A Dance of the Forests

In A Dance of the Forests, what impact does the intersection of the natural world and the spirit world have on the lives of the living? What do you think Soyinka suggests about the relationship between modernity, industrialization, and nature?

The Forest Head and Aroni summon the mortals to the forest to stand trial for the actions of previous generations. To what extent can Demoke, Rola, and the others be considered guilty of the crimes of their ancestors/previous incarnations? What does Soyinka suggest about a citizen’s responsibility to make amends for the past?

The climax of the play occurs during the procession of spirits in the Dance of the Dead in Part 2. What is the significance of this section of the play? What do the various spirits signify?