At the moment solidarity is of topical interest more than ever. In the news we
hear of the decline of the welfare state, of cuts in social services. We discuss about
our solidarity with the United States of America with regard to the war in Iraq.
There are shows on television to collect money for poor countries in the third
world or for post-war reconstruction. These are all forms of solidarity. But what
really is solidarity?
This paper wants to have a closer look at the term "solidarity", its nuances and
its conditions. Solidarity depends on the society and on the time. As an example I
would like to examine the term on the basis of Athol Fugard's Township Plays.
The Township Plays are: No-good Friday (1958), Nongogo (1959), The Coat
(1966), Sizwe Bansi is Dead (1972) and The Island (1973). These five plays were
written under the conditions of the oppressive apartheid system which
characterized South Africa's politics since 1948. During the following years the
Whites oppressed the Blacks in a very cruel way, cut back their rights and made
them live and die under miserable circumstances. In such an inhumane situation
solidarity grows very fast and reaches its peak. I would now like to examine how
solidarity is described in the five South African plays, in which situations it
occurs. Furthermore, it may be interesting to look who acts in solidarity with
whom and in which situations there is perhaps even a lack of solidarity. These
shall be the main aspects of my paper.
Table of Contents
1) Contents
2) Introduction
3) What does the term "solidarity" mean?
4) No-good Friday
4.1) Solidarity among Blacks
4.2) Solidarity between Black and White
5) Nongogo
5.1) Solidarity on the part of the two main characters and on the part of the minor ones
6) The Coat
7) Sizwe Bansi is dead
7.1) Solidarity in the play
8) The Island
9) Conclusion
10) Bibliography
10.1) Primary literature
10.2) Secondary literature
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the concept of solidarity, its nuances, and its practical application within the specific socio-political context of South Africa under the apartheid regime. By analyzing five of Athol Fugard’s "Township Plays," the author investigates how communal support systems function as a mechanism for survival and resilience in environments characterized by extreme oppression and lack of rights.
- The theoretical definition and evolution of solidarity as a social principle.
- Forms of solidarity among Black communities in South Africa during apartheid.
- The limited evidence of solidarity between Black and White societal groups.
- Instances where solidarity is challenged or breaks down due to survivalist interests.
- The function of community as a means of sustaining human dignity and resilience.
Excerpt from the Book
4) No-good Friday
The play is set in Sophiatown, a black quarter in Johannesburg. On a Friday evening the main characters meet in a backyard to talk about their lives and problems and to wait for Shark. He comes every Friday to collect money for protection. This time a problem comes up: Tobias, a newcomer to the quarter, refuses to pay because he does not understand the reason why. Nobody even protests when Tobias is killed by Shark. The only one who is awakened now is Willie who later reports Shark to the police. By doing this he signs his own death sentence and nobody can persuade him to apologize to Shark in order to stay alive.
The premise for solidarity is a community and people feeling mutually obliged. In this play the main characters Guy, Watson, Pinkie, Peter and Moses are friends and Rebecca and Willie are lovers. They all live in the same quarter and share nearly the same problems. The biggest problem is the lack of work for everybody: Many people are looking for work but they have to be very patient to find one and they have to have good qualifications. Most of them are turned down and only if they have connections they can succeed. That is also the case with Guy: he cannot find work however hard he tries to get one.
Summary of Chapters
2) Introduction: Defines the topical nature of solidarity and introduces the objective of analyzing the term through the lens of Athol Fugard's "Township Plays" during the apartheid era.
3) What does the term "solidarity" mean?: Explores the etymological and sociological definitions of solidarity, tracing its roots from Roman legal terminology to its modern application in political and social contexts.
4) No-good Friday: Analyzes the interplay of community solidarity and survival within the Sophiatown setting, highlighting the conflict between personal safety and moral obligation.
5) Nongogo: Examines the rise and fall of solidarity between characters seeking to escape their past, illustrating how individual egoism and suspicion can erode communal ties.
6) The Coat: Discusses the nature of solidarity in poverty-stricken societies and how shared fate fosters mutual support, even among strangers.
7) Sizwe Bansi is dead: Explores identity transformation and the role of friendship as a survival mechanism against dehumanizing state policies.
8) The Island: Investigates the intense forms of solidarity among prisoners on Robben Island as a necessary means of maintaining humanity and resisting total annihilation.
9) Conclusion: Summarizes that solidarity primarily emerges in communities lacking resources, functioning as a vital "binder" for survival, despite being vulnerable to internal strain.
10) Bibliography: Lists the primary works by Athol Fugard and the secondary academic sources used to support the analysis of solidarity.
Keywords
Solidarity, Apartheid, Athol Fugard, Township Plays, Survival, Community, South Africa, Social Responsibility, Resistance, Human Dignity, Oppression, Interdependence, Ethics, Sociology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the concept of solidarity within the context of the South African apartheid regime, using Athol Fugard's "Township Plays" as a case study to see how the term is applied and challenged.
Which central thematic areas are covered?
It covers the definition of solidarity, its manifestations in Black communities, the rarity of interracial solidarity, and the struggle between communal interests and individual survival.
What is the main goal or research question?
The goal is to analyze how solidarity is described in these plays, in which situations it occurs, who acts in solidarity with whom, and where a lack of solidarity manifests.
Which scientific method is used?
The author uses a qualitative literary analysis, interpreting the dramatic texts against a theoretical framework of social and political sociology regarding solidarity.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines individual plays including "No-good Friday," "Nongogo," "The Coat," "Sizwe Bansi is dead," and "The Island," detailing specific scenes that demonstrate or negate solidarity.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Solidarity, Apartheid, Athol Fugard, Survival, Community, South Africa, and Human Dignity.
Why is the "solidarity of fight" important in the context of Robben Island?
It is presented as a crucial survival mechanism; prisoners must support each other against the brutality of the warders to preserve their humanity and physical existence.
How does the author interpret the role of Father Higgins?
Father Higgins is identified as the rare example of a white protagonist demonstrating solidarity, though the author notes he often lacks a deep understanding of the risks his suggestions pose to the Black community.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Kellner (Author), 2003, Solidarity in Athol Fugards Township Plays, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/23410
