Jane Taylor’s Ubu and the Truth Commission investigates South Africa in the post-Apartheid contest and, more specifically, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the journey towards justice and catharsis by the people of South Africa. The play makes use of puppets, animated sequences and the juxtaposition of humour and tragedy to analyse the differences and tensions between transitional/restorative justice and retributive justice as well as scrutinizing the inconclusiveness of justice.
Ubu and the Truth Commission ends inconclusively, with Pa Ubu and Ma Ubu riding off into the sunset. No real closure is provided in the ‘trial’ of Pa Ubu and the achievement of justice in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (the TRC) as a whole. The …show more content…
This is seen first and foremost with the testimonies of the witness puppets. The puppets tell their stories and thus begin their journey to catharsis. However, is catharsis remains unachieved as there is no resolution offered to the victims. They present what they viewed to happen and are not presented with people to confess to the crimes and thus receive no closure. The “everlasting pain” (pp.47) the witnesses experience every day is not one they are able to deal with as they have not been provided with the proper tools that restorative justice would have offered. These tensions are seen again in the way Pa Ubu deals with his past. He begins to vividly remember what he has done and has visions of “the Great Truth approaching, a rope in its hand” (pp.17). Yet, Pa refuses to confess, claiming that “we would burn down the world before we would give away our country” (pp.21). Pa would rather retain his integrity than confess before the commission and allow for the process of restorative justice to begin. Pa decides to opt for “concealing rather than revealing” (pp.33) his crimes. However, Pa’s apparent conscience reminds him that his “carrion acts” (pp.27) will not be easily washed off. He attempts to justify his actions by claiming them not to be personal but rather acts of war. Eventually, the shadow tells him that the “voices will be heard” and Pa’s writes a confession. It is evident by his laughing while practicing his confession that Pa Ubu is not truly remorseful but is rather trying to act as though he were to avoid further judgment or any punishment. Evidently, the tensions between the forgiveness of restorative justice and the punishments of retributive justice are seen in both the witness puppets and Pa Ubu. Catharsis is not achieved for any and the painful past remains buried and stifled down. As Pa and Ma Ubu sail with Niles to
Ubu and the Truth Commission ends inconclusively, with Pa Ubu and Ma Ubu riding off into the sunset. No real closure is provided in the ‘trial’ of Pa Ubu and the achievement of justice in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (the TRC) as a whole. The …show more content…
This is seen first and foremost with the testimonies of the witness puppets. The puppets tell their stories and thus begin their journey to catharsis. However, is catharsis remains unachieved as there is no resolution offered to the victims. They present what they viewed to happen and are not presented with people to confess to the crimes and thus receive no closure. The “everlasting pain” (pp.47) the witnesses experience every day is not one they are able to deal with as they have not been provided with the proper tools that restorative justice would have offered. These tensions are seen again in the way Pa Ubu deals with his past. He begins to vividly remember what he has done and has visions of “the Great Truth approaching, a rope in its hand” (pp.17). Yet, Pa refuses to confess, claiming that “we would burn down the world before we would give away our country” (pp.21). Pa would rather retain his integrity than confess before the commission and allow for the process of restorative justice to begin. Pa decides to opt for “concealing rather than revealing” (pp.33) his crimes. However, Pa’s apparent conscience reminds him that his “carrion acts” (pp.27) will not be easily washed off. He attempts to justify his actions by claiming them not to be personal but rather acts of war. Eventually, the shadow tells him that the “voices will be heard” and Pa’s writes a confession. It is evident by his laughing while practicing his confession that Pa Ubu is not truly remorseful but is rather trying to act as though he were to avoid further judgment or any punishment. Evidently, the tensions between the forgiveness of restorative justice and the punishments of retributive justice are seen in both the witness puppets and Pa Ubu. Catharsis is not achieved for any and the painful past remains buried and stifled down. As Pa and Ma Ubu sail with Niles to