A comparative analysis of 'Quagmire' and 'A Parliament of Vultures'

Comparative Analysis of Fidelis Okoro's Quagmire and Emeka Nwabueze's A Parliament of Vultures

A comparative analysis entails the comparison of one thing to the other. Based on this, we shall compare both texts under survey in a bid to bring out the similarities and differences in their structural framework.

 When comparing these texts, one is sure to take a critical examination of them which comprises their faults, inappropriateness in relation to language usage and thematic structure, and their specifics as regards the sociological perspective upon which is the scope of this study.

                In comparing both texts, the profound similarity in them is political incorrectness. Both texts explore into the fact that politics in Nigeria lacks the required democratic and diplomatic standards seen in a well established society-conscious government. Quagmire as well as A Parliament of Vultures suggests that state power in the country is seen as a means of production for the leaders – a means through which they gather and store wealth for personal aggrandisement. On one hand, that is, Quagmire, commissioners award contracts to themselves and embezzle money as though it were an established routine in the country, and on the other hand, that is, A Parliament of Vultures, it has become a deliberate discussion in the parliament that embezzling of money is a most do thing. Madam Omeaku exposes the level of corruption in the parliament thus:

Madam: what have I achieved? Because I now live in my own fifty acre estate, completed three buildings in Commercial Avenue, and set up an import and export business for my husband to manage, you think I’ve achieved much? I feel I’m too slow. So far, I’ve been able to purchase only three different models of the Mercedes, one model of BMW, and a Lexus, and sent my children to study in America (sit. Six)

Her argument, however, is that she has not achieved enough and still needs to achieve more. The exposition is the callousness which exits amongst politicians in the country. In a bid to understand the political society of the country, one can refer to the text as Plato referred to the plays of Aristophanes in understanding Athenian society. Both texts underline the fact that politics is a serious business in Nigeria and that the sole aim of politicians is to get rich and power.

                In this comparative analysis, other similarities abound. Quagmire has employed the character of George Ide George, while A Parliament of Vultures employs Dr Parkers and Mr Otobo. These characters in both texts share a common sense of development, change, and advancement in the polity of the society. Dr Parker returns from the USA after 15 years, while George returns from the same country after 30 years. Parkers and Otobo in A Parliament of Vultures are against the corruption in the parliament, while George in Quagmire thinks he can use his office of the executive governor to transform the country. As both texts attack the corruption of the president of the country, one should be right to support the argument that every man must be corrupt in Nigeria. Both Dr. Parker and George Ide George represent a situation in the country where the good are excoriated and the bad exonerated; a situation where the society is harsh and wicked, and constrains one who tries to move forward for achievement.

     Couple of argument have been raised that one can’t survive in this part of the world without one being callous and cruel. Based on this near fact, the society becomes so hostile that the highest form of achievement especially politically can’t be met with if the one involve is not hostile, corrupt, and cruel as well. The politics of Nigeria is such that everything speaks of corruption insomuch that people become corrupt to get what they want. If not so the hostility in the society swallow’s you up and put you in jail. This expression is directly explained by both lets in the character of Dr Parkers and Mr Otobo in A Parliament of Vultures and George Ide George in Quagmire.      

                The infidelity in the characters of Madam Omeaku and Elsie can also be compared as a similarity. However, the difference is that the former’s infidelity is based on her influence and power in the family – as a chief breadwinner who does whatever she wants, while the latter’s is based on her supposed loneliness and inability to control her sex urge.

                Though the texts are compatibly similar, certain differences abound. In contrast, A Parliament of Vultures suggests that the solution to the corrupt political system in the country is revolution. A group of students, after the conspiracy by the parliamentarians, to arrest Dr Parkers and Mr Otobo, resolve to revolt against the government. While Quagmire concludes that the situation has no solution. George Ide George is overpowered by his commissioners who decide to join opposition party, and the state is thrown into chaos after a state of emergency was declared by the federal government.

                Given the similar use of language in the texts in that Madam Omeaku, as well as Chief Otakampi, uses the Pidgin English as the case be in her educational status, the difference, however, in both texts is that A Parliament of Vultures, sometimes, accords Madam Omeaku good English in contrast with Chief Otakampi’s stark illiteracy and continuous use of the Pidgin English in Quagmire.

                Meanwhile, the trouble with these texts is their flavour of the West. Dr Parkers and George Ide George both return from the USA and while George incessantly brags to have attended Havard and was Barrack Obama’s classmate, Dr Parkers keeps suggesting professor Dogon Turenchi of the University of Songhai for an appointment, this action driven by his belief that someone based in Nigeria cannot be trusted with political power.

                These actions suggest that both texts are in league to capture the superiority of the West over Nigeria, and that anything good comes from that part of the world.

Militants murdered eight landlords in one night — Ikorodu residents

Deserted roads in Kajola and Ola-Imam ...on Monday. Photo: Folashade Adebayo

The first sign of disquiet, which a first-time visitor may encounter in the Ikorodu area as he approaches the Igbo-Olomu and Isawo communities, is the ubiquitous presence of a dark green Lagos Task Force vehicle stationed at a major turning.

During a visit to the area on Monday morning, our correspondent observed that heavily armed military personnel had taken different positions on the road, screening and frisking commuters. There was an uneasy calm around the junction. The silence contrasted sharply with the usual cacophony arising from buying and selling in the area, as well as the sound of speeding commercial motorcycles, popularly called okada.

Beyond the junction, the plains and valleys of Igbo Olomu and Isawo, leading to the creeks separating the areas from Arepo in neighbouring Ogun State, also swarmed with soldiers.

It was less than a week after the military started an offensive against suspected pipeline vandals, who had terrorised residents on the coastline, forcing many of them to flee with their families.

But the situation was still far from normal when our correspondent visited some of the communities in the area on Monday. Muti, Elepete, Kajola, Ola Imam and other communities on the flank of Isawo and Igbo Olomu were already deserted. Haunted by endless abductions, rape, armed robbery and deaths, the residents had since abandoned their homes and fled these communities. The few that defiantly chose to stay were seen on Monday nursing the wounds inflicted on them by their tormentors.

One of the residents named Bola Omotunde, a self-employed woman in Kajola community, spoke to our correspondent from a partition on her window. Speaking in a low tone, the mother of three recounted what happened in the community on Sunday.

“It was a terrible experience. Those boys wreaked so much havoc here. We thank God that the government has started dealing with them. Throughout yesterday, the sound of gunshots would not let us sleep. It has been a traumatic experience and my children are not back yet. I paid N10,000 per night in a hotel for three days before a friend took my family in. My children did not write their third term examination before trouble broke out here. Those boys were going from house to house, kidnapping people. I know they will never come back, but it will take time for things to be normal around here,” she said.

But there was no sign of life in Omotunde’s neighbourhood, which was in the Zone A area of Kajola. Not far away from her residents, two men in a block-making factory were busy at work, unperturbed by the deafening silence around them.

One of them, who identified himself as Bello, said some residents had seized the opportunity to construct their houses.

“It is not true that people want to sell their houses. Even if you want to sell, who will buy? What I have noticed is that some residents come in to continue the building of their houses because there was no Omo Onile (land grabbers) to disturb them. You will find artisans working on a few houses between 10am and 3pm. The sites become empty as soon as it is 3.pm. I don’t live here. I live at Ogolonto with my partner. I come here before 10.am and by 4.pm, I start the journey back home to Ogolonto,’’ he said.

At Ola Imam community, the gloom was palpable. As in Kajola, the streets were deserted. This was the community where eight landlords, who volunteered to serve as security men, were slaughtered in one night by marauding pipeline vandals.

A resident, who declined to give his name, said the community would not forget the incident in a while. He berated the government for coming to the aid of the community too late in the day.

“The harm has been done already.  Eight landlords in this community were murdered. They were vigilantes who volunteered to keep our community safe from petty thieves. Only one of them was spared because he was nursing his sick child that night. He thought he would be able to join the others, but he slept off. We woke up to the sight of their dead bodies in the morning of the next day.

“No matter what the government is doing now, it cannot bring back those men. Who will compensate their families?  We have more widows and fatherless children than ever in the community. One man was kidnapped in his house. I learnt that he paid N5m as ransom. I think this effort of the government is too late,’’ he said.

There was nobody to attend to our correspondent when she visited the homes of some of the landlords on Monday. A female resident, who also declined to give her name, said some women who were raped by the attackers had died of trauma.

“Nobody knew this kind of misfortune could befall this community. Some women were raped right in front of their family members. Do you know that the invaders even used the barrels of their guns to rape the women? Some of the victims died shortly after the acts. We are praying that the government will fight this battle till the end. The soldiers are more concentrated in the Elepete side which is close to the creeks. But we also feel their impact here,” she said.

Source: Punch

Buhari Makes 17 New Appointments

The President, Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the sack of 17 Chief Executives of Parastatals and Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education.
Following the approved sack of the Chief Executives, Buhari has also approved a list of replacements for the sacked officials while retaining four Chief Executives.
The latest development is contained in a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Education which noted that the appointments are with effect from Monday, August 01, 2016.
The affected agencies include: National Universities Commission, NUC, to be headed by Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed; Nigerian Institute for Education Planning and Administration to be headed by Prof. Mrs. Lilian Salami; the Universal Basic Education to be headed by Dr. Hameed Bobboyi, National Library of Nigeria to be headed by Prof. Lanre Aina; the National Examinations Council to be headed by Prof. Charles Uwakwe.
Others include: the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education to be headed by Prof Abba Aladu; Nomadic Education Commission to be headed by Prof Bashir Usman; the National Business and Technical Examinations Board to be headed by Prof Isioma Isiugo-Abanihe; Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria to be headed by Prof Sunday Josiah Ajiboye; Computer Registration Council of Nigeria to be headed by Afolabi Aderinto; National Commission for Colleges of Education to be headed by Prof Bappah Aliyu; Tertiary Education Trust Fund to be headed by Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa; National Teachers Institute to be headed by Prof Garba Dahuwa Azare; Libarian Registration Council of Nigeria to be headed by Prof Michael Afolabi; National Mathematical Centre to be headed by Prof Steven Ejugwu Onah; Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to be headed by Prof Ishaq Oloyede and the National Institute of Nigerian Languages to be headed by Prof Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche.
The four retained Chief Executives are: Prof Samaila Junaidu for the Nigeria Educational Research & Development Council, Prof Rauuf Adebisi for the Nigerian French Language C\Village, Dr. Mas’ud Kazaure for the National board for technical education and Prof Muhammad Mu’az for the National Arabic language Village.

Budget Padding Allegation: PDP Taunts Buhari

Following the allegations made against the leadership of the House of Representative by the former Chairman of the House Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, major opposition arty, Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to the alleged budget padding scandal.
Recall that the alleged scandal was revealed following the sack of the former House Appropriation Committee Chairman.
In reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took to its social media page to write:
1. We watched the interview granted by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin to @ChannelsTv & have followed his “revelations” with growing concern & bemusement. His revelations raise more questions than they give answers.
2. The ruckus caused by these allegations call the integrity of #Budget2016 to question. This budget process has been an absolute fiasco.
3. It is imperative to point out that at the onset President Buhari proposed a N6.08tr budget. This is the same figure as the budget passed by NASS. On the surface, this fact looks innocuous but is the foundation upon which the entire sham is founded.
4. The Presidency then raised an alarm about insertions into the budget at the National Assembly. The Presidency further stated that Mr. President would not sign the budget until “it was cleaned up”. You will recall that this caused further delay in Mr President assenting to the budget.
6. This whole sham begs many questions:
Qa. Is this the cleaned up version about which Hon. Jibrin speaks?
Qb. Why is Hon. Jibrin only just speaking after being relieved of his post as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee? Would he have spoken up if he had not been relieved?
Qc. Was Mr. President aware of that the budget he presented to NASS was “padded” by his ministers & presidential aides as Hon. Jibrin alleged in his interviews? How did the Presidency miss these “insertions” at NASS despite engaging in a clean up? Or did the Presidency allow them remain?
Qd Are insertions into the budget by NASS members illegal or do they constitute part of the oversight powers granted to legislators by CFRN?
Qe. Should members of NASS be allowed to make “insertions” into the budget? These & other questions require answers.
7. It is very depressing that as at today 01/08/2016 we are still debating the integrity of #Budget2016 & not the percentages of performance
8. In 30 days, the APC led FG is required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act to submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the 2017 budget & the APC led NASS is required to commence the process of approving it.
9. In the current circumstances, we are hard pressed to see how this requirement will be fulfilled within the time frame required by law.
10. Finally we must realise that this presents an opportunity to reform the budgeting process to ensure that this charade never occurs again.
11. Hopefully, the APC will soon put its in-house squabbles behind it & pay attention to the task for which it was elected – governance.

Miss Teen USA Karlie Hay defends her racist tweets

Miss Teen USA Karlie Hay draws fire for past tweets using 'N-word'

The 18-year-old beauty pageant winner said there is 'no excuse' for her use of racist language

Ethan Miller/Getty

The newly crowned Miss Teen USA will retain her crown despite controversy that erupted after the discovery of tweets wherein the pageant winner repeatedly used a racial slur.

Social media users discovered the tweets where Karlie Hay, 18, hours after she won her crown at the Saturday night beauty pageant in Las Vegas.
In the tweets, Ms Hay is shown using the “N-word” multiple times. Her Twitter account has since been made private, but users captured images of the tweets in 2013.
Ms Hay issued an admission and apology via her Instagram account.
“Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person,” she wrote. “I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for.

“Through hard work, education, and thank in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person.”
The Miss Universe Organisation, which owns the Miss Teen USA pageant, issued a statement rebuking Ms Hay's past comments, but maintain that they are “committed to supporting her continued growth”.

Ms Hay's tweets came on the heels of another public relations flap for the pageant.
Miss Teen USA came under fire after announcing the five finalists, who were all white women with blonde hair.
Model and Lip Sync Battle co-host Chrissy Teigen wrote a facetious tweet criticising the lack of diversity of the contestants.
“Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch,” she wrote.

Another added, “Miss Teen USA, you should be disappointed in your pageant. Beauty is beyond blonde hair and blue eyes.”
The Miss Teen USA pageant was first held in 1983. Girls ages 14 through 19 are allowed to compete.
Prior to winning the Miss Teen USA crown, Ms Hay was Miss Texas Teen 2016 representing the small city of Kemah, southeast of Houston.

Paul Pogba switch edges closer as Bastian Schweinsteiger trains with Under-23s

The biggest transfer news to emerge from Old Trafford on 2 August 2016

Manchester United’s pursuit of Paul Pogba continues to rumble on with the Frenchman proceeding to tease Old Trafford regulars on social media. The Juventus midfielder, who left United on a free transfer in 2012, replied “we’ll see” when quizzed on his chances of leaving this summer.
“Breaking news: Pogba undergoes medical check in Universal Studios amusement park California,” the caption on one of his recent Instagram posts read, accompanying an image of him at the world-renowned Californian resort. The 23-year-old was also pictured signing a supporter’s United shirt with ‘Pogba 6’ printed on the back.
It comes days after Mino Raiola, the player’s agent, lashed out at journalists, calling them “parrots” before confirming no deal had been completed yet. The 48-year-old’s latest tweet, posted on Friday evening, will alarm United fans who considered Pogba’s switch to have been all but agreed.

Raiola wrote: “Journalist = parrots No deal done between clubs. It’s a game between Italy press and UK press who announce it first and who is worse.”
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, United captain Wayne Rooney spoke of his eagerness to link up with his former team-mate once again. The England captain said: “I hope he is going to want to return to United and prove he’s a top-class player. If he is excited to play for us, we’ll be excited to have him back.

“I’m sure he’ll feel there is unfinished business, and it would be a very big statement by the club if they can make it happen.”
Meanwhile, it has transpired that 32-year-old midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been told he must train with the United Under-23 squad, prompting his brother to post “no respect” on Twitter this weekend.
The finely-veiled dig at Jose Mourinho, the United manager, added an air of hostility to reports of Schweinsteiger demise at Old Trafford. Liandro Martis, a trailist at Carrington, appeared to confirm the suggestion that the German has been secluded from the larger group in training.

"I am confident in my ability and after training with the group at Manchester United, including players like Schweinsteiger," Martis said. AC Milan and Internazionale are reported to be interested in signing the former Bayern Munich midfielder.

Rubin Kazan sign Alex Song

Alex Song: Rubin Kazan sign Barcelona's former Cameroon midfielder

Russian club Rubin Kazan have signed Barcelona midfielder Alex Song on a free transfer. The 28-year-old former Cameroon player had been expected to join Rubin on loan but has signed a permanent deal after terminating his Barca deal. Song, who left Arsenal to sign a five-year deal with Barcelona in 2012, made 65 appearances for the Catalan club and scored one goal. He had spent the last two seasons on loan at Premier League side West Ham.

US election: Donald Trump warns vote could be 'rigged'

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has suggested that the November election could be "rigged".

He told a rally in Columbus, Ohio, that he had heard "more and more" that the contest would be unfair. He offered no immediate evidence.
At another event he called Democratic rival Hillary Clinton "the devil".
Mr Trump has come under fire from across the political divide for remarks he made about the parents of a US Muslim soldier killed in action.
On the upcoming vote, he told supporters "I'm afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest".
He later repeated the claim on Fox News, adding "I hope the Republicans are watching closely or it's going to be taken away from us.".
Mr Trump has made similar comments before in relation to the Democratic race, suggesting the party fixed its system to favour nominee Hillary Clinton over her challenger Bernie Sanders.
Earlier this year, he also complained the Republican primary system was also "rigged" amid party efforts to stop his march to the candidacy.
Correspondents say Mr Trump could be trying to capitalise on voters' distrust of establishment institutions, or lay the groundwork should he lose the election.

He called Clinton the 'Devil'

At another rally in Pennsylvania, he took the unprecedented step of directly calling Mrs Clinton "the devil".
He attacked Mr Sanders for capitulating in the Democratic race, saying he "made a deal with the devil. She's the devil."
Democrats and Republicans alike have condemned Mr Trump for his remarks about the parents of US Army Capt Humayun Khan, who was killed by a car bomb in 2004 in Iraq, at the age of 27.
Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain became the latest senior figure in the party to criticise Mr Trump for his attacks.
Senator McCain, a veteran of the Vietnam War, said in a strongly worded statement that Mr Trump did not have "unfettered licence to defame the best among us".
The soldier's parents, Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala, told the BBC it was time to stand up to Mr Trump but he accused them of "viciously" attacking him.
Mr Trump had caused controversy by suggesting Ghazala Khan had been prevented from speaking alongside her husband at the Democratic convention last week.
In another development, American billionaire businessman Warren Buffett challenged Mr Trump to release his tax returns.
Mr Trump has said that they cannot be made public until the financial authorities have completed an audit.
But Mr Buffett said there were no rules against showing tax returns and allowing people to ask questions about them.

Source: BBC

Moyes unhappy with United treatment

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New Sunderland manager David Moyes believes he was unfairly treated by his former club Manchester United.

Moyes signed a six-year deal when he was appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor in May 2013, but the Scot was sacked before the end of his first season in charge after the club failed to qualify for Europe.
He struggled at Real Sociedad, while Louis van Gaal failed to make a big impact at Old Trafford and the former Everton manager maintains he was the right man to succeed Ferguson.
"You don't get offered those big jobs - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United - for no reason," Moyes said.
"I've said all along I was unfairly treated there. When you sign a six-year contract and you end up with 10 months ... yeah, I believe I was.
"I didn't win enough football matches but you must say there were mitigating circumstances. And I think you could say there are maybe things which have gone on since then that would actually justify that even more so."
Despite his failure at Old Trafford, Moyes believes he is capable of managing a big club and is pleased to have the opportunity to manage Sunderland.
"What my time at Manchester United gave me is an unbelievable idea of what it is at the top. I believe that's where I can work and that's where I should be working, and my level is that," he said.

USA dumbed Nigeria in final pre-Olympic basketball contest

The Americans' build-up to the Rio de Janeiro Games included five straight exhibition wins.

PHOTO | RONALD MARTINEZ |  AFP

The USA, gunning for their third straight Olympic basketball gold medal, wrapped up their pre-Summer Games exhibition series with a dominating 110-66 win over world number 25 Nigeria on Monday night.
The Americans' build-up to the Rio de Janeiro Games included five straight exhibition wins, but just one came against an opponent ranked in the top 10 in the world. They easily beat No. 4 Argentina, No. 14 China twice and rolled over No. 22 Venezuela by 35 points.
"We played good defence and it led to some fast breaks," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Our team is very deep. The most versatile team we have had."
Despite the absence of NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Krzyzewski's squad is favoured to win a third consecutive gold.
A half-dozen Americans finished in double figures Monday, including Carmelo Anthony, who tallied a team high 19 points.
Klay Thompson (17), Kevin Durant (14), DeMar DeRozan (13), DeMarcus Cousins (10) and DeAndre Jordan (10) also finished in double figures. Kyle Lowry had 11 assists and Jordan grabbed nine rebounds in the victory at the Toyota Centre arena in Houston, Texas.
"It was good way to close it out. Now the big show starts and we got to lock in," Anthony said.
He also complained Monday about the basketball they are going to using during the Rio Games, saying he prefers the heavier NBA ball.
"It is lighter and more slippery," Anthony said. "When it gets wet it is harder to control. That's a ball you really have to get used to."
Point guard Kyrie Irving (bruised left thigh) and Paul George (left calf) sat out with injuries on Monday. Irving injured his thigh when he collided with a Venezuela player during Friday's contest in Chicago.
Venezuela is in the first-round group with the USA, China, Australia, France and Serbia.
The Americans play the Chinese again to open the Rio Olympics on August 6 and also meet Venezuela again.

Argentina name Edgardo Bauza new coach

Argentina named coach Edgardo Bauza to run the national team Monday.

PHOTO | EITAN ABRAMOVICH |  AFP

Argentina named coach Edgardo Bauza to run the national team Monday, as the nation seeks to regain its football prowess and convince superstar Lionel Messi to return from early retirement.
Bauza, 58, takes on the job after a strong season at Brazilian club Sao Paulo, which he coached to the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores.
"We hope he will have the success we all need," said Armando Perez, the president of a committee named by Fifa to whip things into shape at the crisis-plagued Argentine Football Association (AFA).
He told a press conference Bauza would be in Buenos Aires on Friday to give more details on his plans for the team.
The new coach faces the stigma of being the default choice.
A string of potential coaches including Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid, Jorge Sampaoli of Sevilla and Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham Hotspur reportedly declined the job.
"We were in talks with a lot of people, and it seems Mr Bauza is the best," said Perez.
Bauza has won two Copa Libertadores — one in 2014 with Pope Francis's favourite team, San Lorenzo, the other in 2008 with Ecuadoran side LDU Quito.
He takes over an Argentina smarting from Barcelona star Messi's abrupt retirement announcement, the departure of coach Gerardo Martino and a series of disappointing losses in big tournaments — most recently in the Copa America final, the catalyst for Messi's exit.
Messi, 29, left the pitch in tears after that loss to Chile, saying "For me, the national team is over."
Bauza's number one job will be to convince the Barcelona star and five-time World Player of the Year to reconsider.
"He's in contact with Messi," said Perez.
Meanwhile, Bauza must get Argentina ready for two key dates on the 2018 World Cup qualifying trail: against Uruguay at home on September 1, and away at Venezuela on September 6.

Sex can help you sleep better

This so beats counting sheep

If you’re tossing and turning late at the night, here’s a fun way to help you clock more Zzz’s: One in six women reports sleeping better after sex, reports the Daily Mail, which cited a survey from the body care brand Sanctuary Spa.

There’s science to back it up, too: It all has to do with hormone production during intercourse, says Saralyn Mark, M.D., associate professor of medicine and OB/GYN at the Yale School of Medicine. See, sex boosts the production of oxytocin (which helps you and your S.O. bond) and decreases the production of cortisol (which induces stress). These hormonal changes leave your body in a relaxed state, making it easier for you to fall asleep. Not only that, but estrogen levels also increase, which can enhance a woman’s REM cycle for a deeper sleep, according to a previous study review published in the Journal of Women’s Health.