that his assets are frozen , as mentioned earlier . When they confront Bassey , the lender , Fowosanu reveals that he also has goods on the sea , which will arrive soon . Osofisan ’ s work articulates the backdrop to the political entropy in Nigeria when it was written for performance in Port Harcourt . Fowosanu becomes a victim of the politics of calumny being practised in the country . Tariboh is vying to become the governor of his state , and his abduction suggests the unpleasant state of Nigeria ' s economy and politics . Izuu Nkwanko suggests that ‘ corruption and its atrocious effect on the people is captured succinctly ’ as he writes on Osofisan ’ s prowess at adapting Shakespeare ’ s plays to capture Nigeria ' s socio-political and economic situation . 19
In addition to the above , the party found themselves in Bassey ’ s house the same way Antonio and Bassanio in Shylock ’ s . There , an argument ensues between Fowosanu and Bassey , one that reveals that they have long been at loggerheads . Bassey and other usurers dislike Fowosanu because he inhumanely condemns them for taking excessive interest on their loans . Fowosanu lends his money to people without taking any interest ; thus , he ‘ spoils ’ their business . Osofisan deploys pastiches to re-represent the scene where Shylock engages Antonio on why he has come to him for a loan despite that he hates him and people like him who give out loans with interest . Fowosanu ’ s response resonates with Antonio ’ s incorrigible , selfrighteous characterisation .
In addition to the use of pastiches throughout the play , this discourse also juxtaposes the case of Tumininu with Lassy and Jessica with Lorenzo , who are in love . Lorenzo is a Christian and a friend to Antonio and Bassanio , enemies of Shylock , and he is in love with Jessica , a Jew . In Love ’ s , the situation is different because Lassy is the son of Fowosanu , an arch-enemy of Bassey . Like Shylock , Bassey is also a stranger in Lagos who feels Fowosanu is only tribalistic .
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