Road to Mecca
The Road to Mecca is the story of Helen, an artist trying to survivor in an isolated community, and her two friends; Marius, the local Minster and Elsa, a progressive school teacher from the city. Helen is feeling alone and unable to complete her work, in a state of depression, she writes a letter pleading for help to her long time friend Elsa, Both women have much in common; both are rebels against social conventions. Elsa teaches radical material to her colored students, and Helen’s exotic artwork defies traditional notions of art encompassing her entire house and garden, this is her own homemade Mecca.
On arriving at the house, Elsa discovers Helen is desperate for someone to help her renew her faith in herself. After a series of accidents around the house the local Minster, and good friend, has decided to try and convince Helen to retire to his church’s home for elderly.
In one evening, friendships are challenged and beliefs questioned as they confront themselves and one another. Convinced that Helen his unfit to live by herself, Marius tries to manipulate and cajole Helen into moving into the retirement home. Elsa on the other hand praises Helen’s freedom and individuality claming that Helen is “the first truly free spirit I have ever known”
In the end the friendship of the women triumphs in a reaffirmation of friendship and love reconciling differences.
As I begin to discuss Helen and Elsa relationship I can’t help but feel all of those bitter and sweet feelings of a deeply intertwined marriage. Theses two women are definitely in love, it is not a romantic love, and it is more of a family style love. This leads me to believe that before their paths crossed, they were both longing for the same thing. Everyone knows that all human beings need to be needed and if they are not needed they lose their desires for life. Helen and Elsa need each other. They also love, respect and admire one another. It appears that both of these women might have had
On arriving at the house, Elsa discovers Helen is desperate for someone to help her renew her faith in herself. After a series of accidents around the house the local Minster, and good friend, has decided to try and convince Helen to retire to his church’s home for elderly.
In one evening, friendships are challenged and beliefs questioned as they confront themselves and one another. Convinced that Helen his unfit to live by herself, Marius tries to manipulate and cajole Helen into moving into the retirement home. Elsa on the other hand praises Helen’s freedom and individuality claming that Helen is “the first truly free spirit I have ever known”
In the end the friendship of the women triumphs in a reaffirmation of friendship and love reconciling differences.
As I begin to discuss Helen and Elsa relationship I can’t help but feel all of those bitter and sweet feelings of a deeply intertwined marriage. Theses two women are definitely in love, it is not a romantic love, and it is more of a family style love. This leads me to believe that before their paths crossed, they were both longing for the same thing. Everyone knows that all human beings need to be needed and if they are not needed they lose their desires for life. Helen and Elsa need each other. They also love, respect and admire one another. It appears that both of these women might have had
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