How we cite our quotes: Act.Line
Quote #1
You're like a jealous wife. Stay close to me, but only on this side. (1.10)
Although it's kind of a throwaway joke, it's still telling that Elesin makes fun of the Praise-Singer's offer to follow him to the great beyond by saying that he's like a jealous wife. It's early in the play, and already it looks like we're going to get some stereotypes about women and how they act.
Quote #2
They love to spoil you but beware. The hands of women also weaken the unwary. (1.13)
Now it's the Praise-Singer making generalizations about women and their power—and in his view, women are more draining than empowering. Never mind any role that Elesin's vanity might play in allowing such weakness to spring up… Of course, the Praise-Singer's words are prophetic, since Elesin later blames his marriage for his failure to go through with the ceremony.
Quote #3
I embrace it. And let me tell you, women—
I like this farewell that the world designed… (1.74)
When Elesin enters the market that day, he basically holds court and laps up all the attention the market women are giving him. He's a total big shot because of his status in the community and the sacrifice he's about to take on, and he loves it. To be clear, the women's primary role here seems to be to fawn all over him.
Quote #4
Enough, enough, you all have cause
To know me well. But, if you say this earth
Is still the same as gave birth to those songs,
Tell me who was that goddess through whose lips
I saw the ivory pebbles of Oya's river-bed.
Iyaloja, who is she? I saw her enter
Your stall; all your daughters I know well. (1.90)
It seems Elesin can basically just pick out a bride without even having to speak to her or get her consent. However, he still has to get Iyaloja on board with his choice before they can get married. It's an odd mix.
Quote #5
Quite right. Trust a woman to think of that. Come on, let's get going. (2.169)
Jane has just informed Simon about one of the bright sides of their egungun costumes: no need to look for gloves since everything is all sewn on. Simon's response sounds a bit condescending, like he's attributing her comment to some kind of "womanly" logic, but it's really just basic common sense, given that women were expected to wear gloves when meeting royalty—which is exactly what Jane is about to do.
Quote #6
Shut up woman and get your things on. (2.171)
Though you might not be able to tell it from his actual words, Simon is in a good mood and trying to be playful. His wife takes it in that spirit, but it doesn't seem like the most respectful form of play, now does it?
Quote #7
You want to look inside the bridal chamber? You want to see for yourself how a man cuts the virgin knot? (3.35)
When she is mocking Amusa, a market woman here implies that perhaps he is not a man, since he doesn't appear to know how to cut "the virgin knot." So once again, the play kind of implies that non-manly people (like women?) lack power.
Quote #8
My young bride, did you hear the ghostly one? You sit and sob in your silent heart but say nothing to all this. First I blamed the white man, then I blamed my gods for deserting me. Now I feel I want to blame you for the mystery of the sapping of my will. But blame is a strange peace offering for a man to bring a world he has deeply wronged, and to its innocent dwellers. Oh little mother, I have taken countless women in my life but you were more than a desire of the flesh. I needed you as the abyss across which my body must be drawn, I filled it with earth and dropped my seed in it at the moment of preparedness for my crossing. You were the final gift of the living to their emissary to the land of the ancestors, and perhaps your warmth and youth brought new insights of this world to me and turned my feet leaden on this side of the abyss. For I confess to you, daughter, my weakness came not merely from the abomination of the white man who came violently into my fading presence, there was also a weight of longing on my earth-held limbs. I would have shaken it off, already my foot had begun to lift but then, the white ghost entered and all was defiled. (5.42)
Remember when the Praise-Singer basically says that women can sap your power and bring you down? Well, that seems to be what Elesin thinks happened when he failed to cross over to the other side. Although other factors were at play, too, his first reaction was to blame his wife for making him too attached to this side of the life/afterlife divide. How convenient he insisted she marry him…
Quote #9
ELESIN [he gives her a long strange stare, as if he is trying to understand who she is]: You are the wife of the District Officer?
JANE: Yes. My name, is Jane.
ELESIN: That is my wife sitting down there. You notice how still and silent she sits? My business is with your husband. (5.62-64)
Um, yikes. Apparently in Elesin's view, wives should be seen and not heard. Which might be why is own wife doesn't even get a name in the play; she's just "the bride."
Quote #10
But I am sure you have searched her clothing as you would never dare touch your own mother. And there are these two lizards of yours who roll their eyes even when I scratch. (5.68)
Elesin is angry at the liberty the British guards have likely taken in searching Iyaloja. Even while he doesn't seem to have a ton of respect for the other women around him, he seems to at least have some for Iyaloja. What do you think the reason for this is?