THE PLAYWRIGHT’S DRAMA AS A TOOL FOR MIRRORING SOCIETALFOLLIES IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF ENE HENSHAW’S A MAN OFCHARACTER

Playwrighting is the act of showing the pains, worries and plights of members of a given society. Deep reflection and critique of these societal follies is a way of aiding the society to grow. The efficacy of the playwright’s drama as a tool goes to unearthing the very many pressing issues facing the society. Drama has been greatly accepted as a positive tool for mirroring society, as evident in the works of various African playwrights. Playwrights are like guard flies who view the various challenges like political, religious, cultural, social, and many others bedeviling the society. This work clearly states the role of the playwright, as it concerns using drama as a tool for mirroring and unveiling the numerous social problems domicile in Nigeria and its outcomes on the society and its habitants, and using the same drama to preach the way forward, for a better society. This study followed this route in other to highlight the extent to which radical playwrights successfully use drama to mirror society, its problems and presenting solution thereafter. Using James Henshaw’s, A Man of Character, the playwright as a commentator of Social Order is well treated. The theoretical framework for this research was hinged on the Marxist literary theory, a theory that views literary works as reflections of the social institutions from whence they emanate. This work adopted the qualitative research design to analyze the topical play used for this study. As revealed in the play, Kobina was an ideal man of unquestionable character. One who despite his poor financial status, still saw the need to be upright in his dealings with other members of the society. This work recommends that in face of the very many challenging social problems confronting members of the society, it is in the place of the playwright to utilize his work; drama as a tool to expose these social problems and proffering solutions. It recommends, also, that the writer to adequately prevail in his voyage to find a kind of harmony and ban shameful acts of all sort, he needs not bargain his commitment to the people by mirroring the society for what it's worth in his works. Since theatre and dramatization play a major part in the society, the writer should attempt to utilize into his inventive works, the common social issues.