Humanities

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English Humanities

Ruined is set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the years between 2001 and 2007. For the period of this time and the recent years today, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a place of military and rebel fighter violence, immense suffering and human harassment.

The entire play takes place in the shoddy bar with "rough and ready furniture and a dilapidated pool table." The bar accommodates miners, military men, traveling salesmen, and rebel fighters. The tavern provides its guests food and drinks but functions as a brothel too. Mama Nadi is the brave owner of the bar. In addition, she employs ten beautiful women to help her run the business. The women prefer staying with Mama Nadi, because they do not have any other means of survival.

The main aspect portrayed in the play is gender-based violence and women are most affected because of the harassment. Women recounted the unthinkable suffering and terrifying acts of violence and rape. In addition, it happened because of search for money as the soldiers try to give reasons during the interview why they rape, “Money and sex go hand in hand. If you have no money, you will have no sex” (Baaz, Maria E, and Maria Stern). Mama Nadi used to ask for cash first before allowing her girls to offer themselves to the soldiers and miners. The clients are not patient with the girls who live with mama assuming that it is their right to have women when they want, because they already paid. Military leader, Commander Osembenga, tries to harass Sophie after she refused to respond to his call. All this happens because the women have no other choice but to offer the services required by the military and rebel army.

Mama has been good to her women, she harasses the women when the miners and soldiers arrive, she does not consider the plight of the women, because they do not have the way forward if they leave her place. Mama is not polite to clients as she...