TAXONOMY OF SOYINKA'S THE ROAD, AND BRECHT'S A GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN SITUATING THEM IN THEIR HUMANISTIC SOCIOCULTURAL MILIEU

Abstract

Generally, theatre has dual representation. It could mean a building where performance takes place. On the other hand, it could mean performance itself. Theatre is seen as an image of the world; a proper representation of real-life events. It is a place where the populace is educated, enlightened, entertained and informed via dramatic presentations. The theatre attempts to take men back to sanity and also heals the madness of inhuman nature in their mind. Many established playwrights and directors have dedicated themselves to using theatre as a tool for promoting and preserving culture especially the first-generation Nigerian playwrights such as Wole Soyinka, Ola Rotimi, John Pepper Clark, Zulu Sofola and a host of others. Culture on its own simply put is the total way of life, a definition coined from E. B Taylor's definition that "culture is the totality of people's way of life". This work is thus concerned with the categorization of Soyinka's The Road, and Brecht's A Good Woman of Setzuan situating them in their humanistic sociocultural milieu. To this end, the researcher will also go deep into the types, cultural values and sociological effects of the above-named plays on the society. This paper is very important because it establishes theatre as an important and integral factor în the overall sociocultural wellbeing of the society at large via the creative writing of playwrights.