A critical stylistic study of Wole Soyinka’s re-enactment of actions in interventions <i>I, IV </i>AND <i>VIII</i>

Abstract

Wole Soyinka‟s Interventions are mostly comments on socio-political issues in the Nigerian Society. Previous studies on Soyinka‟s  Interventions have focused on critical discourse analysis and critical metaphor analysis with little attention paid to the critical stylistic use  of language in the depiction of leadership ills. This study is, therefore, designed to explore Soyinka‟s re-enactment of actions in  Interventions I, IV and VIII. Lesley Jeffries‟ Critical Stylistics, with specific focus on the tool of representing actions/events/states, was  adopted as its theoretical framework. The Descriptive Design was used. The study explores how Soyinka uses material actions to present  Nigerian leaders‟ dereliction of duty which has entrenched decay in various spheres of the society. Sadly, “the weeds of atonement” have  been forced on the backs of the masses who obviously do not commit the crimes, but bear the brunt of the wrongdoings and are further pressured into seeking non-existing redress. Ironically, while the proletariat are busy making supplications, their leaders are busy  looting and plundering everything within sight that would have brought succour to the suffering commoners. Conclusively, the Nigerian  leaders‟ disregard for their responsibilities has paved way for the quagmire the nation currently finds itself in. Rather than fashion ways  for the nation‟s emancipation from its despondent state, its current leaders continue to tow the lines of their predecessors. Hence, the  pitiable state in which the country finds itself currently.