The Island
In Athol Fugard’s “The Statements”, each play not only depicts the hardships of apartheid and the consequences thereafter, but contemplates the philosophical question: “What is a man?” Fugard uses the tragic personal experiences of himself as well as his fellow actor partners; John Kani and Winston Ntshona. Together, the two actors along with Fugard portray what life was like under South Africa’s apartheid laws. In “The Island” with the help with Kani and Ntshona, Fugard, elicits the bond of brotherhood, even within the dehumanizing prison cell walls, on Robben Island. However, it is not only through the dialogue that we learn of the island’s harsh environment, but also through the play’s set design. Elements such as lighting, sound, costume, and stage direction all enhance the overall production of the play. Moreover, the beginning of scene one contains an abundance of these elements. As the siren sounds signaling the start of yet another harsh hardworking day, the two prisoners, John and Winston arise. The stage lights are on, to reveal a moat of harsh, white light around their cell. A moat, usually is classified as a body of water surrounding a castle, although, in this case it represents Robben Island. The light, . . .
Ultimately, these two men, John and Winston have connected in a way that only two cellmates are capable of. They both continue to engage in the “back-breaking” labour of digging at the sand, but for no apparent reason, only to add the sand from one’s wheel- barrow to the pile where the other is digging. Once John catches wind that he will be released in three months, he and Winston participate in stage directions that only elicit how fervent their relationship really is. This of course, only means one thing to Winston, who now, is left to finish out his life sentence, at Robben Island, without his dear friend John. Eventually, the two men fall asleep, only to run in the quarry tomorrow, together. Winston becomes outraged, and tears off the wig and breasts, throwing them on the cell floor, then walks over to the water bucket where he begins to clean himself. ” John is hidden under a blanket as Winston is in the process of putting on Antigone’s wig and fake breasts. The play within the play also relates to life under South Africa’s apartheid laws. This action proves how united Winston and John really are, seeing as you have to know someone to at least even try to put your urine in their eye, and really know them to actually do it. so radiant which, depicts a moat, consequently portrays the blinding atmosphere at hand. Finally, the two men exhausted, reach their cell door. Winston can no longer control himself; the excruciating pain overcomes him, causing the moaning to escalate to the sound of “inarticulate outrage,” increasing in volume and violence. In three months, Winston will no longer have the pleasure of John’s company in the cell. In addition, the second scene, especially, brings forth the costume element, as John and Winston get ready for their reenactment of “Antigone.
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Acceptance Essays
