Thirdly, the researcher looked for some books that define the theories that could be used to define the life of women. There were some books found that
talks about the women struggling to find their justice in the patriarchal societies. The researcher also found jurnals that describes the society of Yoruba at that time.
Fourthly, the theories that had been found were applied to analyze the problems that had been firstly formed in the problem formulation. The researcher
used the theory of Characterization to analyze the characteristics of the women of the market, the bride, Iyaloja and Elesin. It then moved forward to use the theory
of Feminism and Patriarchal to understand the background and reasons behinds the oppression felt by both the oppressed and the oppressor. Lastly, using the
background of the story emphasized by the custom of Yoruba that is kept repeated throughout the story, the writer then could finally see how the society actually see
the women of Yoruba. Lastly, after analyzing the story, the researcher then could make a
conclusion.
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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter answers the problems stated in the Problem Formulation. Since there are three problems, this chapter is divided into three main sections.
The first section talks about the first problem formulation, the characteristics of Elesin, Iyaloja, the bride and the women of the market. The writer used the theory
of characterization mentioned in the Chapter II to analyze each of them. The result of the first problem formulation is used to analyze the ambivalent attitude that
appears in the play. The last section then talks about how the ambivalence in the end harms women and the role of the culture in this issue.
A. The Characters and Their Characteristics
There are four characters analyzed including the two main characters in the play, Iyaloja and Elesin. However, the existence of the bride and the women
of the market is also crucial in understanding and dissecting this analysis because they appear in most of the scenes that are going to be analyzed. This is why it is
justified to place them in the character analysis.
1. Elesin
Elesin Oba is introduced as the right hand of the previous king. As the one that has stood beside the king ruling the kingdom together, he then has duties to
perform his own death ritual to join the death king in another world. Elesin is portrayed in the play as “a man of honour” for his service to the people of Yoruba.
However his remarkable achievements resulted in his being overreact and stubborn towards the people in the lower rank then him.
a. Honored Elesin
’s past moments with the dead king about how they rule the kingdom, create peace and prosperity and conquering the villages near the kingdom create a
great impression for the people of his success in accompanying the king. ELESIN. I go to keep my friend and master company.
… our joint hands Raised houseposts of trust that withstood
The siege of envy and the termites of time.
WOMEN. The town, the very land was yours. Soyinka, 1986: 14-15
The Yoruba people acknowledges his achievement by praising him and the dead king as “a man of honor”. The play mentions several times about Elesin past
achievement and why his position affects the life of the people at the time the dead king ruled the kingdom.
b. Inconsistent
Set aside his position as the hand of the king and also known as a man of honour, Elesin is introduced also as an inconsistent men. This is a scene which he
confesses how he feels about leaving the livings and joining the deaths. ELESIN. …there was also a weight of longing on my earth-
held limbs. I would have shaken it off, already my foot had begun to lift but then, the white ghost entered and all
was defiled.
Soyinka, 1986: 65 This confession of him contradicts with his thought in the beginning of the
ritual when the women asks him whether he is ready or not to join death.
