Political Narrative and Political Reality: Reflections on Wole Soyinka‘S A Play Of Giants

Abstract

Drama like other genres of literature picks its ingredients for creative expression from reality. Reality comes in different forms depending on the sensitivity of the writer, who digs deep into real life events and gives a literary expression on the text. Soyinka‟s “A Play of Giants” depicts political maneuverings as political narratives and political reality on stage. It is a truism that every society, no matter how primitive or sophisticated has one form of politics or the other by which such society is governed and stratified. This paper develops directions of thoughts for reflection from the manipulations of power by African leaders. Political narrative in our context reflects a radical reconstruction of reality satirizing the political decay in Africa. Reflections on political discourse show that the dominant roles of narratives are crucial tool for the examination of how we “story the world”. This paper posits that the political narrative of simplifying complex situation by stringing events into gripping and believable drama is achieved through the agency of satire, humour and emblematic symbols that underscore abuse of power amongst corrupt African leadership.