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Elizabeth, Olaniyan Modupe
- The Dramatist and His Age: Ben Jonson and His Comedies
Authors
Source
International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, Vol 4, No 11 (2015), Pagination:Abstract
The relevance of drama and the dramatist to society is an ever-recurring issue. The dramatist’s assignment of rebuking his society be it liberal or revolutionary society, is to reform it and make it literally whole again. This is an enduring social function. The societal function of the dramatist is dictated by the social world, just as his consciousness is also moulded by it. His obligation is to awaken men to the ethical and humanistic values of life with the intention of reforming or revolutionizing it. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the picture of some outstanding phases of the contemporary life of Ben Jonson and to estimate their values as a contribution to the knowledge and understanding of his time; such subjects like the influence of the Court and the inter-relationship of classes, the problem of dramatic arts and the taste of theatre-goers, the methods and aims of contemporary scholarship, the character and significance of everyday life. The work looks at the colour and atmosphere of London at one of its fascinating moments and Jonson’s contributions towards sanitizing the decadent society through his comedies.
Keywords
Comedy, Decadence, Dramatist, Jonson and London- Symbolism in the Drama of J.P. Clark and Femi Osofisan
Authors
Source
International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, Vol 3, No 4 (2014), Pagination:Abstract
The interpretation of literary texts in African drama has become a hazardous task to many readers (especially non-African readers). Many a time, it is difficult to go beyond the surface literal meanings of a text. Readers often take what characters say as what they mean and do and unfortunately, most dramatists, do not usually provide explanatory notes at the end of such texts to aid the readers’ understanding. Hence, the aim of this study is to embark on the analyses of the works of John Pepper Clark and Femi Osofisan (both Nigerian Dramatists), to see how they have used symbolism in their plays The Raft and Another Raft respectively to convey other meanings than the surface textual meanings to the readers while trying to reflect the socio-political situations in Nigeria after independence.
This will be discussed with a view to enlightening the readers of African dramatic texts about what symbols stand for in African drama, such that while reading African plays, readers will be in a position to appreciate and understand such texts better.