Have you ever been curious about The Significance of the title The Lion and The Jewel by Wole Soyinka? If yes, then this post is for you as it discusses the significance of the title below.
The title of a play or any other artwork or text is a description of the work that is typically determined by the writer. The title is significant as it is used to identify the work, place it in its the context of its creation, to provide the most basic information about the content, and to stimulate the reader’s interest.
The title The Lion and The Jewel plays a significant role in conveying the message or central idea of the play.
In illustrating the significance of the title “The Lion and the Jewel”,there are two concepts to consider; one “the lion” and the other “the jewel”.
The Lion
A lion, hunting alone has a ratio of around 17- 19% when taking prey. However, it has amazing hunting skills that can be seen in Baroka. Although some women aren’t victim to Baroka’s desire to have them as wife or concubine, Baroka has managed to claim many of them and the latest one is Sidi. Lakunle is jealous of Baroka because Baroka has an impressive number of women living in his palace as wives or concubines.
A lion exudes the impression of authority through its magnificent walk and in the way it holds its head. This is what earns it the title of royalty or the king of the jungle. Another trait that has earned this wild cat its name is its mane, which is the symbol for a crown along with its powerful roar. Its roar, which can be heard for 15 miles, triggers animals to run for their security and serves as a method to alert their pride at its approaching.
In the drama, Baroka exudes authority as the head of Ilujinle village the position he was handed down from his father, who was a part of the patriarchal system within the village. Baroka is always supported by a wrestler, who serves as his bodyguard, a symbol of his status within the village.
