The road to Mecca Essay

The play The road to Mecca by Athol Fugard is a feminist play that deliveres the get by for exemption, identity and meaning through personal fulfilment. In the statement Theres nonhing numinous in a marriage that abuses the woman (p23), Elsa expresses her feelings towards womens reforms, because these rights are supported by the law She has got a few rights, put down Helen, and I just want to extend to sure she knows what they are.(p23). Helen finds it interesting that Elsa has a lax way of thinking and can express her feelings so freely. Elsa believes in the equal rights to all races and that no nonpareil should be treated unworthy she believes Katrina must get rid of that drunken bully (p23), because she can mention somebody who depart value her as a human existence. (p23)Elsa represents women that believe in human rights and liberty of speech. When Elsa and pretermit 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 Elsas point of view that women should stand up for their rights and tells her youre terrible to which Elsa replies And youre an experienced hypocrite, misplace Helen (p24). Elsa believes each person has the freedom to make their voice heard regardless of gender, age, religion or race Has anybody both(prenominal)ered to ask the colored people what they think ab by it all? (p25) drop off Helen is kick downstairs of the conservative White Afrikaners of Nieu Bethesda that still have fixed ideas ab step up religion and Christianity. Miss Helen does not express her views and rights as a woman verbally except visually creates her own Mecca of beauty and freedom. She decorates the inside of her erect with dozens of standard candles and mirrors Helens room is a curt miracle of light and colour (p33). The inside of The owl stand, represents the link between creativity and light, the candles creation Miss Helens freedom of expre ssion. The outside, the camel yard, is a incalculable of cement wise men, camels, owls, mermaids and other figures, mostly facing east (representing that the figures are looking towards the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia).Miss Helens Mecca is a metaphor for the relationship between freedom and imagination. Miss Helen sees her subterfuge as being her right of personal expression of her own identity and inner feelings It is the best of me, Elsa (p34)Miss Helen was a woman devoted to her church, but after the death 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 suppressed her life. Miss Helen now has the right to make her own choices she does not to become another churchgoing widow, but instead aline herself free by doing what she loves and creating a wonderland of art because she dared to be different.Miss Helen disoriented herself from the Afrikaner lodge of Nieu Bethesda because they judged her vision and rejected her art. The community expected Miss Helen to stay inside do-nothing closed curtains, but Miss Helen did the opposite and let as much light into her life as she possibly could. Elsa said 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 saw Helens office, lit by candle light, she knew she had found a truthful friend I so desperately cute you to like what you saw. (p34) followed by If you only knew what you did for my life that daytime. When Elsa saw Miss Helens Mecca for the first time she was overwhelmed I just stood there and gasped (p33). Miss Helen was proud of(p) 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 community. Miss Helen finds happiness and piece in her own Mecca and does not concern 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 social conventions in their own special way. Miss Helen is a hygienicwoman 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 wife for her, where she ended up being a victim of the situation(p30) Elsa hides her secret until the end of the play.The local priest of Nieu Bethesda, Marius Byleveld, wants Miss Helen to give notice to blitheness home for the aged (p40) in Graaff-Reinet, because he fears for her safety after she had an accident where she burnt herself when a candle fell over. Miss Helen wrote a letter of distress to Elsa, who then drove all the way from drapery Town to assist Miss Helen. M arius 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 available in an old age home and he ensured that she was moved to the top of the list as a personal favour (p56) he similarly expresses that there is a decision to be made, one way or the other. Marius is a weighty talker (p42) and puts a lot of pressure on Miss Helen by asking her many questions much(prenominal) 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 Can I please talk now.Marius is not only interested in Helens spiritual upbeat 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 concern 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 understand why Miss Helen is so persistent 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 needs where she can become an diligent member of the church and community. Elsa challenges Miss Helen to stand up for herself and not give into Mariuss request You oasist got enough faith in your life and your work to defend them against himHelen explains herself to Marius when her husband, Stephanus, died she lost faith and use as many candles as she could find, because the candles did all the crying. 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 cognise. 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 rise up to the village that you are quite capable of looking after yourself. (p44). Elsa vehemently urges Helen to resist Marius Bylevelds help, and that she should hold out his offe r 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 affirmed your right as a woman (p75)