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Literary devices in The Marriage of Anansewa were employed by Efua Sutherland to breathe life into this adaptation of the epic Anase story of the Akan people of Ghana. This article explores some of these devices.

The Marriage of Anansewa – Play

“The Marriage of Ananswa is a famous Ghanaian play by Efua Sutherland published in 1975. It is known for the expert combination of comedy, satire, and traditional Akan performance techniques, including song and dance.

Themes in the play include greed, marriage, and social commentary. The genre is Annsegoro (ie. Storytelling drama) and the main character is a reflection of the famous Akan trickster character, Ananse. The utilization of the Akan folklore elements like a narrator, music, and audience participation makes the story unique and thoroughly seals its origin and rood in African storytelling.

The significance of the play is spread worldwide as it is regarded as a key part of West African Literature and theater that fuses modern drama techniques with traditional African storytelling techniques.

Read the Summary of The Marriage of Anansewa

Literary Devices in The Marriage of Anansewa

The main literary devices used in The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland include satire, irony, trickster motif, humour, exaggeration, and symbolism. These devices are carefully crafted to lend the satirical play an enduring effect to the heart of the audience. Now, let’s explore these devices and more in detail.

1. Satire

Satire is the use of humour, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize human behavior or social institutions. The Marriage of Anansewa criticizes the commercialization of marriage in modern society. Ananse, the trickster character, is represented here as Ananse, the clerk, plans to marry his daughter, Anansewa, to the highest bidder, so he writes exaggerated letters to four chiefs he selected as eligible candidates. He even proceeds to collect gifts from the four chiefs while pretending that each chief is the chosen one.

The acts of Ananse mock greed, materialism in marriage arrangements, and parents who treat their daughters like commodities for exorbitant profits.

This buttresses the core aim of the play, which is to criticize the commercialization of marriage in society.

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2. Irony

Irony occurs when the outcome of a situation is different from what is expressed. In this play, Ananse plans to deceive the chiefs for wealth and lays his plans. Everything seems to be going his way until all the chiefs want Anansewa. Eventually, Ananse faked the death of Anansewa to avoid being exposed.

The irony here is that the trickster becomes trapped in his own tricks. The audience realizes that Anase’s clever plan almost destroys him. This creates a dramatic irony that adds humour to the play.

3. Trickster Motif

The character, Ananse, is based on the famous West African trickster character, often seen in Akan traditional stories.

In The Marriage of Anansewa, the writer draws from this motif. Ananse manipulates the chiefs and lies, schemes, and plans to gain wealth through their promised marriage to his beautiful daughter.

The trickster motif reflects African folklore traditions, where the clever but morally ambiguous character uses intelligence instead of strength to win a situation. It connects the play to the oral storytelling tradition of the Akan people.

4. Humour / Comic Relief

The play is generally humorous, and the audience finds it very entertaining. Humour helps the audience to enjoy the play while still reflecting the serious themes of greed and deception. Also, humour drives engagement.

Some examples of comic relief in the book include:

• Ananse’s exaggerated pride in his cleverness.
• Ananse’s dramatic reaction when things start going wrong.
• His conversations with his daughter and wife.

Learn about Ananse, the spider, and other trickster figures in African Folklore.

5. Suspense

Suspense keeps the audience curious and expectant about what will happen next. In the play, some questions on the plot stir the appetite of the audience, such as:

• Which chief will finally marry Anansewa?
• Will the chiefs discover Ananse’s deception?
• If the chiefs discover the deception, what will happen to Ananse and his daughter?
• What will happen after Anansewa’s fake death?
• Will someone sabotage Ananse’s plans?

The audience waits anxiously to see what happens next as Ananse’s scheme unfolds; will he succeed or fail?

6. Symbolism

Symbolism is when an object or action represents a deeper meaning. Some symbols used in The Marriage of Anansewa include:

(a) Gifts from the Chiefs: these symbolize wealth and power.

(b) Anansewa’s Fake Death: represents the extreme lengths people go to for social advantage.

The symbols in the play help express the theme of greed and social competition.

(c) The entire story portrayed in the play is symbolic as it is a reflection of a core Akan traditional story, Anansesem.

7. Hyperbole

Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or humour. In the play, Ananse exaggerates his intelligence and the greatness of his plan. This act of exaggeration highlights Ananse’s pride and comic personality.

8. Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is when something gives a hint about future events. Early in the play, Ananse talks proudly about his clever plan. This hints that his plan may later become complicated or dangerous, as the path was that of cunning tricks. This discussion on Ananse’s plan prepares the audience for the dramatic crisis involved when all the chiefs prepare to go marry Anansewa, and Ananse had to fake her death.

9. Dramatic Narration

The narration style uses a Storyteller and Chorus, which reflects African oral storytelling and performance. The storyteller introduces scenes and guides the audience through the story. Dramatic narration used here not only connects the play to traditional African oral folklore, but it also creates a participatory theatrical experience for the audience.

Musical interludes (Mboguo) employed in the play increase engagement and appeal of the play as they consist of short and humourous songs and dances that break tension and comment on the plot – typical of African oral tradition performance.

10. Mime

When performed on stage, the actors use mime to act out scenes.

Summary

S/N	Literary Device	Significance
1.	Satire	Used to criticize greed and materialistic marriage customs.
2.	Irony	The trickster gets trapped in his own tricks.
3.	Trickster motif	Ananse, the father of Anansewa, as the clever manipulator. Reflecting the character of Ananse in Akan stories.
4.	Humour	This makes the play entertaining.
5.	Suspense	Used to sustain engagement, keeping the audience curious.
6.	Symbolism	Objects with deeper meaning lending deeper interpretation to the play.
7.	Hyperbole	Exaggeration employed for comic effect.
8.	Foreshadowing	Hints about the future, supports suspense, and creates expectations.
9.	Dramatic narration	Uses a storyteller and chorus; alludes to African oral traditions.
10.	Mime (when on stage)	Brings vivid, physical action on the stage.

Conclusion

Efua Sutherland, in her “The Marriage of Anansewa,” employs Akan storytelling techniques (Anansegoro). It features a blend of drama, dance, and music to bring the satirical play to life. The themes include greed, wit, and a critique of materialistic marriage.