AN INVESTIGATION INTO SATIRICAL DEPICTIONS OF MATERIALISM IN JOHN RUGANDA’S PLAYS; THE BURDENS (1972), BLACK MAMBA (1973),THE FLOODS (1980) AND SHREDS OF TENDERNESS (2001).

Abstract

Background: This paper investigates satirical depictions of materialism in John Ruganda’s plays; The Burdens (1972), Black Mamba (1973), The Floods (1980), and Shreds of Tenderness (2001). Although materialism as a theme and satire as a technique is dominant in John Ruganda’s plays, no detailed study has been conducted on these two aspects. The study is based on the Russian Formalism Theory whose basic principles are defamiliarisation, form, and literariness. During the study, various critical works on Ruganda’s plays have been reviewed and these observe that Ruganda has a particular interest in social issues which he successfully addresses using different types of satire more humorously and sarcastically. Methodology: The study used a descriptive research design where a qualitative approach to data collection was used. It was library-based and information was collected by reading closely and analyzing the four selected texts. Results: The study revealed that Ruganda employs Horatian, Juvenalian, and Menipean satires in his plays as he addresses the social, economic, and political problems of society. Conclusion: The conclusion is that what unifies each type of satire is a tendency to use irony, sarcasm, humor, and ridicule to allow a writer to achieve their goals. Recommendations: Were that let there be an investigation into the influence of materialism and its impact on society, analyze the depictions of gender stereotypes, and also to carry out a stylistic study of Ruganda’s four selected plays.

Keywords

• Defamiliarization
• literariness
• Horatian
• Juvenalian
• Menipean