THE THEME OF TRADITIONAL SOCIETY AND CIVILIZATION IN LET DIE ALONE
Conflict between a proud traditional society and a haughty and eve contemptuous alien civilization
bent on imposing its will on the people and the environment. The Mende society runs on clearly set out traditional values but the colonial masters as represented by the Governor in the play bring their own
civilization which is alien to the people. Their structuring and taxation programmes brought Governor Rowe in direct conflict with the leadership of the people. For taking sides with John Caulker against his brother, the Governor rebukes Gbanya this way: "Shut up! (soldiers enter with guns) When people like us leave our civilized society to come and bring both the light and the word to you out here in the bush, we expect you to conform" (p. 97).