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Elesin is the titular horseman of the play. He's a vibrant man who loves life and, due his role as the king's horseman, has been able to to enjoy it to the fullest. He eats the finest foods, dances with the women in the market, and has sex with and marries almost whomever he wants to in the moment. Because the king died a month before the start of the play, Elesin must commit suicide to join him, and has had a month to prepare for his passage to the afterlife. The women in the market adore Elesin. He loves fine clothes, so they dress him in beautiful and elaborate cloth to commemorate his last day in the land of the living. He shows himself to be a jokester, a storyteller, and a dancer as he interacts with those around him at the market. Through the praise-singer, Iyaloja, and Simon Pilkings, the reader/audience learns that Elesin is an extremely honorable man who's fully entrenched in the customs of his people. Elesin does choose to change up the customs surrounding his death a bit when he decides he must take a final wife, the young woman, before he dies. Especially since the bride is actually engaged to Iyaloja's son, this suggests that Elesin is more selfish than the talk about how honorable he is might suggest. This is confirmed when later, Elesin fails to commit suicide. Though he blames Pilkings (who arrests Elesin at the moment he tries to die), the gods, and his bride in turn, Elesin eventually admits that he loved life too much and didn't entirely want to die. Not dying dishonors Elesin beyond all recovery, so when he sees that his son Olunde died to take his place (which dishonors Elesin even further, as his son isn't supposed to give himself to his father like that), Elesin commits suicide with his chains. Iyaloja notes that even in the afterlife, Elesin will be dishonored and will arrive covered in the manure from the king's stallion.
Elesin Quotes in Death and the King’s Horseman
The Death and the King’s Horseman quotes below are all either spoken by Elesin or refer to Elesin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 1 Quotes
Praise-Singer: They love to spoil you but beware. The hands of women also weaken the unwary.
Elesin: This night I'll lay my head upon their lap and go to sleep. This night I'll touch feet with their feet in a dance that is no longer of this earth. But the smell of their flesh, their sweat, the smell of indigo on their cloth, this is the last air I wish to breathe as I go to meet my great forebears.
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Ah, companions of this living world
What a thing it is, that even those
We call immortal
Should fear to die.
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Praise-Singer: I say you are that man who
Chanced upon the calabash of honour
You thought it was palm wine and
Drained its contents to the final drop.
Elesin: Life has an end. A life that will outlive
Fame and friendship begs another name.
What elder takes his tongue to his plate,
Licks it clean of every crumb? He will encounter
Silence when he calls on children to fulfill
The smallest errand! Life is honour.
It ends when honour ends.
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Act 2 Quotes
Jane: But Simon, do they really give anything away? I mean, anything that really counts. This affair for instance, we didn't know they still practised the custom did we?
Pilkings: Ye-e-es, I suppose you're right there. Sly, devious bastards.
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Act 3 Quotes
Amusa: The chief who call himself Elesin Oba.
Woman: You ignorant man. It is not he who calls himself Elesin Oba, it is his blood that says it. As it called out to his father before him and will to his son after him. And that is in spite of everything your white man can do.
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- One might even say, difficult?
- Indeed one might be tempted to say, difficult.
- But you do manage to cope?
- Yes indeed I do. I have a rather faithful ox called Amusa.
- He's loyal?
- Absolutely.
- Lay down his life for you what?
- Without a moment's thought.
- Had one like that once. Trust him with my life.
- Mostly of course they are liars.
- Never known a native to tell the truth.
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Our marriage is not yet wholly fulfilled. When earth and passage wed, the consummation is complete only when there are grains of earth on the eyelids of passage. Stay by me till then. My faithful drummers, do me your last service. This is where I have chosen to do my leave-taking, in this heart of life, this hive which contains the swarm of the world in its small compass. This is where I have known love and laughter away from the palace.
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But will they know you over there? Have they eyes to gauge your worth, have they the heart to love you, will they know what thoroughbred prances towards them in caparisons of honor? If they do not Elesin, if any there cuts your yam with a small knife, or pours you wine in a small calabash, turn back and return to welcoming hands.
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Act 4 Quotes
Resident: You should have kept me informed Pilkings. You realise how disastrous it would have been if things had erupted while His Highness was here.
Pilkings: I wasn't aware of the whole business until tonight sir.
Resident: Nose to the ground Pilkings, nose to the ground. If we all let these little things slip past us where would the empire be eh? Tell me that. Where would we all be?
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How can I make you understand? He has protection. No one can undertake what he does tonight without the deepest protection the mind can conceive. What can you offer him in place of his peace of mind, in place of the honour and veneration of his own people? What you think of your Prince if he had refused to accept the risk of losing his life on this voyage? This...showing-the-flag tour of colonial possessions.
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How can you be so callous! So unfeeling! You announce your father's own death like a surgeon looking down on some strange... stranger's body! You're a savage like all the rest.
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Act 5 Quotes
Elesin: You did not save my life District Officer. You destroyed it.
Pilkings: Now come on...
Elesin: And not merely my life but the lives of many. The end of the night's work is not over. Neither this year nor the next will see it. If I wished you well, I would pray that you do not stay long enough on our land to see the disaster you have brought upon us.
Pilkings: Well, I did my duty as I saw fit. I have no regrets.
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You did not fail in the main thing ghostly one. We know the roof covers the rafters, the cloth covers blemishes; who would have known that the white skin covered our future, preventing us from seeing the death our enemies had prepared for us. The world is set adrift and its inhabitants are lost. Around them, there is nothing but emptiness.
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You were the final gift of the living to their emissary to the land of the ancestors, and perhaps your warmth and youth brought new insights of this world to me and turned my feet leaden on this side of the abyss. For I confess to you, daughter, my weakness came not merely from the abomination of the white man who came violently into my fading presence, there was also a weight of longing on my earth-held limbs. I would have shaken it off, already my foot had begun to lift but then, the white ghost entered and all was defiled.
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It is when the alien hand pollutes the source of will, when a stranger force of violence shatters the mind's calm resolution, this is when a man is made to commit the awful treachery of relief, commit in his thought the unspeakable blasphemy of seeing the hand of the gods in this alien rupture of his world. I know it was this thought that killed me, sapped my powers and turned me into an infant in the hands of unnamable strangers.
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Elesin: Go to the gates, ghostly one. Whatever you find there, bring it to me.
Iyaloja: Not yet. It drags behind me on the slow, weary feet of women. Slow as it is, Elesin, it has long overtaken you. It rides ahead of your laggard will.
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No child, it is what you brought to be, you who play with strangers' lives, who even usurp the vestments of our dead, yet believe that the stain of death will not cling to you. The gods demanded only the old expired plantain but you cut down the sap-laden shoot to feed your pride. There is your board, filled to overflowing. Feast on it.
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Elesin Character Timeline in Death and the King’s Horseman
The timeline below shows where the character Elesin appears in Death and the King’s Horseman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
As the market is closing up for the day, Elesin dances through it and sings, accompanied by drummers and his praise-singer. The praise-singer teases Elesin...
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Elesin assures the praise-singer that he doesn't need him to accompany him to the afterlife; instead,...
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Elesin and his praise-singer discuss that the world has never "wrenched from its true course," despite...
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The women in the market and the praise-singer ask Elesin if there's anything that will keep him from dying, but Elesin assures them that when...
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When the women tell Elesin that he's a man of honor, however, Elesin tells them to stop. The women worry...
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The women dress Elesin in the rich clothing and again ask for forgiveness. Elesin insists that since he loves...
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The distraction that caught Elesin's eye—a beautiful young woman—walks into the market. Elesin says that the world is creating a...
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Elesin points out that as the horseman of the king, he had access to any woman...
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Elesin describes how beautiful the young woman’s body is and again asks who she is. Hesitantly,...
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Iyaloja points out that Elesin, in his honor, doesn't ruin other people's happiness for his own pleasure. Elesin, however, says...
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Elesin asks if the women have come to a decision, and Iyaloja answers that they have:...
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Act 2
...Pilkings emerges, reads his note, and immediately calls for Jane. The note reads that tonight, Elesin plans to "commit death" per native custom, which is a criminal offense. Pilkings and Jane...
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...the houseboy, Joseph, to the police station with instructions. Jane suggests that they talk to Elesin first to make sure that this is actually something to worry about, and Pilkings snaps...
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...by the egungun costumes, and then asks what's going on in town. Joseph says that Elesin is going to kill himself, and explains to Jane that this is the law and...
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Jane asks Pilkings and Joseph whether Olunde was Elesin's oldest son. Joseph says that Olunde was, and because of that, Olunde isn't supposed to...
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...She believes that Joseph might resign over this, but Pilkings says he's more concerned about Elesin's death. Jane says she'll change and make supper, since they clearly need to miss the...
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...he'll look extremely foolish if the drumming is just about a marriage and he interrupts Elesin on his honeymoon. He wonders what the native chiefs actually do on their honeymoons, scribbles...
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...can still go to the ball. Pilkings explains that that he's told Amusa to arrest Elesin and lock him up in his study, where nobody will dare start a fuss. As...
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Act 3
...women howl with laughter. Amusa shouts that he knows that "the chief who call himself Elesin" is in the market stall, and a woman shouts that Elesin's blood is why he's...
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Amusa insists that this practice must stop, but the women spit back that Elesin will kill himself and in doing so, show that he's stronger than the laws of...
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Elesin steps out of the stall, holding a white velvet cloth. He cries out in happiness...
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Elesin asks the women to stand by him, as he's decided he's going to die here....
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Elesin says that while the horse is born to bear men, on this night, the horse...
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The praise-singer asks Elesin if he can hear his voice and if Elesin's memory is still sound. Elesin asks...
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The praise-singer again asks Elesin if Elesin can hear him, but Elesin seems deep in his trance. The praise-singer laments...
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Act 4
...contents of the note, but Pilkings says that it's just a strange custom and, apparently, Elesin has to commit suicide because the king died. The resident is shocked, especially since the...
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...king was dead. Olunde explains that he knew he needed to come home to bury Elesin. Jane says that Pilkings is going to stop Elesin from dying, and Olunde says that...
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...as the prince, so it was a safe and well-protected journey here. Jane suggests that Elesin is entitled to the same kind of protection, but Olunde insists that Jane doesn't understand....
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...he fully intends to go back to England and finish his training after he buries Elesin.
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...drums. The rhythm builds, stops suddenly, and then begins again slowly. Olunde says it's over; Elesin is dead now. Jane screams that Olunde is callous, unfeeling, and just like the other...
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...can regain her composure. She asks him to explain his calm reaction to hearing that Elesin is dead. Olunde says that it might be his medical training, but Jane says it...
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Olunde agrees that she's right, but says too that Elesin has been dead in his mind for a month now. He's been thinking only of...
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...if he had succeeded. Pilkings is shocked. As Olunde says he needs to go see Elesin's body, Pilkings tells him that the police down the hill aren't letting anyone past. He...
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...alarm the prince. Pilkings says he told the rioters that he was going to lock Elesin up at his house and then came to the Residency via a back way, so...
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...turns to Jane and asks her to stay with Olunde. When Olunde asks to see Elesin, Pilkings briskly says that there's a crisis going on related to Elesin, and given the...
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From a distance, Olunde and Jane hear Elesin bellowing angrily for the white men to get their hands off of him. Jane tries...
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Act 5
Elesin stands in his cell, his wrists chained. His bride sits outside the cell, looking at...
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After a moment of silence, Elesin says that he knows Pilkings is waiting for dawn, as he believes that Elesin will...
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Elesin tells Pilkings that he doesn't blame him, even though he stole Olunde and sent him...
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Pilkings offers that he spoke to Olunde about the matter, and Olunde asked for Elesin's forgiveness. He wants to come and receive Elesin's blessing and say goodbye. Elesin asks if...
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Pilkings turns to go, but asks if he can ask Elesin a question. He explains that he's learned a few Yoruba sayings, and remembered one when...
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Elesin turns to his bride and says that first he blamed Pilkings for his failure, then...
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Pilkings leaves to fetch Iyaloja while Jane encourages Elesin to understand that Pilkings is trying to help. Elesin gives her a strange look, points...
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Pilkings returns and asks Elesin to swear on his honor that he won't accept anything from Iyaloja. Elesin points out...
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Iyaloja is derisive of Elesin and insults his cowardice. Elesin wearily asks for Iyaloja's message, even if it's just curses,...
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Elesin insists that all of his powers left when he tried to die, especially when he...
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Iyaloja reminds Elesin that she's here with a burden, which is at the gate where the white men...
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Pilkings says that it's time for Iyaloja to leave and explains that they're moving Elesin tomorrow. Iyaloja insists that she knows all of this, and this is why she brought...
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Iyaloja says that she's not here to explain things to Pilkings. She tells him that Elesin understands what happens when a king dies. He knows that it'll cause trouble when the...
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...tonight and soon, her king will also be at peace. She asks that Pilkings let Elesin complete this final duty.
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...Pilkings asks what the object is, and Iyaloja says that it's the burden Pilkings made. Elesin wants to whisper words for the king in the ear of the king's courier (the...
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The praise-singer reminds Elesin of how he said that if he cannot come, to ask his horse for help,...
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The praise-singer tells Elesin that they gave him the power to keep the world in line, but he allowed...
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Iyaloja asks Pilkings why he's trying so hard to do something that nobody, not even Elesin, will thank him for doing. She says that Elesin is gone now, but he's late...
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When Pilkings moves to close Elesin's eyes, Iyaloja shouts at him to stop and nods to the bride. The bride steps...
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