From Troy to Owu: Women, violence and patriarchy in Femi Osofisan's women of Owu and Euripides' TZrojan women

Abstract

This paper adopts Femi Osofisan's (2006) play as the backdrop for this discussion. Women of Owu is an African Re-reading of Euripides'  Trojan Women. Women experiences across the globe today are not too different from that of the past. Violence and subjugation of  women have been institutionalized in the contemporary society; while in the past, women experience violence and war more. Beyond  patriarchy, this paper teases out the part played by women and how they serve as gatekeepers in the violence, subjugation, and  oppression of women. The paper exudes the patriarchy in action as captured in Femi Osofisan's and Euripedes' plays; portraying the universal conception that women are the weaker vessel and are objects to be owned (property). The womanism theory shows that  women can be emotional, irrational, weak, and perceived as that to be owned; but they are altruist – fighting for the survival of their  people and nation. The substance of this paper is thrust towards understanding women in every society, how patriarchy operates, the  women's experience and their resilience against violence. The paper is also set to portray the altruistic nature of women in the two plays;  attributes that are considered to be against the norms of their respective societies and gender and demonstrating commitment to the  survival of their people.