Themes: The Cunning Nature of Powerful Leaders
Baroka's trickery is a major theme in the play. He sets things up to achieve his ultimate goal of taking Sidi as his final wife. His wily nature shows why he is the respected leader of the village. He understands human nature enough to tell his wife that he is impotent and to swear her to secrecy, knowing that she'll tell tales to Sidi. This will lead Sidi to feel safe enough to be alone with him; once that happens, he knows that he can entice her to sleep with and marry him. His trickery and intelligence are juxtaposed by Lakunle's lack of understanding about people. It's one of the major reasons that Sidi is happy to reject Lakunle and marry Baroka at the end of the play.
Expert Q&A
Baroka's role and symbolic significance in "The Lion and the Jewel."
Baroka, in "The Lion and the Jewel," symbolizes traditional African values and the resistance to modernity. As the village chief, he embodies wisdom, strength, and cunning, using these traits to maintain his authority and influence. His interactions with other characters highlight the tension between tradition and progress, making him a central figure in the play’s exploration of cultural change.
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