The road to Mecca Essay

The forge The road to Mecca by Athol Fugard is a feminist play that expresses the struggle for freedom, individuation and meaning through personal take onment. In the statement Theres nothing sacred in a marriage that abuses the muliebrity (p23), Elsa expresses her feelings towards womens rights, because these rights argon supported by the law She has got a few rights, fail Helen, and I just want to break 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 takes in the equal rights to all races and that no one should be treated vile she believes Katrina must get rid of that drunken bully (p23), because she can identify somebody who forget value her as a benevolent macrocosm. (p23)Elsa represents women that believe in human rights and freedom of speech. When Elsa and get out Helen are discussing Getruida, Elsa states that Helen should Tell her to exact her rights to get up the re and put her case (p24). Helen does not add up with Elsas point of view that women should refuse up for their rights and tells her youre mischievous to which Elsa replies And youre an old hypocrite, break away Helen (p24). Elsa believes each person has the freedom to make their voice heard regardless of gender, age, religion or race Has anybody twoered to ask the colored people what they think approximately it all? (p25) deteriorate Helen is part of the conservative White Afrikaners of Nieu Bethesda that still control fixed ideas about religion and Christianity. Miss Helen does not express her views and rights as a womanhood verbally but visually creates her own Mecca of beauty and freedom. She decorates the inside of her hearthstone with dozens of candles and mirrors Helens room is a little miracle of light and distort (p33). The inside of The owl House, represents the link between creativity and light, the candles existence Miss Helens freedom of mien. The outside, the camel yard, is a myriad of cement wise men, camels, owls, mermaids and other figures, mostly facing east (representing that the figures are facial expression towards the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia).Miss Helens Mecca is a allegory for the relationship between freedom and imagination. Miss Helen sees her art as being her right of personal expression of her own identity and inner feelings It is the scoop out of me, Elsa (p34)Miss Helen was a woman devoted to her perform, but later the wipeout of her husband she did not mourn as many expected, instead she lit her house with candles and sculpted bright, lifeless figures and allowed her to escape the darkness that nearly cover her life. Miss Helen now has the right to make her own choices she does not to aim another church sack widow, but instead set herself free by doing what she loves and creating a wonderland of art because she dared to be different.Miss Helen alienated herself from the Afrikaner community of Nieu Bethes da because they judged her vision and rejected her art. The community expected Miss Helen to uphold inside behind closed curtains, but Miss Helen did the opposite and let as frequently light into her life as she possibly could. Elsa say Light is a miracle, Miss Barlow, which even the most ordinary human being can make happen.(p32). Through Helens art she survives in an isolated community and freely expresses herself.When Miss Helen met Elsa, she showed her the inside of her house and when Elsa adage Helens home base, lit by candle light, she knew she had found a trusdeucerthy friend I so desperately wanted you to like what you saw. (p34) followed by If you only knew what you did for my life that day. When Elsa saw Miss Helens Mecca for the front time she was overwhelmed I just stood there and gasped (p33). Miss Helen was pleased How much courage, how much faith in it you gave me. (p35). Elsa admired Helens courage to fulfil her dream despite the religious views of the communit y. Miss Helen finds happiness and piece in her own Mecca and does not perplexity her with the vision of the community on what is considered to be right but rather believes her Mecca has got a logic of its own, (p36).Elsa and Miss Helen are both women in a crisis point in their life and rebels against tender conventions in their own special way. Miss Helen is a strongwoman that is not dependent on men unlike Elsa who had an affair with a David, a married man, and always believed he will leave his married woman for her, where she ended up being a victim of the situation(p30) Elsa hides her mystery story until the end of the play.The local priest of Nieu Bethesda, Marius Byleveld, wants Miss Helen to playact to Sunshine home for the aged (p40) in Graaff-Reinet, because he fears for her safety after she had an accident where she burned-over herself when a candle fell over. Miss Helen wrote a letter of melancholy to Elsa, who then drove all the way from Cape Town to take to heart Miss Helen. Marius Byleveld came to see Miss Helen to express his concern that the community labellingMiss Helen as mad. He came to tell her that a room is usable in an old age home and he ensured that she was moved to the snuff it of the list as a personal favour (p56) he in like manner expresses that there is a decision to be made, one way or the other. Marius is a persuasive talker (p42) and puts a lot of push on Miss Helen by asking her many questions such as why she doesnt go to church anymore (p66) and accuses her of idolatry (p67). He is trying to make decisions on her behalf saying it is his duty as a Christian (p67). Marius does not respect Miss Helens art or her opinion, when speaking to her, seemingly passive Miss Helen, has to stop him and say domiciliate I please talk now.Marius is not only enkindle in Helens savorual well-being but also fears for Miss Helens health and safety, because her appearance displays personal neglect (p15) and he feels she will be better off in an Old Age Home. His concern also has deeper meanings because he is concerned about her self-imposed exile from church and that she does not act what is socially expected of her. He evokes Miss Helen when he calls her statues ornaments and cement monstrosities. Marius Byleveld does not under permit why Miss Helen is so coherent to stay in her own house where her hobby seemed to have taken over her life and backyard You call that nightmare out there an expression of freedom? (p67). He believes her life has become as grotesque as those creations out thereMiss Helen was pulled in two directions by the two people closest to her Elsa encourages Helen to be strong and independent and to stand up for her rights as an independent woman, while Marius motivates her to give in and move to a home where people can help take care of her need where she can become an active member of the church and community. Elsa challenges Miss Helen to stand up for herself and not give into Mariuss r equest You havent got enough faith in your life and your work to defend them against himHelen explains herself to Marius when her husband, Stephanus, died she deep in thought(p) faith and used as many candles as she could find, because the candles did all the weeping. She created her own Mecca as personal goal to set herself free. The candles that were lit after the funeral inspired Miss Helen to express her inner feelings I had all the candles I wanted (p46). Elsa says it beautifully Miss Helen is the first truly free spirit I have ever known. Elsa believes that all people have rights, as that is what she teaches her children in her class. Elsa empowers Miss Helen to choose freedom and not move to the retirement Home When he comes around tonight, hand this back to him unsigned and say no. (p42) because Elsa believes Youve got to prove to the village that you are quite unfastened of looking after yourself. (p44). Elsa vehemently urges Helen to resist Marius Bylevelds help, and that she should refuse his shot Youre still living your life, not drooling it away(p43).Miss Helen has both the right and freedom to choose where she wants to live. With the help of Elsa, Miss Helen takes a stand for her personal rights to remain in her own little mecca rather than going to the retirement Home. Elsa is proud of Miss Helen who is now A free woman.(p66) and states You corroborate your right as a woman (p75)