In Wole Soyinka's "Death and the King's Horseman" the author uses Nigerian culture, tradition, and family values to draw you into this story. Yet, it is the interference of colonialism that acts as a catalyst for this story to take place. If it were not for the arrogance and ignorance of these outsiders then this story may have occurred but its purpose would have been totally different.
             Without the influence of Nigeria's colonizers such complex characters as Amusa, Olunde, and Joseph would not have occurred. It is obvious that through there interaction with the foreigners shaped who they were as people. Whether it be their religion, their goals and aspirations, or how the colonized themselves looked at their culture. Through the influence of Christianity foreigners were able to separate some of the tribesmen and women from their tribes, get them to adopt a foreign religion and God and then look at their beliefs with contempt, such was the case of the servant Joseph. Then you had a more complex character in the form of Amusa who accepted Christianity yet had respect for the old ways and customs. This was evident when he would not even looked at the Pilkings who out of their lack of respect wore a sacred costume to a masquerade ball. He was the most curious character to me because I could not figure out was he truly drawn to Christianity and the beliefs of!
             these outsiders, or was this simply a case of giving up what one believes because it could make life a lot easier for this person. Then one can look at Olunde, son of the Elesin Oba, who crept away to the mother country for education. When he left I do not think that he had such an appreciation for his culture and traditions. Yet, through time around his white counterparts made him realize the lack of respect that the colonizers had toward other cultures and people.
             Next one can look at the perspective of the story, which a good portion ...