REFLECTIONS ON DEATH AND UPSURGEING SUICIDE PHENOMENON: A READING OF CLEMENT ODIA’S BEKEKELE

Document Type : Original Article

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Department of Arts and Humanities, Irkuskt National Research Technical university

Abstract

Abstract

Overtime, issues pertaining to dying and death are often thought of to be more appropriate for consideration within the folds of religion, medicine, anthropology and psychology, while its place in literature, often times, downplayed. Notwithstanding, literature has proved to be a potent tool in the reconstruction of life and death and in the shaping of man’s understanding of both phenomenon. To this end, this paper examines Clement Odia’s underlying perception of death and suicide in his play, Bekekele, as against the proliferateing and upsurgeing view of suicide as escape route from existential doldrums in recent times. This is with a view to establishing the link between arts and social realities and the artist’s commitment in enthroning value for life in spite of the suffocating hurdles that characterise man’s journey through life. The play is subjected to critical and literary analyses in order to pinpoint characters instinctual attitude to life and death, suicides, and the playwright’s stances on the need to soar above limiting circumstances of life. Odia therefore uses death and suicide in the play as metaphors to comment and right negative views about life, death and social relations.

Keywords: Clement Odia, Bekekele, Suicide, Death

Keywords

Journal of English Literature and Cultural Studies
Volume 3, Issue 3
December 2022
Pages 23-28

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