YORUBA AND GREEK NOTIONS OF TRAGEDY IN SOYINKA’S DEATH AND THE KING’S HORSEMAN AND SOPHOCLES’ OEDIPUS REX

ABSTRACT This study provides a comparative analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Wole Soyinka's Death and the King’s Horseman, focusing on the themes of fate, duty, and the role of the tragic hero. Both plays are rooted in distinct cultural traditions—Greek and Yoruba—but explore the universal nature of human suffering and responsibility. In Oedipus Rex, fate is portrayed as fixed and inescapable, determined by divine forces, while in Death and the King’s Horseman, destiny is intertwined with individual agency and spiritual duty. The concept of duty also differs between the two plays: Oedipus’s personal responsibility drives him to uncover a truth that leads to his downfall, whereas Elesin’s failure to fulfill his ritual duty disrupts the spiritual harmony of his community. Additionally, the tragic heroes in both works suffer due to personal flaws or failures, but the scope of their tragedies varies—Oedipus’s downfall is individual, while Elesin’s affects the entire community. This analysis highlights how both plays reflect their respective cultural worldviews, illustrating different understandings of destiny, responsibility, and the consequences of human actions. Through these comparisons, the study reveals the shared essence of tragedy across cultures, despite variations in expression and meaning.