Fugard, liberalism and the ending of apartheid

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Periodical article

Title:	Fugard, liberalism and the ending of apartheid
Author:	Foley, Andrew
Year:	1997
Periodical:	Current Writing: Text and Reception in Southern Africa
Volume:	9
Issue:	2
Pages:	57-76
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	liberalism literature
About person:	Athol Fugard (1932-)
Abstract:	This article emphasizes the role played by South African liberals, not necessarily in formal politics but in society generally, who continued under pressure from both the right and left to keep the idea of liberal democracy current. Among the advocates of liberalism were creative writers, and especially South Africa's foremost playwright, Athol Fugard. Focusing on his Karoo plays of the 1980s and 1990s - 'The road to Mecca' (1985), 'My children! My Africa' (1990) and 'Playland' (1992) - the present author provides an account of the way in which Fugard's dramatic work is informed by the values of liberalism. He shows that Fugard's central concern is with individual characters and their stories. His characters are suffering as a direct or indirect result of the injustices of the political system. Fugard's plays can be seen as a condemnation of the apartheid system and a demand for its replacement by a free society. In this way they helped to maintain the conditions in which a just society could be created peacefully in South Africa. Bibliogr., note.