This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. No one? Do you mean there was no one To bar unwanted strangers from my privacy? Who made th...

Answer Details

This statement is made by Baroka, the Bale (chief) of Ilujinle. In Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel, Baroka is a powerful, authoritative figure who guards his privacy and dignity fiercely. The lines "No one? Do you mean there was no one / To bar unwanted strangers from my privacy?" reveal his displeasure at having his personal space intruded upon without permission.

The commanding tone and the reference to "my privacy" are characteristic of Baroka. As the village chief, he expects his household to be managed with discipline, and the idea that strangers could approach him without being screened by his attendants or wives is offensive to his sense of authority. This exchange occurs when Baroka learns that someone has gained access to him without the usual protocols being followed.

Lakunle, the young schoolteacher, speaks in a very different register - earnest and bookish. Sidi is the village belle whom Baroka pursues. Sadiku is Baroka's senior wife who acts as an intermediary. None of these characters would speak with the proprietary authority over a private household evident in these lines.