The Lion and The Jewel main character Sidi sitting in the middle of the picture wearing a striped dress with the outlines of two male faces on other side of her

The Lion and the Jewel

by Wole Soyinka

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Student Question

Does either Lakunle or Baroka deserve Sidi’s hand in marriage in The Lion and the Jewel?

Quick answer:

It can be argued that neither Lakunle nor Baroka deserves Sidi’s hand in marriage because each man has flaws that would make him a less-than-ideal husband. Both men are arrogant. Lakunle is condescending and hypocritical, and Baroka is dishonest.

Expert Answers

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The Lion and the Jewel presents Sidi as a young woman who is faced with two distinct alternatives in a potential husband. The process of courtship does not go entirely smoothly, as both men present some obvious flaws that might dissuade her from choosing either one. On the one hand, the contrast between Baroka and Lakunle can be understood as the difference between tradition and modernity. On the other hand, the similarities between the men indicate that modern changes have not had too great an impact on gender roles.

The negative factors that each man presents support the idea that neither one is truth worthy of her. Baroka crafts an elaborate plot to trick her into thinking she alone can cure his ostensible impotence, then uses their sexual relationship as one reason for their marriage. Lakunle prides himself on his modern attitude, but he consistently denigrates Sidi’s choices and expects her to change to fit his expectations.

Because the choice of husband is left to the woman herself, the question of which man—if any—deserves her is ultimately resolved by her decision. Sidi enters into the match with a clear vision of the positive and negative features. As a practical person who seeks the maximum benefit from her marriage, she chooses the more well-established, prosperous husband over the possible insecurity of life with a young teacher.

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