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The Road to Mecca (Athol Fugard)
In Act 1, when Elsa and Helen are discussing Katrina (Helen’s “maid”), Elsa says “There is nothing scared in a marriage that abuses” the woman” (p. 11). Use this statement as a starting point for a discussion of the way the play represents women’s rights to express themselves freely. Write between two and three pages.
“There is nothing sacred about a marriage that abuses woman”, is a powerful statement made by Elsa, a strong feminist who disapproves of Katrina’s abusive husband. This statement is representative of many of the issues dealt with in the play namely the lack of freedom woman have to express themselves freely and the struggle woman face in a male dominated society. It also represents the hardships that woman endure under the dominance of men. The general human issues dealt with in the play are the inequalities experienced by woman in society, the view of the Church with regards to the function of woman in the home and in society, poverty, indoctrination towards woman and the inequalities experienced by different races. All these factors affect woman’s rights and their ability to express themselves freely.
Katrina comes from a poor community, like many in South Africa, in which alcohol, wife-beating, teenage pregnancies and the abuse of woman are all common. The social problems in communities like this, weigh harder on woman because they bear the children and are physically weaker than men. Katrina lives a subservient life with her abusive husband, in fear of him beating her. Her right to be treated humanely has been violated by her husband and she feels trapped in this situation. Elsa says on page twenty three, “Find somebody else! Somebody who will value her as a human being and take care of her and her child”. Katrina’s Plight is the same of many black, young teenage women in South Africa. They fall pregnant and get married at a very young age. These women become victims of marital violence and live
In Act 1, when Elsa and Helen are discussing Katrina (Helen’s “maid”), Elsa says “There is nothing scared in a marriage that abuses” the woman” (p. 11). Use this statement as a starting point for a discussion of the way the play represents women’s rights to express themselves freely. Write between two and three pages.
“There is nothing sacred about a marriage that abuses woman”, is a powerful statement made by Elsa, a strong feminist who disapproves of Katrina’s abusive husband. This statement is representative of many of the issues dealt with in the play namely the lack of freedom woman have to express themselves freely and the struggle woman face in a male dominated society. It also represents the hardships that woman endure under the dominance of men. The general human issues dealt with in the play are the inequalities experienced by woman in society, the view of the Church with regards to the function of woman in the home and in society, poverty, indoctrination towards woman and the inequalities experienced by different races. All these factors affect woman’s rights and their ability to express themselves freely.
Katrina comes from a poor community, like many in South Africa, in which alcohol, wife-beating, teenage pregnancies and the abuse of woman are all common. The social problems in communities like this, weigh harder on woman because they bear the children and are physically weaker than men. Katrina lives a subservient life with her abusive husband, in fear of him beating her. Her right to be treated humanely has been violated by her husband and she feels trapped in this situation. Elsa says on page twenty three, “Find somebody else! Somebody who will value her as a human being and take care of her and her child”. Katrina’s Plight is the same of many black, young teenage women in South Africa. They fall pregnant and get married at a very young age. These women become victims of marital violence and live