stranger's body! You're just a savage like all the rest."(45) In this scene Jane does not understand why Olunde is not heartbroken as she would be if her father has died. The explanation is that even though Olunde has been educated in a European country, he is a Nigerian Yoruba and does not see death as an "end" like they do; rather it is just another state that the spirit goes through.
Throughout the whole play the two cultures are in a constant disagreement that highlights the radically different worldviews possessed by each, and in which the British culture gives an image of ignorance and insensitivity towards the Nigerian. For example, in Scene 2, the Pilkings dress in traditional Yoruba costume which represents a taboo. Instead of showing some kind of respect for something that does not belong to their religion, they make fun of it for a fancy dress ball, shocking Joseph and demonstrating a massive lack of sensitivity and awareness of Yoruba culture. It is hard not to agree with Olunde in Scene 4 when he says to Jane: "I discovered that you have no respect for what you do not understand" (41) This comment really encompasses the essence of the story and how the Europeans do not understand, nor even care to respect the sacred rituals of the Nigerian people they have civilized. British do not see beyond their personal beliefs, they underestimate those with a different idea and despise those things that have no value to them. This is the main issue in the story and the author emphasizes these differences in order to explain the cause of the lack of the British understanding in Elesin's duty. .
The feeling of superiority of the British is present in each dialogue throughout the play. In Scene 2 when Pilkings is talking about natives, he refers to them even in front of Joseph as "Sly, devious bastards." (23) This quote clearly reflects the European arrogance in this play, which is why in Scene 4 Olunde asserts these words about whites: "Yet another error into which your people fall.
