Topic: What is the meaning of Swamp? How Wole Soyinka has used it

symbolically in the Swamp Dweller?Name: Kinjal Patel

Paper Name: The African LiteratureRoll No: 14Semester: 4

Submitted to: S.B.Gardi Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji

Bhavnagar UniversityGmail Id: patelkinjal.u21@gmail.com

“well, the first thing is that truth and power for me from an antithesis, an antagonism, which well hardly ever be resolved. I can define in fact, can simplify the history of human society, as a contest between power and freedom.”

--- Wole Soyinka

Meaning of Swamp

Swamp is an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water is collected.

Swamp is an area of low-lying well or seasonally flooded land, often having tress and dense shrubs or thickets.

Symbolism means

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from – their literal sense and has much deeper meaning.

Symbolism in the play is an important avenue for the expression of playwrights views on the Nigerian society.

Nigeria faced internal wars,

environment degradation,

political marginalization,

social enslavement and endemic poverty.

Crisis in Nigeria

In ‘The Swamp Dwellers’ the tragedy

is

attributable to fate, the Gods,

oil exploration

filial rivalry

Symbolic significance

The priesthood in The Swamp Dwellers, especially in its indifference and opulence in the midst of suffering symbolically represents the Nigerian leadership.

Almost all the characters have the symbolic significance.

The play symbolizes the condition and sufferings of the people dwelling there.

Symbolized through the characters

Tradition Modernity

Symbols in characters contrasts

Alu

Makuri

Igwezu

Kadiye

BeggarAwuchike

Desala

Life in Swamp

dependent on nature and their fate,

religion and rituals

lives are full of despair and poverty

Filled with mud

They are not able to come out

Afraid of tradition

Conclusion

The play, The Swamp Dwellers by using various symbols shows

marching towards progress of

Nigerian society.