Athol Fugard's "The Road To Mecca"

Abstract: 10 pages in length. No one likes to be branded as different from the social norm, especially when such unwarranted labeling is founded within a quagmire of gender, cultural and racial intolerance. Miss Helen, of Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca, represents just such a person whose only crime against society is being her own person, asking nothing of anyone and only wanting to be accepted for the unique individual she truly is. What she receives instead is a barrage of unsubstantiated judgment as to the validity of her character, the constant challenge to assimilate into the norm and a general yet overwhelming understanding of how a woman's entire existence is inextricable linked with the presence of a man; once that link is broken, she is no longer worthy of regard as an individual. Expounding upon issues of aging, personal freedom, human worth, loneliness, individuality, defiance against the norm, religious directives Religion and the never-ending quest for spirituality, Fugard strives to bring forth the extent to which people create conflict on so many levels, not the least of which include religious/secular, young/old and gender. Bibliography lists 11 sources.

Filename: TLCMecca.rtf

Pages: 10

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Catagory: Feminists, Activists & The Struggle For Womens' Rights

Subcatagory: Women'S Issues & Gender Study

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