The Style of Ben Okri in <i>Songs of Enchantment</i> and <i>Infinite Riches</i>

Abstract

This paper examines the style of Ben Okri in Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches. In many stylistic devices, the novelist makes a point against moral decadence in the society. The stylistic devices employed by Okri in the novels include: satire, register, cliché and pidgin. He also makes use of proverbs, figurative language, irony and symbolism. These literary devices enhance the aesthetics of the story and contribute to the understanding and enjoyment of the subject matter. They also shed light on the characters and the thematic focus of the author. Findings reveal a society overtaken by vices where the poor and the weak exist at the mercy of the rich and powerful. It is a society struggling under the grip of one moral decadence or the other. The novelist frowns at the moral decay of the society and recommends a morally balanced society devoid of corruption, injustice and inequality. The researcher also suggests an egalitarian and morally upright society for the good of all men.