Wole Soyinka's play touches on a great many themes, that though they in first view appear to belong to the villagers of the swamp, in fact are universal. Makuri and his wife Alu bicker with one another. We learn that Makuri believes his wife to have been a woman who potentially was unfaithful, and Alu is full of anxiety at the belief that one of her sons is dead as she hasn't heard from him in years. A blind Beggar is introduced and then Igwezu, one of their sons enters the story. He has just returned from the city where his wife has left him for his twin brother who has amassed great wealth, but also cruelty and lack of care for his family. Igwezu has decided to question the village priest for his stealing of sacrifices to the gods on his behalf.
All of these issues in the place relate to the reality of a world that has grown faster and faster with time and industry. The city represents progress, the opportunity for a better life and wealth, while the swamp represents the suffering of a generation in order to provide a launch pad for their children to have more. But, when the morality of the village is corrupted what happens to those who leave it? This is represented in Kadiye being a "fat man" who steals sacrifices from the people to feed himself. If the religion they follow doesn't follow obediently within a village which has nothing, why should a man have to follow any rules in a city where wealth can come despite a lack of morals? Thus, Soyinka has created a tale about the corruption of one's soul, how it begins at home and spreads beyond the borders of a village and into generations, where brother is no longer seen as brother but as a mark. Igwezu's very own twin brother has demanded their family's land as security for debt. His brother has more money than they could dream of, but cares little to share it with his family, to bring them out of the swamp. Instead, he leaves his family there and Alu, the mother believes him to be dead.
This belief she has carried for nearly a decade represents her understanding that something in her son has died. While his body is living, the connection to his mother has been severed. Thus, Soyinka represents this by breaking the connection between mother and son which is the strongest on earth as the mother gives life to her child.
Finally, we see the price of the truth. Igwezu challenges Kadiye and instead of getting justice he will have a village of people who believe in this false prophet after his head for touching a "holy man". The people of the village have become so driven to believe the purity of Kadiye that they put their salvation in him, not any god. Thus, he has elevated himself as a priest and now steals from his own people and calls it blessing. The swamp is corrupted just as much as the wealthy who live in the city.
