The road to mecca
The road to Mecca
*Womens rights*
The play ‘The road to Mecca’ by Athol Fugard is a feminist play that expresses the struggle for freedom, identity and meaning through personal fulfilment. In the statement “There’s nothing sacred in a marriage that abuses the woman” (p23), Elsa expresses her feelings towards women’s rights, because these rights are supported by the law: “She has got a few rights,
Miss Helen, and I just want to make sure she knows what they are.”(p23). Helen finds it interesting that Elsa has a liberal way of thinking and can express her feelings so freely. Elsa believes in the equal rights to all races and that no one should be treated unworthy: she believes Katrina must get rid of that “drunken bully” (p23), because she can “Find somebody who will value her as a human being.” (p23)
Elsa represents women that believe in human rights and freedom of speech. When Elsa and
Miss Helen are discussing ‘Getruida’, Elsa states that Helen should “Tell her to demand her rights to get up there and put her case” (p24). Helen does not agree with Elsa’s point of view; that women should stand up for their rights and tells her “you’re terrible” to which Elsa replies: “And you’re an old hypocrite, Miss Helen” (p24). Elsa believes each person has the freedom to make their voice heard; regardless of gender, age, religion or race: “Has anybody bothered to ask the colored people what they think about it all?” (p25)
Miss Helen is part of the conservative White Afrikaners of Nieu Bethesda that still have fixed ideas about religion and Christianity. Miss Helen does not express her views and rights as a woman verbally but visually creates her own “Mecca” of beauty and freedom. She decorates the inside of her house with dozens of candles and mirrors; Helen’s room is a “little miracle of light and colour” (p33). The inside of ‘The owl House’, represents the link between creativity and light, the candles being Miss Helen’s freedom of expression. The outside, the
*Womens rights*
The play ‘The road to Mecca’ by Athol Fugard is a feminist play that expresses the struggle for freedom, identity and meaning through personal fulfilment. In the statement “There’s nothing sacred in a marriage that abuses the woman” (p23), Elsa expresses her feelings towards women’s rights, because these rights are supported by the law: “She has got a few rights,
Miss Helen, and I just want to make sure she knows what they are.”(p23). Helen finds it interesting that Elsa has a liberal way of thinking and can express her feelings so freely. Elsa believes in the equal rights to all races and that no one should be treated unworthy: she believes Katrina must get rid of that “drunken bully” (p23), because she can “Find somebody who will value her as a human being.” (p23)
Elsa represents women that believe in human rights and freedom of speech. When Elsa and
Miss Helen are discussing ‘Getruida’, Elsa states that Helen should “Tell her to demand her rights to get up there and put her case” (p24). Helen does not agree with Elsa’s point of view; that women should stand up for their rights and tells her “you’re terrible” to which Elsa replies: “And you’re an old hypocrite, Miss Helen” (p24). Elsa believes each person has the freedom to make their voice heard; regardless of gender, age, religion or race: “Has anybody bothered to ask the colored people what they think about it all?” (p25)
Miss Helen is part of the conservative White Afrikaners of Nieu Bethesda that still have fixed ideas about religion and Christianity. Miss Helen does not express her views and rights as a woman verbally but visually creates her own “Mecca” of beauty and freedom. She decorates the inside of her house with dozens of candles and mirrors; Helen’s room is a “little miracle of light and colour” (p33). The inside of ‘The owl House’, represents the link between creativity and light, the candles being Miss Helen’s freedom of expression. The outside, the