The Road to Mecca
ATHOL FUGARD
English HL | Grade 11 | 2023
,Table of Contents
Overview .......................................................................................................... 2
Summary ......................................................................................................... 3
Epigraph ................................................................................................................ 3
Act 1 ....................................................................................................................... 3
The letter ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Act 2 ....................................................................................................................... 4
Themes ............................................................................................................ 6
The Necessity of Creative Freedom ....................................................................... 6
Pursuing Independence from Social Norms.......................................................... 6
Individual versus Institutional Spirituality .......................................................... 7
Individual vs. Society (paternalism, religion) ....................................................... 7
Stereotyping (generalization = racism, prejudice, sexism, discrimination,
ageism) .................................................................................................................. 9
The Artist (freedom of expression, imagination, inspiration, creativity) .............11
Friendship and Trust (relationships) ................................................................... 13
Religion and Beliefs ............................................................................................. 16
The South African Political Situation .................................................................. 20
Characters ......................................................................................................21
Miss Helen............................................................................................................ 21
Elsa Barlow ........................................................................................................... 25
Marius Byleveld ....................................................................................................26
Analysis ......................................................................................................... 28
Quotes ........................................................................................................... 29
1
, Overview
The Road to Mecca is a play by Athol Fugard that dramatizes the life of Helen Martins, an
elderly South African woman who refuses to go to a nursing home, instead building her
personal "Mecca" in her yard.
− Helen Martins realizes that her neighbours expect her to move into a nursing
home. Helen refuses to go.
− Helen has been depressed since her husband's death and has repudiated the
Christian values of her community.
− Helen has been building her own personal Mecca in her yard in a search for
spiritual fulfilment. After her Mecca is finished, it is implied that Helen commits
suicide.
2
ATHOL FUGARD
English HL | Grade 11 | 2023
,Table of Contents
Overview .......................................................................................................... 2
Summary ......................................................................................................... 3
Epigraph ................................................................................................................ 3
Act 1 ....................................................................................................................... 3
The letter ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Act 2 ....................................................................................................................... 4
Themes ............................................................................................................ 6
The Necessity of Creative Freedom ....................................................................... 6
Pursuing Independence from Social Norms.......................................................... 6
Individual versus Institutional Spirituality .......................................................... 7
Individual vs. Society (paternalism, religion) ....................................................... 7
Stereotyping (generalization = racism, prejudice, sexism, discrimination,
ageism) .................................................................................................................. 9
The Artist (freedom of expression, imagination, inspiration, creativity) .............11
Friendship and Trust (relationships) ................................................................... 13
Religion and Beliefs ............................................................................................. 16
The South African Political Situation .................................................................. 20
Characters ......................................................................................................21
Miss Helen............................................................................................................ 21
Elsa Barlow ........................................................................................................... 25
Marius Byleveld ....................................................................................................26
Analysis ......................................................................................................... 28
Quotes ........................................................................................................... 29
1
, Overview
The Road to Mecca is a play by Athol Fugard that dramatizes the life of Helen Martins, an
elderly South African woman who refuses to go to a nursing home, instead building her
personal "Mecca" in her yard.
− Helen Martins realizes that her neighbours expect her to move into a nursing
home. Helen refuses to go.
− Helen has been depressed since her husband's death and has repudiated the
Christian values of her community.
− Helen has been building her own personal Mecca in her yard in a search for
spiritual fulfilment. After her Mecca is finished, it is implied that Helen commits
suicide.
2
