Homework is to think about the characters in Ruined, Mama Nadi and the women in the brothel: Salima, Josephine and Sophie; Fortune, Salima's husband, his friend, Laurent, the military, Christian and Mr. Harari and lesser unnamed characters.
Write a brief recap and analysis of where we are in the story now and the symbolism Nottage captures in her characters and the setting, of the horrors of war. Later we even notice subtle irony in Nottage's choice of names for the characters as well, esp. Fortune, Salima's (which means "peace), husband. Is the brothel a kind of "Eden"?
If so, then who or what is the snake?
Post reflections here. Reference "Elements of Drama" (92) and "Literary Criticism" (143) specifically interpretive analysis looking at Formalism and New Criticism and Feminism and Gender Criticism, Post-colonial Criticism (a little), and Psychological Theories like archetypes (148-149). Marxism works as well, but I think LC and FNC provide a better framework for this analysis.
We will write this essay at the end of the month and start the Poetry unit towards the end of the month as well. We will have a special guest, Maria Acuna who will talk about her work and give us a writing assignment. Students will also team up to make presentations on Elements of Poetry per Writing about Literature.
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Adetona Adewale
Professor Sabir
English 1B
12 October 2011
Salima is a simple girl and she is not that well educated but she is very sweet and attractive. She also come across as really shy but she is actually quite bold because she and Sophie are secretly planning a get away to Bunia right under Josephine’s and Mama’s noses. Moreover, although Salima may seem sweet thus far I don’t think that we should prejudge what she is a capable of at all because she has obviously had a pretty hard life.
Josephine is more of a veteran hooker and really knows the ropes and works for Mama as a prostitute recruiter if you will because she clearly has Mama’s back. Since Josephine is such a professional whore she knows exactly how to please her customers and Mama because one time a mineral merchant named Mr. Harari came in for a drink and Josephine instantly began to dirty-dance for him without first being requested to do so by him or Mama. In addition, she became very suspicious when she asked Salima where her fashion magazine had made its way to another location.
Sophie is very good natured and jovial because she tries to make light of a not so good situation until she can improve upon that. She was always singing and coming up with ideas because she was not planning on working for Mama’s brothel forever. More importantly she was becoming a genuine friend to Salima because of their similar dire straits.
Fortune is Salima’s husband and he is a man of much optimism and glee but he has not presented us much more than that so far so we will have to see what significance his role plays in the scenes to follow.
Christian is a man that enjoys the finer things in life like chocolate from Belgium and he saved his niece and brought mama three new girls to work her brothel one being his own niece. He also is person that cares a lot for others and he was very observant when some rebel soldiers enter into Mama’s brothel slash bar.
Mr. Harari is a businessman and does not like the state of play in the economy in the Congo because he feels that too many things are unfair. He is charmer and a family man and a very hard worker that is completely independent.
Well where we currently are in the story is the part when commander Osembenga makes his dominating presence in Mama’s bar slash brothel. Furthermore, all the characters have almost made an appearance in the story. The symbolism that I have witnessed thus far is regardless of the fact that Mama’s business is a brothel slash bar people seem to flock to that location as a place of solace and peace. Salima her name also means peace and every man that walked in noticed her beauty and serenity as soon as they entered Mama’s brothel.
Alexander Jung
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 201B 9:00-10:50 T/TH
12 October 2011
Recap and Reflection on “Ruined”
Currently in the play called “Ruined” we have been introduced to the main characters of the brothel and a few other characters who are mostly soldiers. The play takes place in a brothel that’s in the Congo where a war between rebels and the government is taking place. While the war takes place and the horrors are reveled at times by the characters, the brothel is a place of meeting and is considered a place where people can rest and relax. Both the government and the rebels go to the brothel to escape the duties of war. Because of this though, the people of the brothel have to take care from not making enemies out of either side.
The characters that have been introduced to us are Christian, Mama Nadi, Salima, Josephine, Sophie, Mr. Harari, Jerome Kisembe, Osembenga, and the soldiers. Almost everyone in the play.
Christian is a businessman who is affiliated with Mama Nadi’s brothel. He is a kind man who cares about Mama and his niece Sophie. His name could symbolize the religion of Christianity since he himself is a man who does not drink or scam people. He also saved Sophie from a life of misery and death. He is a savior and a man who has his morals.
Mama Nadi is the owner of the brothel. She is similar to Christian in that she is kind and is a business person but she is more assertive when it comes to business. She looks after all of the girls in her care and in a way treats them like family. Her name Mama could reflect this motherly side that she has. The girls are like her children and she makes sure that they are fed and given shelter.
Salima is a woman who was given to Mama Nadi by Christian. She is a nice woman who gets along with Sophie. At times she argues with Josephine but I believe they do care about each other in some ways. It’s like sisterly love. Salima’s name means peace and is reflected through her peaceful nature and her undying love for her baby who was killed in the actions of war. She might have some other role later on that could reflect her name.
Josephine is an outgoing woman. She is the most experience girl at the brothel. She wants to go to the city and experience new things in life. She is also in love with Mr. Harari. The name Josephine has been used in the past as names of people of royalty. In the play Josephine was a daughter of a chief so her name could symbolize that she is a person from a family or importance. Also she acts like she is superior to the other girls at the brothel.
Sophie is Christian’s niece. She understands the situation she is in and is a bit grateful that her uncle brought her to the brothel. She is caring and is someone who stands up for people for she always stands up for Salima when Josephine nags her. Sophie’s name means wisdom. She shows that she is understanding and takes into account what people have to say.
The rest of the characters are mostly soldiers and the leader of the soldiers. Each has their own goals for fighting the war and desire to see the other side lose. The war could also have to do with the resources of the Congo.
Nick Malecek
English 1B
T/Th 9:00-10:50am
Professor Sabir
13 October 2011
Response to “Ruined”
The setting in general in “Ruined” is dingy, dirty, and rough around the edges. The world portrayed in this story is harsh and unforgiving. But the main characters remind us that within this despicable world there are human beings with people they care about and their own hopes and dreams.
It’s easy within our comfortable society to become callous to the rest of the world’s people and their suffering. Losing our iPhones can be the worst event of the year for us, while countless others are raped or killed in countries ravaged by war. Despite this stark contrast, the characters in this play share many similarities with each one of us. Family is one such theme that this story immediately delves into with Sophie and Christian. I could never imagine what it would be like to live in a world where the chance of my family members getting raped or killed is extremely high. Christian goes out of his way to find a safe place for his niece Sophie, portraying the tenacity of family members in looking out for one another.
The Characters:
Mama Nadi is a strong woman and she looks out for the girls in her brothel. Her dialogue with Christian is entertaining. I’m not sure yet if there is something there between them or if the like to play around. She reluctantly brings in Sophie because the business side of her told her not to bother with one more mouth to feed. Ultimately though her good heart and Christian’s incessant prodding allowed her to give in.
Christian strikes me as a good person even though he’s literally dropping his niece off at a brothel. I actually agree with his assertion that it is the best thing to do for Sophie, if the circumstances outside of the brothel are how I am imagining them. He wears a suit that is described as “overly loved”, possibly alluding to his age. He is in his mid-forties and I get the impression that he has been through a thing or two in his life.
Sophie herself is in a sense “ruined” from the trauma she experienced at the hands of militia. There is a lot of foreshadowing that tells me that Sophie will be the central character, including the fact that she is constantly described as the play’s title by Christian. She is also described as pretty, and a “good girl”. She likes to sing, which to me is a sign of a pure heart, especially when none of the other characters really sing.
Mr. Harari is a hard-driving businessman, although his business skills get overshadowed by Mama’s luck. He is portrayed without shoes, as his were stolen by a rebel soldier. This may be symbolic of something later on in the story.
Jerome Kisembe is the rebel leader, and he doesn’t seem like a bad person so far. A soldier begins to create a scene but Kisembe acts to settle him down.
Commander Osembenga seems like a jerk.
I’m looking forward to reading more of this play.
Tia Gangopadhyay
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B 9-10:50 AM
12 October 2011
Recap and Reflection on “Ruined”
Lynn Nottage’s play, “Ruined” reflects on the horrors of the war. So far, we have read up to Scene 5. We have been introduced to Salima, Josephine, Mama Nadi, Christian, Mr. Harari and Sophie. Mama Nadi is the owner of the brothel where the story takes place. While she is a business woman and in that aspect she is very strict, she is also somewhat kindhearted in that she feeds and shelters all the girls working for her. Christian is a good natured, well-meaning man who takes care of his family as evident by the measures he goes to, in order to secure his “tainted” niece shelter and safety.
Sophie is the “ruined” girl brought to the brothel by her uncle after the militia raped her. She is haughty and timid at the same time. She symbolizes the violence and grief of war. Josephine is another woman at the brothel—experienced in her work and arrogant and superior with the other girls. She was the daughter of a chief before being raped and entering the brothel. Josephine symbolizes the loss and animosity that war creates. Josephine has hatred for the other girls even though they did nothing to her. Mr. Harari is a frequent visitor at the brothel and a particular favorite of Josephine’s. Salima is a depressed woman sent to the brothel because she is tainted. She constantly misses her husband and child but knows that she is a disgrace and cannot return to them. Salima is defensive towards her family regardless of they treated her. Salima symbolizes loss—losing your home, your family and your identity during war.
The characters represent certain elements of the inevitable horrors of war such as pain, grief, loss, violence and animosity/hatred. The brothel (setting) also symbolizes the horrors of the war. While a brothel is generally a place of corruption and sin, in the play “Ruined,” the brothel is also a place of refuge for military men, government officials and rebels. It is a place where these men of war find peace and solace as well as escape from the horrors they face. They also confess to the crimes they commit within the walls of the brothel. Thus the brothel is a kind of “Eden” in that the brothel is a playground for sin but also the backdrop for peace and comfort just as the Garden of Eden was in the Bible.
Works Cited
Nottage, Lynn. “Ruined.” Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2010. Print.
Jacqueline Diulio
Professor Sabir
English 1B
13 October 2011
Ruined
In the play “Ruined” by Lynn Nottage, reflects the hardships of war on women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The play takes place in a brothel where both miners and soldiers could go get a drink and relax with the company of women. Each character has a tainted history or past that they relive on a daily basis because of the horrors that take place during time of war. We have been introduced to most of the characters in the play, leading up to scene five in the first act.
Mama Nadi is the owner of the brothel. She is a hardheaded businesswoman, who doesn’t put up with any misbehavior from both the girls and soldiers. Although Mama Nadi can be harsh, she is also very caring for the girls, providing them with food and shelter. Sophie, one of the girls sold to the brothel, is a very sweet kindhearted girl who was taken by the rebels and raped continuously. Sophie represents the violence and pain that is caused by war, especially to women. Josephine is another girl at the brothel who was taken from her village and sold to Mama. Josephine was also raped and forced out of her village even though she was the Chief’s daughter, the most important man of the village. Salima, another occupant of the brothel, was taken from her husband and children to be sold to Mama. Salima represents the loss of so many innocent people in time of war. Christian, Mama’s salesmen, brings Mama all her supplies for her business. He is completely in love with Mama but is terrified over every aspect of the war. He has enough sense to want to leave the country to try and find a safe haven, but does not want to go without Mama. Mr. Harari is a regular customer at the brothel. He is one of Josephine’s favorite clients and has promised to take Josephine home with him. Mr. Harari represents false hope for the Josephine because he probably has no intention of actually taking Josephine home with him.
Jerome Kisembe, the leader to the rebel soldiers, was also introduced in the play. He seemed to be a nice man wanting to end the war but could not keep control of his soldiers. His followers were mean and ruthless, biting Salima as she tried to accompany one of them. Jerome and his servicemen represent the hatred of war and the barbaric behavior men conform to in a time of bloodshed.
Each character in the story represents deeper meaning of war. Each person has been individually “ruined” in some way to make him or her as hostile as they are throughout the play. Despite the fact that they have all had horrific events take place in their lives, these events have only made the characters of the play less sympathetic and more inhumane. War forces people to conform to a merciless way of life that becomes almost inevitable.
Works Cited
Nottage, Lynn. “Ruined.” Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2010. Print.
Jacob Stabler
Professor Sabir
English 1B
15 October 2011
Response to “Ruined”
The play “Ruined” by Lynn Nottage is pretty interesting. Mama Nadi runs a brothel of women supplied by Christian. I like Christian. He seems like a typical salesman with the gift of gab and a bad fashion sense. He also recites poetry which I think is an interesting contrast to this seemingly dark and miserable narrative. Christian and Mama Nadi seem to have a love hate relationship. He brings new girls around for Mama Nadi to purchase and put to work. He brings Sophie and Mama Nadi reluctantly accepts her despite her being ruined. Mama Nadi looks out for her girls by making sure they’re safe while they handle their business. She has the soldiers leave their bullets at the bar while they’re having drinks or with the women. I guess in that sense she’s doing a good thing, however, she is basically a lady pimp running a brothel. She orders the girls around and treats them like pieces of meat. I guess that’s normal for someone running a brothel.
Later on in the play we hear from Jerome Kisimbe, an apparently untouchable rebel leader in charge of soldiers. We meet Mr. Harari who is a sporty business type with a thing for Josephine, one of Mama Nadi’s other girls. Mr Harari has a foul mouth and drops F-bombs constantly, which I can also appreciate. And then there is Salima, yet another of Mama Nadi’s money makers. These girls have it rough. They are forced to put up with soldiers and miners that have no manners or respect. Their quarters are behind the bar and their beds consist of wood and straw. Not ideal, but I guess it’s still better than what they’re use to.
Commander Osembanga, a pompas peacock of a man decked out in all the flashy trimmings enters the play now. He’s a demanding man, but he’s humbled by Mama Nadi and her firm rules.He seems to have a beef with Jerome. The play is getting interesting and we’re heading into act 5. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Works Cited:
Nottage, Lynn. Ruined. Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2010. Print.
Tia Gangopadhyay
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B 9-10:50 AM
17 October 2011
A Reflection on Women and War
The film, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” directed by Gini Reticker, depicts the story of a peace movement begun by Liberian women of both Catholic and Muslim faith. By staging silent protests, the Liberian women, led by Laymah Gbowee, pioneered the country’s Civil War peace resolution. Simply through their courage and strength were the women of Liberia finally able to bring about change and end their country’s violence. The meager means of these women and their perseverance in face of overwhelming challenges is “inspiring, uplifting and most of all motivating” (Pray the Devil Back to Hell). A parallel to the experiences that the Liberian women face is the experiences the women face in Lynn Nottage’s play “Ruined.”
The women in Mama Nadi’s brothel in “Ruined,” are forced into submission because of their circumstances—circumstances over which they have no control and little say. The women: Salima, Josephine, and Sophie, are products of violence and corruption. The women in both the play and in Liberia use sex as a tool for change. Mama Nadi and her “girls” use sex to pacify the men and keep a neutral business during the conflict between the government and the rebels. The women of Liberia refuse sex to their husbands until they take a stand against the violence corrupting their country, proving that “grassroots activism can alter the history of nations” (Pray the Devil Back to Hell). In this way both the women of Liberia and the women of the brothel in “Ruined,” use sex as a mechanism to stop the violence and establish peace.
The leader of the Liberian women, Laymah Gbowee, has certain similarities to Mama Nadi. Both women are strong, assertive women who know what they want and are not afraid to take the actions necessary to achieve their goals. Mama Nadi’s primary goal is to run a business that is neutral and peaceful while protecting the women of her brothel and the patrons that visit. Mama Nadi does not hesitate to tell rude, trouble-making rebels who visit her brothel, the way her business is run. She asserts her own rules and standards at the brothel such as telling rebel soldiers: “You want to talk to her. Behave, and let me see your money” (Nottage 15). Similarly, Laymah asserts the rights of the citizens of Liberia by staging a silent protest outside the Presidential Palace, refusing to move until some sort of peace agreement is determined. Her main intent is also to create a safe country for her fellow women and all citizens of Liberia. Both Mama Nadi and Laymah create a safe place for women who have been traumatized and abused. The women of Liberia and the female characters in Nottage’s play, “Ruined,” create a parallel for women in war.
Works Cited
Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Web. 16 October 2011.
Nottage, Lynn. “Ruined.” Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2010. Print.
Tia Gangopadhyay
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B 9-10:50 AM
17 October 2011
A Reflection on Women and War
The film, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” directed by Gini Reticker, depicts the story of a peace movement begun by Liberian women of both Catholic and Muslim faith. By staging silent protests, the Liberian women, led by Laymah Gbowee, pioneered the country’s Civil War peace resolution. Simply through their courage and strength were the women of Liberia finally able to bring about change and end their country’s violence. The meager means of these women and their perseverance in face of overwhelming challenges is “inspiring, uplifting and most of all motivating” (Pray the Devil Back to Hell). A parallel to the experiences that the Liberian women face is the experiences the women face in Lynn Nottage’s play “Ruined.”
The women in Mama Nadi’s brothel in “Ruined,” are forced into submission because of their circumstances—circumstances over which they have no control and little say. The women: Salima, Josephine, and Sophie, are products of violence and corruption. The women in both the play and in Liberia use sex as a tool for change. Mama Nadi and her “girls” use sex to pacify the men and keep a neutral business during the conflict between the government and the rebels. The women of Liberia refuse sex to their husbands until they take a stand against the violence corrupting their country, proving that “grassroots activism can alter the history of nations” (Pray the Devil Back to Hell). In this way both the women of Liberia and the women of the brothel in “Ruined,” use sex as a mechanism to stop the violence and establish peace.
The leader of the Liberian women, Laymah Gbowee, has certain similarities to Mama Nadi. Both women are strong, assertive women who know what they want and are not afraid to take the actions necessary to achieve their goals. Mama Nadi’s primary goal is to run a business that is neutral and peaceful while protecting the women of her brothel and the patrons that visit. Mama Nadi does not hesitate to tell rude, trouble-making rebels who visit her brothel, the way her business is run. She asserts her own rules and standards at the brothel such as telling rebel soldiers: “You want to talk to her. Behave, and let me see your money” (Nottage 15). Similarly, Laymah asserts the rights of the citizens of Liberia by staging a silent protest outside the Presidential Palace, refusing to move until some sort of peace agreement is determined. Her main intent is also to create a safe country for her fellow women and all citizens of Liberia. Both Mama Nadi and Laymah create a safe place for women who have been traumatized and abused. The women of Liberia and the female characters in Nottage’s play, “Ruined,” create a parallel for women in war.
Works Cited
Nottage, Lynn. “Ruined.” Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2010. Print.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Web. 16 October 2011.
Arjmand Khan
Professor Sabir
English 1B
24 October 2011
“Ruined” by Lynn Notage takes place during a war that especially affects women. Women are treated harshly and if they become a victim of the war, they are discarded by their family even if it was not their fault. They are labeled as “ruined.” Mama Nadi in the play runs a brothel which provides shelter for girls. Her brothel, as Professor Sabir said, is a safe place for girls and these girls can depend on her. Mama Nadi may not seem very obvious in keeping the girls safe and may appear as a strict business woman, her actions however say otherwise. She has shown interest in the war affairs and its effect on her business. Though some will say that she is concerned because it will affect her business, I think she is also concerned because she does care about the girls that work for her.
The brothel can be considered as an Eden because even though it may not be obvious, but the girls are safer and are well taken care of. This would not be the case if they were living by themselves and would be terrorized by soldiers. The brothel also accepts and takes care of the girls who are already “ruined” and cannot go back to their families. Part of the reason why Christian was so stubborn in making Mama accept Sophie was because he wanted to protect her from the harm. He knew she was “ruined” and would not be taken care of unless she worked for Mama Nadi.
Melvin Arquero
Prof. Sabir
English 1B 9:-10:50
12 October 2011
After our first reading of Nottage's "Ruined," we were introduced to many of the characters and the setting f the play. The play takes place in the Republic of Congo, where a brothel is beig run ironically by a woman named, Mama Nadi. The atmosphere of the place seems to be a bit dangerous as it is made clear that there is a war taking place in the very same area where the brothel is located.
Mama Nadi is the owner of the brothel. Right away, one can easily gauge the depth of her character. Being a woman, it is very interesting that she runs a brothel because it brings about many anti-feministic principles. She seems to be very militaristic by the way she carris herself and her engagement with other characters. It is interesting to see her character develop as the play progresses.
Christian is another character. Though at first, it was hard to discern Christian's business with Mana Nadi, it becomes clear that he supplies women for Mama Nadi. One of these women included his niece, which again, opens up a new interesting twist to the play. Christian seems to be a decent man despite his contributions to the brothel. He also seems to have a liking for Mama Nadi.
Sophie is Christian's niece. She is described to be "ruined" as she has been raped and "left for dead" in the streets of Congo. She is smart because she takes advantage of the fact that she can be safe from the atrocities of war by being in the brothel. She also finds herself lucky that she is not necessarily available for all men, but proves to be a useful asset for Mama Nadi as the bar singer and the money counter.
Salima is one of the girls that Christina brought to Mama Nadi. Salima is like Sophie who seems to be a nice girl. Stuck in the same predicament, Salima finds refuge in the brothel and becomes one of the women accompanying men. She also bears a hidden history, which the audience has to wait to hear until the story progresses.
Josephine is another character who, unlike the new girls, has been with Mama Nadi. She seems to be someone who is easily controlled, yet still holds her own attitude.
Overall, this play presents itself to be a very fun and interesting read.
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