Death and the King’s Horseman: Act 3 Summary & Analysis

Back in the market, Amusa and two constables use their batons to push a large group of women backwards, toward a cloth stall covered in rich velvet. Amusa shouts at the women that he's here on official business, but the women call him a "white man's eunuch" and insist that he's not allowed here anymore. One woman tugs on a constable's baton and says that the police batons are useless; what counts is a man's penis. She makes as though to peer up the constable's baggy shorts, but he pulls his knees together and the women roar with laughter. The women insult the penises of all three men.

Amusa tells the women to stop interfering, but the women insist that Amusa is trespassing, and that the road isn't meant for people like him. They ask for Amusa to have the white men come themselves. When Amusa says that they'll return with weapons, the women joke more about how the white men cut off their "weapons" (penises) before they put on the police shorts. Again, the women howl with laughter. Amusa shouts that he knows that "the chief who call himself Elesin" is in the market stall, and a woman shouts that Elesin's blood is why he's called Elesin--and furthermore, that Elesin's son will be called Elesin after him, no matter what the white men do.

Amusa insists that this practice must stop, but the women spit back that Elesin will kill himself and in doing so, show that he's stronger than the laws of the white men. Iyaloja and Elesin’s new bride come out of the stall and join the group outside. Amusa is glad to see Iyaloja, and explains that he's here to arrest Elesin. Iyaloja says that Elesin has a duty to his new bride, which shocks Amusa, as he didn't think that this was a wedding. Iyaloja points out that Amusa must surely have wives, and suggests that he go ask the white men what happens on a person's wedding night. Amusa continues to insist that this isn't a wedding, and one woman suggests that Amusa's wives are still waiting for Amusa to have sex with them.

As Amusa implores Iyaloja to make the women stop insulting him, several girls push through the crowd to the front. They insult Amusa and reprimand him for insulting their mothers and intruding on the market. Iyaloja tries to calm the girls, but the girls insist they'll deal with Amusa. They snatch the constables' batons, knock off their hats, and again tell Iyaloja that they want to deal with Amusa, since he came to the market without an invitation. They point out that he doesn't go to the Residency without an invitation—he doesn't even go to the servants' quarters there, where servants "eat the leftovers."

The girls adopt English accents and play-act as two Englishman at a party. They exchange hats and "politely" invite the other to sit down first. They discuss that the natives are okay, but then admit that the natives are restless and difficult. One girl says she has a "faithful ox" named Amusa, who's loyal and would lay down his life for her. They say that some natives are trustworthy, but all the natives are actually liars and don't tell the truth. The girls discuss the hot and humid weather, and then note that even here, there's golf at an exclusive club, as well as horseracing. They congratulate each other on properly serving England, mime offering each other whisky, and then one girl bellows "sergeant!" in a deep voice. Amusa says, "Yessir," and the women all laugh.

A girl tells Amusa to take his men and leave, and Amusa, thoroughly embarrassed, tries to threaten the girls. As the women and girls converge on Amusa and his constables, one girl says that they'll take his pants off. Iyaloja again asks the girls to leave Amusa alone, and one girl says that they'll leave him alone if he leaves. She says that Amusa doesn't belong here, as he now eats the leftovers of the white men. With a sigh, Iyaloja tells Amusa to leave. Amusa backs away, threatening the women as he goes. The women are in awe of the girls, and they begin an excited dance and song. They chant that their children will defend them.

Elesin steps out of the stall, holding a white velvet cloth. He cries out in happiness and Iyaloja steps up to take the cloth from him. He says that the mark on the cloth doesn't just prove that his bride was a virgin; it signifies the union of his death and of the future life of his child with the bride. The drums begin again in the distance, and Elesin perks up. He says that the king's dog is now dead, and the king's horse will follow soon. Elesin tells the bride that in order to fulfill their marriage, she needs to stay with him until he's dead, and that after he's dead, she should put earth on his closed eyes.

Elesin asks the women to stand by him, as he's decided he's going to die here. He wants to die in the market, where he's experienced the most happiness and love. He asks the women to listen to the drums, and after a moment, says that the king's horse will die soon. Bearers will carry the king's horse and dog through the town until they reach the market. Elesin's eyes begin to cloud over. He says that his spirit is ready to make the passage, but he asks that it wait a moment until the courier arrives.

Elesin says that while the horse is born to bear men, on this night, the horse triumphantly gets to ride on the backs of men into the afterlife. He says that no matter if he dies before or after the courier gets here, his soul will meet up with those of the horse, the dog, and the king in the afterlife. Elesin pauses to listen to the drums and seems to fall more deeply into a trance. He looks at the moon and says he's not sure when exactly he must die. He asks the women to dance with him one last time. Elesin descends the steps to join the women on the ground and begins to dance.

The praise-singer asks Elesin if he can hear his voice and if Elesin's memory is still sound. Elesin asks the praise-singer what he needs to say, and the praise-singer says he wants to make sure that Elesin will die. Elesin assures the praise-singer that he cannot forget what he's supposed to do. The praise-singer tells Elesin that if he needs guidance, his dog will help Elesin get where he needs to go. Elesin says that his rich clothing won't bind him to the earth, and says that now, he's listening to strange voices that guide him. Elesin's trance seems to deepen as Iyaloja joins the praise-singer. She says that only Elesin can die "the unknowable death of death."

The praise-singer again asks Elesin if Elesin can hear him, but Elesin seems deep in his trance. The praise-singer laments that Elesin is dying so quickly, and wonders if the marvels of the afterlife are what Elesin now hears and sees. He wonders if Elesin's head is getting darker, and says that he'd call Elesin back to the living if he could. He can't, however, as the cycles of life can't be stopped. The praise-singer asks if Elesin sees the "master of life" and the praise-singer's father, and he wonders if Elesin will remember him. Breaking down, the praise-singer wonders if on the other side, the ancestors know how honorable Elesin is and if they'll treat him properly. He says that if they don't, that Elesin can turn around and come back. Elesin continues to dance.