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Interdisciplinary pape1

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Interdisciplinary paper

“Death and The King’s Horseman,” by Wole Soyinka recounts the fate of Elesin, a

King’s Horseman, who must die, according to the Yoruba culture, following the death of the

King. In this tradition, Elesin must sacrifice his life to join the king in the afterlife. In Yoruba

traditions, if the horseman, for some reasons, is unable to sacrifice his life, his firstborn son does

so, to complete the cycle. The story is non-fictional and is believed to have occurred in colonial

Nigeria, under British rule. The colonial authorities prevented the horseman from committing

suicide. Death was a ritual he would not have escaped. The book can better be understood by

integrating psychological and ethical disciplines in the analysis. This story challenges one’s

conviction about suicide, which is highly condemned today.

A central psychological concept that best describes the action of Elesin, and

consequently, his son, Olunde, is altruism. Altruism is best defined as giving oneself for the

welfare of others. Usually, people are altruistic when they witness their loved ones desperately

needing help and empathy. Giving oneself for the wellbeing of the others does not come

naturally, but requires people to disregard their interest for the sake of making others happy.

However, it is still common to see people helping strangers. A more significant portion of those

helping people they do not have a close relationship foresees some benefits. Evolutionary

psychologists and biologists, however, terms reciprocal altruism, as the act of giving in

anticipation that one will get some benefits that will pay off the act of giving. Where people do

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not foresee recognition or reward for the help, they extend, helping each other out makes them

feel energized to assist even more. Biologists term the sensation from this aid as ‘helper high.’

In world history, Mother Teresa has been regarded as a model for altruism. She sacrificed

her life for the sake of helping people. Her great deed, especially in Filipino was a great act of

generosity, and she lives in their memories as an image of the Lord’s compassion (Ucasnews.

2019). Love was also expressed through her.

The concept of altruism best explains Elesin’s desire to sacrifice himself. He knows that

according to Yoruba culture, when a king dies, his horseman has to die and make a journey to

meet him in the afterlife. Through his actions, he is willing to put everything behind and die for

the sake of the people. His self-sacrifice is better illustrated when he makes his last journey

before he dies. On his way, he comes across an incredibly stunning woman. “Iyaloja, who is she?

I saw her enter your stall; all daughters I know well” (Harrow 328). Elesin was used to getting

everything he wanted in life. He desires to love and make her his wife. He weds her before his

ritual death. Despite finding new love, and a renewed reason to live, he chooses to die and goes

ahead with preparation for his death.

In fact, he is ready to die until Pilkng, an English colonialist intervenes. He and his wife

Jane believes that the ritual should not be undertaken, therefore thinks that Elesin needs to be

jailed. She tells her husband, “You know this business has to be stopped, Simon. And you are the

only man who can do it” (Ofoego 261) eventually, they manage to stop him from undertaking the

ritual, by chastising him. However, the desire for sacrifice is so strong that they are unable to

stop Olunde, from committing suicide. He dies, for the sake of all of his community members.

Elesin desired to die, not for his sake, but for honoring the community’s ritual. When he does not

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Surname 1 Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date Interdisciplinary paper “Death and The King’s Horseman,” by Wole Soyinka recounts the fate of Elesin, a King’s Horseman, who must die, according to the Yoruba culture, following the death of the King. In this tradition, Elesin must sacrifice his life to join the king in the afterlife. In Yoruba traditions, if the horseman, for some reasons, is unable to sacrifice his life, his firstborn son does so, to complete the cycle. The story is non-fictional and is believed to have occurred in colonial Nigeria, under British rule. The colonial authorities prevented the horseman from committing suicide. Death was a ritual he would not have escaped. The book can better be understood by integrating psychological and ethical disciplines in the analysis. This story challenges one’s conviction about suicide, which is highly condemned today. A central psychological concept that best describes the action of Elesin, and consequently, his son, Olunde, is altruism. Altruism is best defined as giving oneself for the welfare of others. Usually, people are altruistic when they witness their loved ones desperately needing help and empathy. Giving oneself for the wellbeing of the others does not come naturally, but requires people to disregard their interest for the sake of making others happy. However, it is still common to see people helping strangers. A more significant portion of those helping people they do not have a close relat ...
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