The Lion and the Jewel

The Lion and the Jewel Irony

Dramatic Iron: Lakunle's posturing

Much of what Lakunle says and does is ironic. He utters things without knowing how ridiculous he sounds or how false his claims are. He pretends to adhere to certain principles, but undercuts them without even realizing it. In the very last scene he chases after a young girl just moments after pledging to marry his true love Sidi.

Dramatic Irony: Baroka's trick

There is dramatic irony that even the audience does not become aware of until later: Baroka knows exactly what Sadiku and Sidi have planned, and thus everything he says to Sidi drips with irony since he is actually the one in control.

Dramatic Irony: Sadiku's superiority

Sadiku's actions, such as laughing at the Bale's statue and how women have bested him and acting in the performance where he is killed, prove to be ironic due to the Bale's clever trick (see previous Irony entry).

Situational Irony: Baroka's acceptance of modernity

It is ironic that the old Baroka, a man who did not want the railway to come through Ilujinle, decides that he must embrace modernity by having a stamp machine. This is also ironic given the fact that he was treated poorly by images (his photo was next to the latrines in the magazine).