A Dance of the Forests (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Wole Soyinka
- First Published: 1963
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Mythic
- Time of Work: 1960
- Setting: Nigeria
- Genres: Drama, Postcolonial literature, Mythological literature
- Subjects: Africa or Africans, Tradition, Mythology or myths, Race, Betrayal, Religion, Gods or goddesses, Rites or ceremonies, Reincarnation, Feasting or feasts
- Locales: Nigeria
Characters Discussed
Forest Father or Forest Head, the chief god who controls the universe of this play. In the pantheon of Yoruba gods, he is called Osanyin (oh-SAH-nyihn). He is the supreme arbiter who rules both humans and lesser gods. Because he represents the divine qualities of justice and mercy, he despairs of the continuous evil of humanity’s history but believes that humankind may be improved if mortals can be made to admit the consequences of their acts as part of history. He designs the dance to expose past and present wickedness. He is concerned and sympathetic...
[The entire page is 918 words long]
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