Reconciliation, a Cogent Global Desideratum: Spotlight on Aristophanes’ Lysistrata and Tess Onwueme's Missing Face

Abstract

The process of reconciliation simply terminates schism, hostility and undue alienation. The compelling political, religious and social ambiance in the world today revolves around selfish ends rather than seeking for a point of resemblance; that ideology of adhering to homogenous standard as social uniformity. As a result there is damaging undesirable, retrogression in place of optimism, peace and progression. There is a call for genial global association in her myriad activities to transcend beyond fragmentation. It is on this basic premise that this paper seeks and suggests that literature would help restore and sustain humanity‟s place in creation by harmoniously bringing two belligerent heads together through its tales because what literature does even from the classics is to present a broad spectrum of human experiences and its vicissitudes. Besides, all human experiences are universal, themes connect us as they portray issues that are universal which bind us. On the same proposition, this paper propounds that the two playwrights under study have something to offer the society for the reconciliation of two warring heads. Even in the classics the search for reconciliation has been in existence because in every human relationship, disagreement or misunderstanding is inescapable. Onwueme‟s Missing Face through Ida Bee‟s search for missing face reconciles with her son‟s father, Momah. Onwueme achieves this by establishing the blood relationship between the two though each is born at either sides of Atlantic. The persistent prophetic vision expressed in the play achieves attainment of authentic unity and this is achieved through tenacity and aggressive attempt by Ida Bee. The playwright emphasizes that the desire for reconciliation may be labyrinthine, a tortuous path and even humiliating journey, but it is achieved by selflessness. Throughout the play, the playwright projects image of unity and reconciliation between Ida Bee, her son and Momah which binds her to Idu and Idu to Diaspora. This reconciliation goes beyond Africa to the entire globe and it is significant in challenging destructive forces facing humanity. That is why Aristophanes, uses one of his surviving plays – Lysistrata to portray women‟s effort and extra ordinary mission to end Peloponnesian war. Lysistrata insinuates her fellow women to withhold sex from their husbands until both Sparta and Athens agree to end the war. When they succeed, songs and dances follow – the fruit of reconciliation brings joy and adds many years to life in tranquility.