Name: Vidhya Pandya
Semester: MA – 4
Roll No: 30
Paper No:-14 The African Literature
Enrolment No: 2069108420190031
Email id: vidhupandya10497@gmail.com
Year: 2018 -20
Submitted to: Department of English , Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University.
Assignment Topic : Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in “ The Swamp Dwellers”.
Words : 1550
● Introduction :
" Don't take shadows too seriously,
Reality is your only safety,
Continue to reject illusion."
- Wole Soyinka.
“ The Swamp Dwellers” is the play which is written by African writer Wole Soyinka and was published in 1958. Soyinka is a writer from,Nigeria and he was first African to be honored with Nobel Prize,
winning 1986 Novel Prize in Literature. He also active in politics during Nigeria's struggle for independence.
● The Swamp Dwellers :
In this play , “The Swamp Dwellers “ the major concern is 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 the story unfolds around the 3 major categories of the characters :
1. Parents
2. Corrupt Priests
3. And their followers and individuals who are always moving and changing.
The controversy of Modernity and Tradition are often pop up in this play through the 2 main Female characters named Desala and Alu.
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 death of his son but clearly mention that really he is dead or not. Swamp is anarchic and they are living in the 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.
Alu, Makuri and Igwezu is the representation of 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. Awuchike and Desala are the representation of Modernity.
● Tradition and Modernity in the play " The Swamp Dwellers" :
In the African society this conflict between tradition and modernism is a deep one. The African society is communal whereas the Western
society is individualistic. Africa emerging from the cocoon of,colonialism found itself in the grip of certain western ideas. The ideas
were progressive but the coalition of the two strands of culture became a painful experience. This led to a distinction between the modern and
the traditional.
There are 2 main Female characters who represents both this like...
1. Alu – represents Tradition
2. Desala – represents Modernity
In the very beginning of the play , it starts with the description of Tradition by portraying the image of 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 island 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 portrays the life of village or Traditional way of life. We can see that in this play both Awuchike and Igwezu has too much
exaggerates with the life of city or Modernity. At some extent traditional life is good that you have your own belief and looking towards your life, but the bad is that 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 for earn more in his life but he didn’t accept the reality of the 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 too much exaggerations 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 large place. You could live there all your life and never meet half the people in it.】
Through these above lines , it’s portrays Modernity or city life. There
are the advantages as well as disadvantages of living the life in the city.
Living in the modernity , there are more opportunities rather than old way of life. But there are no emotions or feelings among the people.
This is the harsh reality in the city life. You will lose yourself in the city.
They are to much traditional people they are believing that river bed it is perfect bridal bed this comes in talk between Makuri and Alu when
they were remembering their past.
【Makuri: Ah those were the 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 above these lines Makuri wants to say that no matter but the
old way or Traditional way of life is the best to living. He remember the
days that people laugh also un the critical situation of their life. But
now a days , 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 corns 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 the Modern
Life is! And also indicates the modern people that they attracts more
towards luxurious life.
● Tradition and Modernity portrays in Women's Characters :
In this play there are two mail leading Characters.
1. Alu
2. Desala
Alu portrays traditional way of life whereas Desala who is Igwezu's wife
who later on escape her husband for the sake of money portrays
Modernity.
Let me give the examples which is given in the text....
● Modernity in Desala's Character :
【 Makuri: It is not sense they have...not sense at all. Igwezu was hardly
joined to his wife before he took her off into the city. What would a
girl like Desala do m a place like that, I ask you. What would she find
to do in the city ?】
Through this above lines we can see that how Igwezu’s wife attracts
towards modernity. She wants to live in the city with Igwezu after her
marriage. Desala also told her mother in law Alu that she wants to live
in the city after marriage.
【 Igwezu : And yet we are twins. And in spite of that, he looked at my
wife, and she went to him of her own accord. .. Tell me father , are
women so easily swayed by wealth? Are all women the same?】
Through above these lines which is spoken by Igwezu and he says that
his how his wife escape him for the sake of money. The lines clearly
indicates that how Igwezu hurt by his wife! He asked his father that all
women are the same who easily swayed by the luxurious life?
These all the conversation indicates the Modernity in the play.
● Tradition in Alu's Character :
【 Makuri: Now,now, Alu. You know I didn’t mean a word of that.
There wasn’t a woman anywhere more faithful than you,
Alu; I never had a moment of worry in the wheel of my life.
Not every man can look his wife in the face and make that boast,
Alu. Not every man can do it.】
Here these above lines spoken by Makuri and clearly indicates the old
way of life of his wife Alu. She also tolerate her husband and choose the
old way of life or Traditional way to living. Because she doesn’t attracts
towards the modernity whereas she also had the proposal in the past
by others to live in the city life but she choose the life with Makuri.
● Conclusion :
Thus, Wole Soyinka portrays the constant struggle and conflict between Modernity and Tradition way of life. But we can see that both lives are not satisfied. Desala and Awuchike both are not happy. They
are dead not physically but spiritually.
● Work Cited :
Soyinka, Wole. The Swamp Dwellers. 1973.
What is Modernity. Ed. Sharon L Snyder. 20 05 2016. 08 03 2020 <https://www.britannica.com/topic/modernity>.
What is Modernity. Ed. Sharon L Snyder. 20 05 2016. 08 03 2020 <https://www.britannica.com/topic/modernity>.
Semester: MA – 4
Roll No: 30
Paper No:-14 The African Literature
Enrolment No: 2069108420190031
Email id: vidhupandya10497@gmail.com
Year: 2018 -20
Submitted to: Department of English , Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University.
Assignment Topic : Conflict between Tradition and Modernity in “ The Swamp Dwellers”.
Words : 1550
● Introduction :
" Don't take shadows too seriously,
Reality is your only safety,
Continue to reject illusion."
- Wole Soyinka.
“ The Swamp Dwellers” is the play which is written by African writer Wole Soyinka and was published in 1958. Soyinka is a writer from,Nigeria and he was first African to be honored with Nobel Prize,
winning 1986 Novel Prize in Literature. He also active in politics during Nigeria's struggle for independence.
● The Swamp Dwellers :
In this play , “The Swamp Dwellers “ the major concern is 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 the story unfolds around the 3 major categories of the characters :
1. Parents
2. Corrupt Priests
3. And their followers and individuals who are always moving and changing.
The controversy of Modernity and Tradition are often pop up in this play through the 2 main Female characters named Desala and Alu.
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 death of his son but clearly mention that really he is dead or not. Swamp is anarchic and they are living in the 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.
Alu, Makuri and Igwezu is the representation of 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. Awuchike and Desala are the representation of Modernity.
● Tradition and Modernity in the play " The Swamp Dwellers" :
In the African society this conflict between tradition and modernism is a deep one. The African society is communal whereas the Western
society is individualistic. Africa emerging from the cocoon of,colonialism found itself in the grip of certain western ideas. The ideas
were progressive but the coalition of the two strands of culture became a painful experience. This led to a distinction between the modern and
the traditional.
There are 2 main Female characters who represents both this like...
1. Alu – represents Tradition
2. Desala – represents Modernity
In the very beginning of the play , it starts with the description of Tradition by portraying the image of 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 island 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 portrays the life of village or Traditional way of life. We can see that in this play both Awuchike and Igwezu has too much
exaggerates with the life of city or Modernity. At some extent traditional life is good that you have your own belief and looking towards your life, but the bad is that 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 for earn more in his life but he didn’t accept the reality of the 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 too much exaggerations 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 large place. You could live there all your life and never meet half the people in it.】
Through these above lines , it’s portrays Modernity or city life. There
are the advantages as well as disadvantages of living the life in the city.
Living in the modernity , there are more opportunities rather than old way of life. But there are no emotions or feelings among the people.
This is the harsh reality in the city life. You will lose yourself in the city.
They are to much traditional people they are believing that river bed it is perfect bridal bed this comes in talk between Makuri and Alu when
they were remembering their past.
【Makuri: Ah those were the 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 above these lines Makuri wants to say that no matter but the
old way or Traditional way of life is the best to living. He remember the
days that people laugh also un the critical situation of their life. But
now a days , 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 corns 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 the Modern
Life is! And also indicates the modern people that they attracts more
towards luxurious life.
● Tradition and Modernity portrays in Women's Characters :
In this play there are two mail leading Characters.
1. Alu
2. Desala
Alu portrays traditional way of life whereas Desala who is Igwezu's wife
who later on escape her husband for the sake of money portrays
Modernity.
Let me give the examples which is given in the text....
● Modernity in Desala's Character :
【 Makuri: It is not sense they have...not sense at all. Igwezu was hardly
joined to his wife before he took her off into the city. What would a
girl like Desala do m a place like that, I ask you. What would she find
to do in the city ?】
Through this above lines we can see that how Igwezu’s wife attracts
towards modernity. She wants to live in the city with Igwezu after her
marriage. Desala also told her mother in law Alu that she wants to live
in the city after marriage.
【 Igwezu : And yet we are twins. And in spite of that, he looked at my
wife, and she went to him of her own accord. .. Tell me father , are
women so easily swayed by wealth? Are all women the same?】
Through above these lines which is spoken by Igwezu and he says that
his how his wife escape him for the sake of money. The lines clearly
indicates that how Igwezu hurt by his wife! He asked his father that all
women are the same who easily swayed by the luxurious life?
These all the conversation indicates the Modernity in the play.
● Tradition in Alu's Character :
【 Makuri: Now,now, Alu. You know I didn’t mean a word of that.
There wasn’t a woman anywhere more faithful than you,
Alu; I never had a moment of worry in the wheel of my life.
Not every man can look his wife in the face and make that boast,
Alu. Not every man can do it.】
Here these above lines spoken by Makuri and clearly indicates the old
way of life of his wife Alu. She also tolerate her husband and choose the
old way of life or Traditional way to living. Because she doesn’t attracts
towards the modernity whereas she also had the proposal in the past
by others to live in the city life but she choose the life with Makuri.
● Conclusion :
Thus, Wole Soyinka portrays the constant struggle and conflict between Modernity and Tradition way of life. But we can see that both lives are not satisfied. Desala and Awuchike both are not happy. They
are dead not physically but spiritually.
● Work Cited :
Soyinka, Wole. The Swamp Dwellers. 1973.
What is Modernity. Ed. Sharon L Snyder. 20 05 2016. 08 03 2020 <https://www.britannica.com/topic/modernity>.
What is Modernity. Ed. Sharon L Snyder. 20 05 2016. 08 03 2020 <https://www.britannica.com/topic/modernity>.
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