Sustainable Identities: A Quarrel of Desire and Duty in Wole Soyinka's Play Death and the King's Horseman

Desire and duty seem to be engaged in an eternal quarrel, and Wole Soyinka's play, Death and the King's Horseman, powerfully shows this conflict between desires and responsibilities. The term 'sustainability' generally refers to environmental issues. In contrast, this paper applies the concept of sustainability to how an individual or group can maintain its identity and remain strong, consistent, and dynamic, overcoming internal struggles and external challenges. The identity, which can be called sustainable, needs to integrate various elements like personal desires, community commitments, and external influences. Even so, it does not let itself fall apart or lose its direction. This paper examines the conditions that contribute to the development or rupture of such sustainable identities, also seeking a balance. Finally, it explores the repercussions that arise when this equilibrium fails, affecting both the individual and the community at large, as reflected in the play.