SYMBOLISM IN THE DRAMA OF JP CLARK AND FEMI OSOFISAN

Abstract

The interpretation of literary texts in African drama has become a hazardous task for many readers (especially non-African readers). It is often difficult to go beyond the superficial 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 article is to embark on an analysis 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 meanings other than the surface textual meanings to the readers while trying to reflect the socio-political situation in Nigeria after independence. This will be discussed with a view to enlightening the readers on African dramatic texts about what symbols stand for in African drama, such that when reading African plays, readers will be in a position to appreciate and understand such texts better.