Thesis Statement: the paper intends to analyze two literary works “story of the prince and lions” and “Mwindo”. The paper will further discuss important themes covered in both stories.
Introduction:
Mwindo is a verbal story by Nyanga inhabitants of Central Africa. Mwindo is projected as a superhero, blessed with magical and supernatural powers. The story is full of adventures and magical acts of Mwindo. Shemwindo was father of Mwindo, who instructed all his seven wives not to deliver any male child otherwise he will kill the male child. Shemindo after birth of Mwindo, made two attempts to kill him but failed. Mwindo was not a normal child; “Mwindo was born laughing, speaking, and walking, holding a conga-scepter in his right hand and an ax in his left” (William Overton and Linda Silva). Mwindo attempted several combats with; Mukiti, Kasiyembe, Muisa and Shemwindo. He won all the battles and finally made settlement with his father. At the end of the story he became kind hearted and peace lover after getting a lesson from sky.
The story of prince and lions is knitted around prince Azgid of eastern city. The story is based on life changing experiences that completely changed the life of prince Azgid. The story starts when prince was about to take throne after death of his father. He asked to complete one ritual of fighting with a lion before taking throne. The prince was scarred of lions so he left the city. He visited three places but found that lions are present everywhere. He finally takes courage to go back to his city and fight with lion; “he came to the determination that he would instantly return home, and fulfill the law and custom of his country by fighting the lion” (William Overton and Linda Silva).
Discussion:
Both of the stories are very entertaining. Mwindo is full of adventures and drive attention of listeners with various actions. On the other hand story of prince and lions describe scenic beauty and culture of three places visited by prince.
Both of the stories carry traditional values of the origin place. Mwindo is clear reflection of African culture and traditional beliefs. African preference for a girl child is reflected when Shemwindo said “You my wives must all give birth to girls. Any among you who shall bear a boy, I will kill that child” (William Overton and Linda Silva). African belief in magical or divine power is also presented in the story. The story of prince and lions is also reflects the tradition of eastern places. The Vizier asks prince to fulfill a custom before coronation. He said “you must descend into this den with a dagger, and fight yonder lion. This will test your courage and fortitude, and show whether you are really worthy of governing a kingdom” (William Overton and Linda Silva).
Lesson learned is another common theme shared in the stories. In Mwindo, the hero is portrayed as most powerful and magical person. He is very aggressive, egoistic and hardhearted during the story. He killed several people during his battles. Spirits from sky taught him a lesson of peace by punishing him in sun heat, rain and cold. They said “The news has been given us of your pride, but here in the sky there is no room for your pride” (William Overton and Linda Silva). They made Mwindo free only after taking a promise of not taking life of any living being. There after Mwindo spread a message of harmony and peace. In the story of prince and lions, the prince was afraid of lions and escaped from his city when asked to fight with lion. During his entire journey he visited three different places one was having natural beauty of waterfalls, trees and grass. The second place was desert and third place was full of hills, meadows, streams and dale. At all places he found lions so he decided not to escape from lion instead fight with him. He learned a lesson of courage from his experiences of journey.
Conclusion:
After having observed both the abovementioned stories and their analysis, it is good to conclude that these stories are entertaining and have great cultural importance in Africa. These stories communicate about the rich tradition of society from older to newer generations. They are full of massages and values.
Works Cited
Valentine, Laura. Story of the Prince and the Lions an Eastern Tale. Whitefish, Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2010.
William Overton and Linda Silva. World Literature Through the Renaissance. APUS ePress, 2011.
