Untitled - Memorial University of Newfoundland

older brother rightfull y occupies me throne at the death of his father. Although
Odewa1e is ignoran t of his birth right, and thus his tribal affiliati ons. the audience
watch him unra vel the mystery surrounding his birth .
By replacing Creon with Adercpc , who . in the absence of an older brother .
would have been the rightful heir to the throne after Kin g Adetusa 's death, Rotirni
strengthens Odewal c 's suspicion tha1Aderopo is guilty of treason . One wonders why
Aderopo was not crowned king after his father's death ; wasit because he feared for
his life or the elders questioned his competence'? Whatever the reasons, it is obvious
that Aderopo is in a difficul t siruation as the rightful. heir to the throne. This makes
Odewal e's suspicion of him even more plausible because Qdewa1e sees himself as a
stranger in Kutuje. Odewale expresses his anger against Aderopo after the scene in
which Baba Fakunl e calls him a murderer and bedsbarer::
ODEWALE: First , that boy, Aderopo or whate ver he calls himself . He
wants to be King, so what did be do? He bribed the Seer
to co me and insult me , to call me murderer of his father.
That blind bat who calls bimself Seersays I am a 'bcdsharer' .
Wha t does that mean? Sharin g a bed with whom? Ojuola.
Aderopo's modler . In other words. 1 don't belong in that bed. In
OO1er words, I have no right to be King.
Is Aderopo jealous that I am sharing a bed with his mother?
Very well then , let him come and sleep with his mother.
1st CHIEF: The gods forbid that such thoughts should enter the heads of the
living.
ODEWALE: Oh, you wait. 1 have sent for him to come. Bedsharer. So, let
him come and marry his own mother. And nOf: stopping there , let
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