In the play Dream on Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott, the character of Makak beheads the White Goddess who has inspired his visions. Throughout the play Makak has many visions or dreams. Ironic effects appear throughout the events. At the same time Makak's romantic dream of Africa is presented, he has a fantasy of a white protectress who takes care of him. Makak then gives up this fantasy by brutally beheading the women with an African sword. .
Makak is in jail at the time he beheads the White Goddess. It is there that one of the men he is incarcerated with tells him that he must get rid of the White Goddess basically because she is white. He tells Makak that he must discover his blackness and cut off the White Goddess's head. Makak stirred into hatred and then into action beheads the White Goddess. Then he awakens to find it was all a dream. .
In the play the White Goddess is Makak's angel but she becomes his demon. By executing her he is destroying much more than his oppressor, he is destroying an externally-imposed image of himself. It is for this reason that Makak marks the death of the White Goddess with the words, "Now, O God, now I am free" (320). .
The struggle in this play is about identity. Makak is a downtrodden member of society. Makak is a black charcoal maker. He sells the charcoal at the marketplace. This is one of the lowest jobs in society. He calls himself "ugly as sin" (227) and is called monkey repeatedly (223). Makak has dreams throughout the play. These dreams allow him something to believe in, even if it is just simply a dream. Makak struggles with his identity throughout the play. .
When the White Goddess visits Makak he sees her as "the loveliest thing on earth- (227). Makak hears from others that this White Goddess is the color of the law, religion, and art. Makak is told that if he "wants to discover the beautiful depth of his blackness, nigger, chop off her head!"(319) Makak beheads her to try and discover his own identity.
Beheadings as well as quartering and posting of their severed heads, were reserved for highborn traitors. ... She paraded through the streets in a chariot pulled by too white horses like the goddess of victory. ...
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The Priest of the Earth Goddess, Ezeani told Okonkwo before the beating incident: "During the Week of Peace you are to live in complete peace no matter what the circumstances [. . .] the evil he did could ruin the whole clan- (Achebe 45). Breaking the rules of the Week of Peace is considered a sin against the Goddess of the soil, Ani. ... The arrival of the white man and his Christian ways took over most of the Igbo people. The villagers experienced the ways of the white man and most accepted the change and others did not. ...
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