Moral ambiguity, ethics, and principles are all main themes that I thought about when thinking of the play Ruined. I took notice to these topics because it was these ideas that probably caused the biggest debate in our class. Shouts of “it was wrong what she did how can’t you see that” and ” what she did is absolutely justified” ran through my head at the same time. I knew I had to write about these principles because for me, it would create the most discussion. I also had issues that were hard to take in and wondered if what some of the characters’ actions were truly justifiable. I could not answer immediately and I truly had to think about whether the choices these group of people made were really morally acceptable or not.
Before I get to the main issues of moral ambiguity in the play Ruined, I want to refer to one issue that was present early in the text. This issue was wheter it was justified or not that Christian had his niece Sophie in Mama Nadi’s brothel. Now if I said that statement alone to someone who had no background of the play, they would look at me as if I was dumb to ask such a stupid question. However, those of us who read Ruined wonder about this example and if Christian’s actions truly were justifiable in this case. To me, Mama Nadi’s bar, despite its connotations, was a place of safety. It was a place where violence did not exist and people were sheltered from the chaos and disruption that occurred outside the bar. Yes I know Mama Nadi used woman as prostitutes but it makes you wonder what would happen to them if they were not there. What would happen if soldiers saw a wandering Josephine or Sophie outside of the bar and the thought of that makes me shutter. This is why I think Sophie staying in Mama Nadi’s was the best thing for her. Sophie, although ruined, would not of been protected by soldiers who wanted her if she did not have Mama Nadi. This was for her safety and protection from the savage soldiers and it is this that I think Lynn Nottage wants us readers to think about.
Wondering whether Sophie taking part in the brothel was justifiable or not made me think about one of the biggest issues I had about the play. This was the encounter between Sophie and Commander Osembenga in Mama Nadi’s bar. I admired how Mama Nadi defended Sophie and avoided Sophie from having sex with him. However, I did not know what to think when Mama Nadi commanded Sophie to still sexually satisfy Commander Osembenga. I was at a loss of words and I did not even know what to think about this issue. I was wondering how to rationalize the situation, but to me it was just completely wrong. Why would Mama Nadi put Sophie, who is ruined, in such complete danger? She did not know what could of happened to her in the room at that time. This is what I was thinking and the more I thought about it the more I thought about how much war transformed these people. Commanders invading at any time, mistreating who they pleased combined with violence and rape made people have horrifying times in the Congo. I think of this and I think of Mama Nadi’s decision to give Sophie to the commander. You wonder what would of happened if the commander did not get any pleasure; he would of probably resorted to violence. As sad as it is to say, Mama Nadi did this in order to prevent violence and harm to herself and others, to have peace for once in the Congo.
Writing about this idea made me finally wonder about a concluding moral issue. This isse was whether or not Mama Nadi’s business was justified. I had to think about the war in the Congo to realize this point. People were mistreated so horribly that people wanted a place of safety, security, and shelter. Although it was a brothel, Mama Nadi’s place was this form of safety. People went for food, laughter, and just a break from all that went on outside. It was also safety for the girls. As I mentioned before, if the girls wandered around outside instead of a place of security, who knows what would of happened to them. Mama Nadi’s gave girls safety and security as well. They were in control of their bodies because the people were coming to them. Mama Nadi provided a home and food for them, something they might not of had if they went astray and wandered about. They were protected from the horrors of war and its severities. Despite this moral ambiguity, Mama Nadi and all other instances in Ruined made us think about how much war changes a simple moral view and people. It makes us debate and always wonder how would this be different if war or other things did not take place.
