Death and the King's Horseman Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Act.Line

Quote #1

I think you've shocked his big pagan heart bless him. (2.12)

Jane is telling Simon that they've shocked Amusa with their egungun costumes. Of course, as Simon reminds her, Amusa is not "pagan," since he's converted to Islam. But neither Jane nor Simon seems overly concerned with the details when thinking about the emotions or reactions of non-British people. Ugh.

Quote #2

Olunde. Haven't replied to his last letter come to think of it. The old pagan wanted him to stay and carry on some family tradition or the other. Honestly I couldn't understand the fuss he made. I literally had to help the boy escape from close confinement and load him onto the next boat. A most intelligent boy, really bright. (2.77)

It seems Simon worked pretty hard to get Olunde away from Elesin so the young man could get a medical education in England. And while his intentions may be good, they're also super ill informed. Yanking a guy away from his family with only the vaguest understanding of the "some family tradition or the other" that Elesin wanted Olunde to participate in = no cultural sensitivity awards for Simon.

Quote #3

Oh no, master is white man. And good christian. Black man juju can't touch master. (2.88)

Joseph is basically agreeing with Simon that their costumes (confiscated from some egungun men) are harmless. It is interesting, though, that he doesn't really reject the power or reality of "Black man juju"—he just says that Simon is immune to it as a white man.