Lion and The Jewel (1959)
The Trials Of Brother Jero (1960)
Death and the King's Horseman (1975)
A Dance of the Forests (1960)
King Baabu (2001)
💠Swamp Dwellers :
Here in the , “The Swamp Dwellers" Wole Soyinka described the major concern of the old way and the new way of life in the Nigerian Society, and also in Africa. In this play we can see how Alu and Makuri who is husband-wife continuously waiting for his son Awuchike but he never come back.That’s why this play also considered as an “absurd play” or a“Beckettian play.” Igwezu and Awuchike are twins.The controversy of Modernity and Tradition are often pop up in this play through the 2 main Female characters named Desala and Alu. And the whole story unfolds around the three major categories of the characters :
1. Parents
2. Corrupt Priests
3. And their followers and individuals who are always moving and changing.
Use of River, Serpent, Swamp and use of city life these are extreme opposition sin the play. From the beginning of the play they are talking about the death of his son but clearly mention whether he is really dead or not. Swamp is anarchic and they are living in chaos.
•Tradition :
A tradition is a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past.
In the play Alu, Makuri and Igwezu are represents the Tradition.
● Modernity :
Modernity, the self-definition of a generation about its own technological innovation, governance, and socioeconomics. To participate in modernity was to conceive of one’s society as engaging in organizational and knowledge advances that make one’s immediate predecessors appear antiquated or, at least, surpassed.
In the play Awuchike and Desala are represents the Modernity.
💠Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in “ The Swamp Dwellers”. :
In the play Wole Soyinka described the conflict between modernity and tradition; new and old; village and town, superstition and reason.The African society is communal whereas the Western society is individualistic.
In the play Alu and Desala are both the woman characters who represent the conflict between tradition and modernity.
Alu - Tradition
Desala - modernity
In the very beginning of the play , it starts with the description of Tradition by portraying the image of a village.
“A village in the swamps. Frogs rain and other noises. The scan is a hut on stilts, built on one of the scattered semi-firm islands in the swamp. The walls are marsh stakes plaited with hump ropes. Near the left down stage are the baskets he makes from the rushes which are strewn in front of him.”
The above lines portray the life of a village or Traditional way of life. We can see that in this play both Awuchike and Igwezu exaggerate too much with the life of the city or Modernity. To some extent traditional life is good because you have your own beliefs and looking towards your life, but the bad is not accepting the changes in the life. Too much exaggeration is bad for your life which is clearly shown in this play.
Igwezu went into city life to earn more in his life but he didn’t accept the reality of modernity. There is starvation for shelter in the city, so called sophisticated life in the city. So , Awuchike and Igwezu both have been suffering from this life because of the exaggeration of their life.
Makuri : It’s a lie. All the young men go into the big town to try their hand at making only some of them remember their folk and send a word or once in a while.
Alu: You'll see. When Igwezu returns, you'll find that he never saw a trace of him.
Makuri: And if he didn’t ? The city is a large place. You could live there all your life and never meet half the people in it.
So, through this above line Soyinka portrays Modernity or city life. There are the advantages as well as disadvantages of living the life in the city. Living in modernity , there are more opportunities than the old way of life. But there are no emotions or feelings among the people. This is the harsh reality of city life. You will lose yourself in the city.
They are too traditional people. They believe that the river bed is the perfect bridal bed. This comes up in a conversation between Makuri and Alu when they were remembering their past.
Makuri: Ah those days were really good. Even when times were harsh and the swamp overran the land, we were able to laugh with the Serpent.....but these young people... They are no sooner born than they want to get out of the village as if it carried a plague. I bet none of them has ever taken his women into the swamps.
Through these lines Makuri wants to say that no matter but the old way or Traditional way of life is the best way to live. He remembers the days that people laugh also in the critical situation of their life. But nowadays , In Modernity expressing amusement is very difficult.
Igwezu:- I have had my feast of welcome. I found it on the farm where the beans and the corn had made an over lasting potage with the mood.
When Igwezu talks about Awuchike because Desala leaves him for Awuchike. Igwezu doesn’t earn that much money like Awuchike that is when he talks about him we come to know that because of city life or to much exaggeration destroy family structure.
Makuri: It ruins them. The city ruins them. What do they seek there expect money?
Through this above line we can see Makuri portrays how Modern Life is! And also indicates the modern people that they attracts more towards luxurious life.
💠References :
- Kasarachi, Okpeh, and Kasarachi Collins. (PDF) THE SWAMP DWELLERS: A SIMILITUDE TO PRESENT DAY. www.researchgate.net/publication/330875129_THE_SWAMP_DWELLERS_A_SIMILITUDE_TO_PRESENT_DAY.
- Rahman, Muhammad Mushfiqur. Instances of Powerful Family Bond in Soyinka’s The Swamp ... www.researchgate.net/publication/269753037_Instances_of_powerful_family_bond_in_Soyinka's_The_Swamp_Dwellers.
- Soyinka, Wole. The Swamp Dwellers. Oxford University Press, 1973.
