Death and The King's Horseman took place in 1946, in the Nigerian City of Yourba (of Oya). In Nigeria, there were customs Nigerians used to live. They were accustomed to the way they lived and practiced their religions. At this time, the British were taking over many other countries and Nigeria was their next target. The theme of this story is based on the strict observance of this nation's royal funeral rites. In a Nigerian custom, the King's main horseman has to sacrifice his life when his king dies. The main plot of this story is that the king has died and Elesin, the King's chief horseman, is expected by law and custom to commit suicide and accompany his ruler to heaven. The conflict that restricted them from performing this ritual was that Pilkings, the British officer, knowing that Elesin was going to commit suicide was forced by his law to stop this ritual. This is one of the main reasons that the ritual was stopped and the pause gave Elesin more time to think of a reason to from not performing this ritual. Restricting the Nigerians from performing their ritual they grew to become extremely angry. (Soyinka, Wole. Pages ).
Both the British and the Nigerian people had their own views on this situation. The British had established some laws that went against the Nigerians traditions. These laws forced the British to believe that Pilking's should stop this ceremony and save this person's life. This action showed that the British had no understanding of the Nigerian's customs and laws. This matters because if they did in fact have an understanding of their customs and laws then they would've probably let the ceremony continue. The tribe on the other hand has their own laws and believes that it is right for someone to perform their ritual and it is wrong and immoral for someone not to go through with it. The tribe believes that if a ritual is broken then you have deceived the people and the gods.
In the play Death and the King's Horseman, by Wole Soyinka, two characters embody the average viewpoint of the British towards the African people of Nigeria in 1946. ... He says it belongs to the death cult and that it should not be taken lightly. ...
Following with the consequences of his death and the reasons for the crumbling of political unity in his empire will be examined. ... Alexander was extremely skillful at dealing with unfamiliar tactics of warfare, such as the use of chariots armed with scythes, elephants deployed in battle, and evasive, encircling movements by nomad horseman. ... With these two victories Alexander broke the main Persian resistance and in the autumn of 331 B.C. he entered Babylon, the winter capital of the Persian kings. ... Persepolis to be buried in the royal cemetery of the Achaemenid kings. ...
In short, the kings and queens of both countries rule, while the world of the commoners continues beneath them. ... Death becomes a farmer, carrying his own wares on the tumbrils that carried the aristocrats to the guillotine. ... In a hoarse voice, the horseman asks for Mr. ... Dickens wants to emphasize the death and burial themes. ... The beheaded cupids also hint at the final source of death within the novel: the terror of the guillotine. ...
The prisoners are picked up and after another short journey, the Orc's messenger tells them that a single horseman was seen nearby. ... Gandalf held on to the enemy's heel and the Balrog took him up to the highest peak from where Gandalf flung the Balrog to its death. ...
