A Society Under Siege: A Study of Ben Okri’s <i>Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches</i>

Abstract

This paper discusses A Society under Siege as presented in Ben Okri’s Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches. The novels reveal many societal vices perpetrated by human beings and other forces against the weak and the masses in the society. The work reveals various levels and degrees of moral delinquencies in the novels. Episodes and instances of moral decay are also highlighted and an analysis of the experiences of the characters in the story uncovered. Findings show a society plagued by vices where the poor and the weak exist at the mercy of the powerful represented by Madame Koto, politicians and other supernatural forces. In criticising the siege on the society by evil forces as represented in Okri’s Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches, we recommend a just, equitable and morally upright society, devoid of excessive and crude use of power which press the people down as demonstrated in the novels of Okri under examination.