ABSTRACT

Soyinka drew on long tradition in literature of a lovable rogue, the character who repeatedly cheats and schemes to his own advantage, with wit and verve. In his ‘Jero’s Metamorphosis’, Soyinkas’s protagonist is a representative of the same tradition who exploits the gullible to fulfill his quest for money and power in all respects. Jero’s Metamorphosis is a light satiric comedy that takes aim at religious hypocrisy in the form of Charlton or fraud, named Brother Jero, who preaches to his followers on Bar Beach in Lagos, Nigeria. Jero is a master of manipulation and keeps his followers in a subservient position because he understands what they long formoney, social status and power and convinces them that they will soon be able to fulfill these materials the desire. In review from Time Magazine a critic describes the play as,” a broad spot of religious humbug, a con man of prophecy who lives by mulcting his worshipers or ‘customers’.” Soyinka served the role of a social reformer through his writing and for this he uses satire as a literary tool in an effective manner. Present research paper reveals satirical remarks on contemporary religious institutions, religious persons and their religious practices in order to expose prevailing social conditions in accordance with drama ‘Jero’s Metamorphosis’. The paper also discusses as a Satirist how Soyinka attacks the evils of religious institutions and exposes the petty motives of the prophets.

Keywords: Religious Satire, Hypocrisy, Quest for Power, Superficial Prophets, Superficial Brotherhood .

I. Introduction

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright poet and essayist .He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in literature, the first African to be honored in that category. His intellectual and creative contributions to humanity have earned him worldwide respect. He was described as “one who in a wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence”. His writing is rooted in Yoruba culture and Western traditions i.e. from Aristophanes to modern writers. His satires do not only concentrate on Yoruba or Nigerian setting and subject matter but also extend to embrace other parts of Africa. No doubt he is a big critic of his own men and manners. At the same time he is not an armchair critic but an activist and pragmatist. He is often seen demonstrating practically even to the extent of exposing his own life to imminent dangers. Hence he is regarded as a fighter for the people’s….

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