AFRICAN DRAMA
FEMI OSOFISAN: Women of Owu
Discuss Gesinde’s contribution to the development of the plot.
Explanation
Gesinde play an important role in the play. He provides information about important events in the play. As herald of the allied forces, he is a symbol of loyalty and remains faithful to his master from the beginning to the end. According to Erelu, Gesinde is a messenger of doom; anytime he appears among the women, they expect the worst. It is he who carries out the killing of Adumaadan's son and announces the fate of the captive women, including the queen, Erelu and her daughters.
Despite the fact that Gesinde engages in terrible actions in obedience to the orders of his master, he is quite emotional and defensive. Gesinde claims that he is only a messenger and therefore not responsible for whatever action is taken on the women: "I am only a messenger, just a borrowed mouth".
He sheds tears at the sight of Adumaadan's paying her last respect to her slain son. He is moved with pity and volunteers to dig a grave and bury the baby Aderogun —Adumaadan's son. Gesinde is also a gossip in the play. When he discovers that Maye is willing to take lyunloye his unfaithful wife back home, he comments, "beauty has conquered again, as before". He callously announces the victory of lyunloye to the women in their agony.