Emergence of Historical Satire Through Patterns of Dream in Ahmed Yerima’s Aetu
Emergence of Historical Satire Through Patterns of Dream in Ahmed Yerima’s Aetu

Summary/Abstract: There is an emergence of history, exposure of social failings and attempt to correct them in Ahmed Yerima’s Aetu. Previous scholarly engagements on satire have explored the tenets and attributes of either Horatian or Juvenalian satire or both. However, this paper examines the nature of Yerima’s handling of history to make satirical drama through the use of patterns of dream to showcase his imaginative idiosyncrasy. In this work, Yerima’s artistry is anchored vividly on his fusion of conformity to the traditional features of satire and his departure from them. The textual analysis is premised on psychoanalysis especially Carl Jung’s model of dream theory. Psychoanalysis allows for the investigation of character’s unconscious motives and collective archetypes. It is discovered that the patterns of dream serve as techniques of foreshadowing and flashback to the physical and psychological conflicts in the text. Significantly, the patterns of dream are used as signifiers of the protagonist’s traumas, which are precipitated by her naive behaviours. The psychic and sarcastic exposition of the bigotry, crudity and exploitation that are aspects of Nigerian socio- political atmosphere are portrayed through the patterns of dream.

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