The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife
By Charles J. Fourie
The Setting
Robben Island
In the past, Robben Island was used by the
government to isolate “undesirable” people, this
included political prisoners such as:
• The Khoikhoi in 1591.
• Xhosa captives during the Frontier Wars in 17791878.
As well as Tuberculosis patients during the early
1800s.
The island was also used as a hospital for lepers
and the mentally ill from 1846 - 1931.
The lighthouse on the island was built in 1864.
• The Cape mainland is seven kilometres away
from the island.
• Robben island is surrounded by cold water
and sharks, which makes it nearly impossible
to escape by swimming.
• Over the past three and a half centuries
there have been many shipwrecks
surrounding the Island.
• Debris from the ships wash up on the shore
of Robben Island.
• Plaatjies is seen trying to build a boat with
planks from past shipwrecks in Act 1.
Character Analysis
Plaatjies
Plaatjies
• An African man.
• We do not know his age but he is called “old
Plaatjies” which implies he is an older man.
• An inmate of the mental asylum on Robben Island.
• He was detained on the island as lunatic (he appears
to have lost touch with reality).
• He was arrested (while living in the mainland) for
stealing vegetables.
• He told the magistrate of the court that he is the
saviour who has come to save his people (reference
to Christianity).
• His wife passed away a year ago and since then his
condition (mental state) has worsened.
• He collects planks from old shipwrecks and
continually tries to build a boat in order to
escape. This boat is continually destroyed by
the mental asylum assistant who manages him
(Barney).
• He poetically describes the mainland (Cape
Town) as a woman and old lover whom he
longs to be with.
• Plaatjies manages to maintain his hope of
experiencing freedom despite being oppressed
by the asylum wardens.
• He opens up to Stella (the lighthouse keeper’s
wife) which in the end causes him to be the
target of the jealous lighthouse keeper.
• The lighthouse keeper cuts out his tongue
while in a jealous rage.
• Plaatjies is then kept locked up in the “Kraal”.
Adriaan Lamprecht
• The lighthouse keeper on Robben Island.
• Being a lighthouse keeper is a family
tradition.
• Married to Stella.
• He cannot read.
• Has a controlling nature and is a very
jealous husband.
• He nearly beat a man to death for bringing
Stella flowers.
• His constant fear of losing Stella to another
man causes him to oppress her, which
ultimately destroys their intimacy and
relationship.
• He cut’s Plaatjies’ tongue out while in a
jealous rage.
Stella Lamprecht
• The lighthouse keeper’s wife.
• Married to Adriaan Lamprecht.
• Feels trapped in her relationship because
of her husband’s fear of other men “trying
their luck” with her.
• Her husband continually tries to control
her and “hide” her away from people in
the fear that he will lose her.
• She sympathises with Plaatjies and wants
to help him.
• She does not believe that Plaatjies is crazy
and relates to his plight.
• She has a strained relationship with
Lamprecht (her husband). Longs for
intimacy with him.
• Tries to keep her hope of a happy marriage
alive by writing secret love letters to her
husband (which she never gives him).
• When she realises what he has done to
Plaatjies, she appears to go mad (crazy).
• She tries to finish Plaatjies’ boat and escape
from the island and from her husband.
Barney
• An assistant at the mental asylum on
Robben Island.
• Initially from Kimberly.
• Is in charge of looking after Plaatjies.
• He bullies and oppresses Plaatjies.
• Has an obsession with becoming a famous
wrestler like Tromp van Diggelen.
• Public service careers run in the family.
• Is invited over by Lamprecht.
• Provokes Lamprecht to hurt Plaatjies.
• Shows interest in Stella.
Summaries
Time: It is late afternoon.
Act 1
Setting: a rock cove on Robben island.
Characters involved: Plaatjies, Stella, Barney and Lamprecht.
• Plaatjies is introduced.
• He is an African man and is an inmate of the mental
asylum (he is thought to be insane).
• He is alone and speaks to himself while
working on a small boat which he has built
from the debris of shipwrecks.
His monologue reveals the following:
• He had bad experiences in the mental asylum which he
wants to forget.
• He is forced to call the asylum wardens “Mijn Baas” (Dutch:
my boss) –shows that he is oppressed and controlled by
those in charge.
• He tries to be brave (encourages himself).
• He plans on escaping, using the boat he built.
• He is excited to have “freedom” - shows that he feels
trapped in the asylum and on island - describes it as “this
place of desolation”.
• He is religious - “Bless this lucky day, My Lord” / Molimo
(Sesotho for God).
• He misses the Mainland (Cape Town) – metaphorically
describes it as being a woman and an old lover whom he
longs for.
Stella arrives and has been watching and listening to him describe the
mainland for some time.
She pleads with him to continue his poetic description of the mainland.
She reveals that she is the “lighthouse keeper’s wife” and speaks to him
as though he were not insane.
Plaatjies refuses to speak to her and tells her to leave him alone – he
essentially tries to chase her away.
Stella reveals that:
• She and her husband have been on Robben island for
2 months.
• They were transferred from Port Nolloth, and before
that they were stationed in Mossel Bay.
• She knows Plaatjies wants to escape the island.
• The island is home to Lepers, lunatics and hospital
patients (she does not seem to include Plaatjies in any
of these categories).
• Her husband is always concerned about her
whereabouts.
• Stella leaves and Barney arrives with a restraint jacket.
• Barney demands to know who Plaatjies is talking to as there is no
one in sight.
• He tells Plaatjies to stay away from the lighthouse keeper’s wife as
he is not allowed to talk to strangers – he will get locked up in the
kraal with “the rest of the lunatics”.
• Barney tells Plaatjies he is his only friend (his actions and words
don’t indicate friendship).
• Barney tries to restrain Plaatjies.
Barney reveals:
• The lighthouse keeper nearly murdered a man for looking at
his wife (Stella)
• That he thinks Stella is good looking and that she might be
lonely and in need of love.
Plaatjies says that bad tides are coming (this could be symbolic for
bad times approaching).
The lighthouse keeper arrives.
He asks if they have seen his wife.
Barney lies and denies seeing her (out of fear it seems).
He asks why Barney allows a lunatic (referring to Plaatjies) to build
a boat.
Barney tells Lamprecht that Plaatjies has been on the island for a
longtime and that the boat keeps him occupied and prevents him
from telling the other lunatics in the “Kraal” that he is a prophet.
Barney reveals:
• Plaatjies was caught on the mainland stealing vegetables.
• When Plaatjies was being sentenced he told the magistrate that he was
“the saviour” who had come to save his people.
• Since Plaatjies wife died a year ago he has gone completely crazy.
• He knows Plaatjies wants to escape using the boat but Barney makes this
impossible as he always destroys it just before it is completed.
• Lamprecht invites Barney over for a drink
on Sunday then leaves the cove.
• Barney continues wrangling Plaatjies and
tells him that Lamprecht would kill him if
he knew that he spoke to his wife.
• Plaatjies exclaims that bad tides are
coming (metaphor for bad times or
trouble).
• Barney demands that Plaatjies call him
“Mijn Baas”.
• Barney has a dream of becoming the next
Tromp van Diggelen (a famous wrestler).
Time: It is evening.
Act 2
Setting: The Lamprecht residence.
Characters involved: Stella Lamprecht and Adriaan Lamprecht
• Lamprecht reminisces about their times in Port
Nolloth.
• He tells Stella that the superintendent of the Kraal
invited them over for supper but he declined because
he says “they’re not the social type” (He did not
consult Stella – shows his controlling nature).
• Lamprecht reveals that he does not like talking to
people and that he prefers to observe them from a
distance.
• Lamprecht asks Stella how her walk was – she
gives him a short response. When he persists
she tells him that she visited the leper bath.
• Lamprecht warns her to be careful and stay
away from the people on the island because
they are “mad as bats”.
• Stella lashes out (realising that Lamprecht
wants her to stay indoors away from people
who could threaten his position as her
husband) and exclaims that she is a grown
woman whose breasts are sagging and whose
thighs are getting thick. There is no reason to
be careful. (She refers to her appearance and
age-induced lack of beauty - no one poses a
threat to Lamprecht).
• Lamprecht does not understand what she
means.
• Stella describes their relationship as
desperate – Lamprecht denies that he is
desperate and instead directs his
attention to the superintendent's
desperation.
• Stella explains to Lamprecht that she met
the boatman earlier (referring to Plaatjies).
• Lamprecht tells her that Plaatjies is
completely insane.
• Stella tells Lamprecht that Plaatjies spoke
poetry (he was describing the mainland).
• Lamprecht feels threatened by this and
demands to know why she cant be like
other women and stay at home.
• Stella tells him to stop telling her what to do (indication of Lamprecht’s controlling
nature).
• Lamprecht is worried that Plaatjies will come looking for Stella at the lighthouse and
cause trouble (Lamprecht is jealous). He insinuates that there was an incident in the
past and that they are only just “getting back on their feet”.
• Stella continues to tell Lamprecht about Plaatjies poetry and how he described the
mainland as a woman with lips as red as grapes.
• Lamprecht takes no interest in Stella’s appreciation for the poetry but instead regards
it as nonsense and calls Plaatjies insane. (He does not regard anything Plaatjies says as
valid – His personal opinion is all that matters).
• Stella tells him that she gave Plaatjies vetkoek.
• Lamprecht immediately thinks Stella is romantically
interested in Plaatjies when he exclaims “vetkoek
and poetry? How bloody romantic!”
• Lamprecht reveals that he invited Barney over on
Sunday because he looked like he needed company
(this contradicts what he said earlier about them not
being the social type and that he prefers observing
people from a distance) – clearly Lamprecht has
alternative motives for inviting Barney over –
perhaps he feels threatened by Barney.
• Stella reveals that she doesn’t think Plaatjies is crazy
and that his sentence isn’t justified by his actions.
She says those in power destroyed his life unjustly,
he simply stole vegetables.
• Stella tells Lamprecht that she wants to help Plaatjies – he is not mad, he is just
suffering and wants to go back to the mainland and to his wife (he has not come to
terms with her death).
• Lamprecht urges her to keep to herself. He tells her that she just wants to cause
trouble.
• Stella asks Lamprecht if he is happy about them coming to this island.
• Lamprecht reveals that they cant go back to Port Nolloth because a man touched her
and “laid his hands all over” her.
• Stella then questions him about a man named Hendricks in Mossel Bay which he “beat
to death” (an exaggeration) because he brought her flowers.
• In a fit of jealous rage, Lamprecht tells Stella that men
ALWAYS try their luck with her and that she leads them on.
He threatens her and tells her to be careful and keep her eyes
open (for men that want to try their luck).
• Readers are made aware of a fog setting in on the island
(symbolic for a storm approaching).
• Lamprecht leaves.
• Once Lamprecht has left the room, Stella takes out a stack of
hidden letters and begins writing thoughtfully.
• The setting changes to the rock cove – Barney arrives in the
dark and demolishes Plaatjies boat.
• The setting switches back to the Lamprecht residence – Stella
leaves to see what caused the noise (from the demonlishion
of the boat).
• Lamprecht reappears in the Kitchen and sees the letter that
Stella had been writing. He takes the letter but when Stella
reappears he puts the letter down and leaves again.
Time: Early morning.
Act 3
Setting: The Rock Cove.
Characters involved: Stella, Lamprecht, Plaatjies and Barney.
• Barney releases Plaatjies from the restraint jacket.
• Plaatjies stands looking desolate at the sight of his demolished boat.
• Barney greets Stella and tries to make small talk about Lamprecht.
• Stella ignores Barney’s attempts at small talk and asks him how many boats
Plaatjies has built. Stella tells Barney that he is cruel for destroying the boats
Plaatjies builds. It sickens her.
• Barney then makes advances on her by telling her she looks pretty and circles
around her. He tells her it is not often that they see a beauty on the island.
• Stella tells him to leave her and Plaatjies.
• Barney leaves.
• Plaatjies does not give up hope and instead encourages himself.
• Stella tries to talk to him but he tells her to go and spits at her.
• Stella tells him that she wants to help him.
• Plaatjies tells her to leave the island before its too late. He tells her not to look back.
• Plaatjies asks her what she wants from him. He does not want to talk to her.
• Stella tells him that she is the lighthouse keepers wife.
• Plaatjies then says that he sees Lamprecht on the island, watching and waiting. He
says some drown in the sea but other drown in love (referring to Lamprecht – love is
the death of him).
• Plaatjies now opens up to her and shows her the shipwrecks
on the horizon.
• He says the shipwrecks represent freedom to him and the boat
represents hope. He sees beyond the literal.
• Plaatjies makes reference to revelations from the Bible
(indicates that he is religious) and begins to rant about the
great spirits and the words of the great chiefs.
• Plaatjies then gives Stella a large shell which allows her to hear
the ocean when she holds it up to her ear.
• Stella cautions Plaatjies to hide his boat because the asylum
wardens will destroy it again. Plaatjies tells her that they can’t
kill his hope.
• She tells him that she doesn’t think he is mad (here we get a
sense that she understands what he is going through and
relates to him because of her marriage situation- she too feels
trapped but still has hope).
• Plaatjies then compares madness to the sea. “it will drown you if you let it”.
• Stella asks him to describe the mainland again and he does using poetry. They dance
together.
• Lamprecht bursts in and yells at Plaatjies to get away from Stella.
• Lamprecht begins yelling at Stella and tries to drag her away.
• Stella tells Lamprecht that he’s the problem. Lamprecht charges Plaatjies with a
hammer. Plaatjies grabs him and wrestles him to the floor. He releases him eventually.
Lamprecht then says that Plaatjies is not crazy after all.
• Plaatjies tells him to go.
• Lamprecht threatens him then leaves.
Time: Evening.
Act 4
Setting: The Lamprecht residence (kitchen).
Characters involved: Stella, Lamprecht, Plaatjies and Barney.
• Lamprecht is dancing with a broomstick by himself. He calls for Stella to join
him. She ignores him.
• He then takes the letter Stella had been writing earlier.
• Barney appears at the door and Lamprecht invites him in.
• Barney had brought wine and flowers for Stella – Lamprecht seems uneasy
about this.
• They discuss how crazy the inmates in the asylum are.
• Lamprecht asks if Barney is in a relationship (suspicious)
• Barney attempts to leave but Lamprecht insists that he stays.
• Barney reveals that he wants to become a
strongman like Tromp van Diggelen and that he
has signed up for a course to build his body.
• Stella says she’s going to bed and only says
goodnight to Barney (gives the impression of
tension between her and Lamprecht).
• Lamprecht tells Barney that Stella wants to help
Plaatjies and he doesn’t want her near “that
lunatic”. Lamprecht tells him to lock Plaatjies up
in the Kraal.
• Barney says he can make Plaatjies “disappear”
(he can kill him), but Lamprecht declines the offer
and tells him to keep him hidden for a while
instead.
• Lamprecht tells Barney to read Stella’s letter to
him.
• Lamprecht is illiterate and cannot read it himself.
• The letter is addressed to “My love” and is about Plaatjies and missing a warm
embrace.
• Lamprecht slips into a jealous rage and grabs Barney by the neck. He threatens
him and tells him not to look at his wife or he’ll kill him.
• Lamprecht then apologises and admits his jealous nature.
• Barney now changes the conversation and makes it about Plaatjies. He reveals that
Plaatjies was given the nickname “Plaatjies” because he makes coins by hammering
pieces of iron from the driftwood. Each coin tells a story of his life on the island.
• Barney tells Lamprecht to meet him at the Rock Cove later (Barney is up to
something and we get the impression that he wants to direct Lamprecht’s anger
towards Plaatjies in order to save himself).
• Lamprecht asks him why and says he does
not want to upset Stella.
• Barney suggests that they “scare” Plaatjies
from every speaking or dancing with Stella
again.
Time: It is evening.
Act 5
Setting: The Rock Cove.
Characters involved: Lamprecht, Barney and Plaatjies.
• Barney drags Plaatjies (who is in a restraint jacket) into the rock cove.
• Barney appears to be drunk and tries to force Plaatjies to drink – Plaatjies
refuses.
• Barney shouts at Plaatjies for dancing and talking to Stella after he told
him not to.
• Plaatjies appears to try and encourage himself by thinking of freedom.
• Barney rambles on and says he has a fear of something inside himself that
could eventually drown him. He says he is a “drowned man”. He asks
Plaatjies what it was like to hold Stella in his arms and Plaatjies responds
with poetry and metaphors.
• Lamprecht arrives and accuses Barney of being drunk.
• Barney tells Lamprecht to harm Plaatjies but not too much as he doesn’t
want the superintendant to find out that he brought Plaatjies here. Barney
provokes Lamprecht by asking Plaatjies to tell him how it was like to hold
Stella in his arms.
• Plaatjies begins describing the mainland as a woman and old lover (like he
did in act 1) but Lamprecht thinks Plaatjies is still talking about Stella.
• Lamprecht slips into a jealous rage and cuts Plaatjies tongue out. He
leaves Plaatjies on the floor bleeding and gasping for air.
Time: Unknown
Act 6
Setting: The Rock Cove.
Characters involved: Lamprecht, Barney and Stella.
• A storm is approaching the island.
• Stella is working on Plaatjies’ boat while Lamprecht watches her (She
appears to be a bit deranged and wants to escape herself).
• He begs her to stop working on the boat and come home as he needs to
tend to the lighthouse as a storm is heading their way. He tells her that
the people on the island are laughing at them because she appears to
have gone mad.
• Stella chases him away (like Plaatjies chased her away in the beginning).
• Lamprecht tells her that they can work things out like they did before and that it
was an unfortunate thing that happened (referring to him cutting out Plaatjies
tongue).
• Stella says that the day she fell in love with him was unfortunate.
• Lamprecht tells her that they can move somewhere else in an attempt to console
her.
• Stella tells him that she is finished with him and continues working on the boat.
• He tells her that she will drown if she tries to escape by using the boat.
• She tells him that it’s not about the boat, it’s about her freedom. Freedom from him.
• Stella starts speaking as if she were Plaatjies.
• Lamprecht denies having anything to do with keeping Plaatjies locked up. Stella
accuses him of lying as calls him a coward (referring to his fear of her leaving him for
another man). Lamprecht then confesses.
• Stella asks him what he sees when he looks at her. He says he sees his beautiful wife.
She calls him a liar and accuses him of only seeing the other men who “tried their luck”
with her… He sees his own fears.
• He tells her that he loves her but she says he can’t
love her because he has destroyed any feelings he
ever had for her with his fear of losing her.
• She accuses him of trying to hide her away from
people by forcing her to live on Robben Island.
She tells him that she is leaving as soon as she
finishes the boat.
• Lamprecht reveals that he saved Stella from living
on the streets.
• He justifies his jealousy by saying that it’s not a
sin to love too much.
• Stella tells him that he is blinded by jealousy.
• Barney arrives with a restraint jacket and
chloroform.
• Stella sees what they intend on doing to her and
she begins encouraging herself like Plaatjies did
in Act 1 – reminding herself of what freedom
would look like.
• Lamprecht tries to comfort her by saying they can
try again and that the doctor simply wants to
examine her.
• Stella starts describing the mainland like Plaatjies did and appears to have “slipped
into madness”.
• Lamprecht asks Stella who the letter was for. He thinks it was for the man in Port
Nolloth.
• Stella reveals that the letters were written to him – She likens Plaatjies story to
Lamprecht’s struggle with jealousy. He has been trapped on the island of his fears
which has separated them in terms of intimacy and love. He needs to find his boat
(freedom) and return her on the mainland.
• Barney takes the opportunity to restrain her.
• Lamprecht stands there helplessly and lets out a
scream of despair (he realises he has destroyed his
relationship and driven Stella into madness).
• The fog begins to envelop him.
• THE END!
Themes
Sanity and insanity
• It is possible to have moments of insanity/madness and not be insane.
• “don’t slip into madness”.
• The actions and words of characters appear to be sane and insane at the same time.
• The sanity and insanity of the characters are subjective (depends on who you ask).
• What evidence is there of sanity and insanity for each of the characters?
• Insanity can be blatant for some and not others.
• What appears to be poetry to one person could seem like
“nonsense” to someone else.
• Stella believes that Plaatjes is sane and that his words are
poetic, but Lamprecht believes that “The man’s completely
insane,” and describes his poetry as “nonsense”.
Evidence of Plaatjes’ sanity:
• His advice to Stella, to leave before it is too late, is based on his
observations and experiences on the island, which makes sense.
He is also able to think about Stella’s well-being and how she could
possibly be negatively affected by the island and it’s inhabitants.
“I see many come here bright with hopes and dreams. Leave. Leave
before it’s too late.”
• He is able to judge characters and their situations – He watches
Lamprecht and is able to point out what his issues are: “Some they
drown in the sea; others they drown in love.”
• He is able to point out a shipwrecks and name them.
“That one, she is my Flora. She got herself lost in the fog one night
long time ago. She was carrying spices from the east. Smell this.”
• He is self-aware and recognises that he sometimes loses control and slips into
“madness” momentarily.
“Madness, she’s like the sea. She drowns you if you let her.”
• He is able to speak metaphorically and describe the mainland in a poetic way:
Hey’ta … she’s a beauty that one. She sleeps with one eye open. Her mouth isfilled with stars. Her
face is bright like the early morning spring. Her breath smellslike sweet potatoes. When she smiles,
the sun goes down over her head.
• He is able to recall fond memories of his time on the mainland.
Ukutya kweendlebe. Her voice is food to my ears. My head lies in her breast like a bird in its nest. She
washes my hands and my feet with her tides. Her belly is full of seasons, year after year. At night all the
men come out and dance with her. The children play in her streets.
• He dodges Lamprecht and after subduing him lets him go. This persuades Lamprecht
that he is not mad after all.
• His knowledge of the book of Revelations is accurate.
Seven seals. Seven angels. Seven trumpets. Four
riders will come. White horse and his rider take the
land from the people. Red horse steals the peace
from the people. Black horse kills the cattle of the
people. Pale horse stops the breaking of the waves.
Persecution. Sun burns black. Moon rises in the blood
of the people. Seven seals. Seven angels. Seven
trumpets.
Evidence of Plaatjes’ insanity:
• He speaks to himself often– in disconnected thoughts.
• He thinks people are waiting for him back on the mainland.
I got a boat to build. Places to go. My people are waiting.
• He persists in rebuilding the boat even though he knows that Barney will
destroy it up each time.
• He sees spirits.
I must take the message from the spirits of the great ones.
Everywhere. Ngentla! Look and you see. (Fingers the air) Makana … Gcaleka …
Sandile. Spirits of the great chiefs who want to go back to their wives and their
children. Plaatjes must take the message to the people … they must not lose
hope. The great Molimo has spoken. Kukazakulu … the spirits will return. The
Lord’s people will be set free. Hey’ta freedom! (Dances in a circle) Hey’ta
freedom! Hey’ta freedom!
• He literally tears and eats pages from a Bible.
(takes a worn Bible from his pocket, tears a page from
it and chews it; offers her a page) Eat, lady. Eat and
walk with the spirits of the great ones. Eat the
message of Molimo and let the words of the great
chiefs become flesh.
• He told the Magistrate of the court that he is the saviour
who has come to save his people.
Evidence of Stella’s sanity:
• She is sympathetic and compassionate towards
Plaatjies.
• She wants to help him.
• She appreciates and understands Plaatjies’ poetry
about the mainland.
• She recalls fond times in her life (Mossel Bay & Port
Nolloth).
• She tries to speak to Lamprecht about her thoughts
and feelings on multiple occasions.
• She tries to be understanding of Lamprecht’s Jealousy
– moved to Robben Island to please him.
• She is able to decern the nature of people’s actions she reasons with Barney and tells him that he is cruel
for destroying Plaatjies’ boat.
Evidence of Stella’s insanity:
• She does not leave her husband even though he is controlling, abusive and violent
(attacks people for no reason). At some stage she cowered away from him when he
approached her while being angry.
• She relates to Plaatjies (who is considered to be insane) which implies that she
understands his “madness” and possibly experiences it as well.
• She continually writes letters addressed to her husband but never gives them to him.
• She listens to Plaatjies’ command and eats pages from a Bible without thinking.
• Towards the end of the drama she speaks and expresses the same disconnected
thoughts Plaatjies did in the beginning.
• She tries to rebuild Plaatjies boat and escape from the island (a suicide mission).
• She does not attempt to reason with Lamprecht in the last Act. After a sane
conversation she talks to herself in the same way that Plaatjes did initially.
Evidence of Lamprecht’s insanity:
• His jealousy regarding Stella is irrational and extreme.
• He “nearly killed” a man for merely looking at Stella (his wife).
• He moves away from a town as soon someone “notices” Stella.
• He has a very controlling nature as he tries to keep Stella at home and tells her
not to walk around the island or talk to anyone (for example warns her against
going near the lepers or the insane, and demands “Why can’t you be like other
women and stay at home?”).
• He cuts Plaatjies tongue out while in a jealous rage (he thinks Plaatjies was
talking about his wife).
• He is paranoid and fearful that anyone and everyone is romantically interested in
Stella (he grabs Barney by the throat and threatens him).
Evidence of Barney’s insanity:
• He has no sympathy for Plaatjes even
though he is his caregiver.
• He has an abusive nature towards Plaatjies
who he deems as “harmless”.
• He is eager and willing to make Plaatjes
“disappear” for the sake of a stranger.
• He has an unhealthy obsession with bodybuilding and wrestling.
Symbolism
Plaatjes says “Bad tides” are coming multiple
times throughout the drama:
• One assumes he is referring to a literal storm
however he could be referring to the conflict
between the characters, which reaches a climax
when Lamprecht cuts off his tongue.
Lamprecht and Stella’s relationship
• Their relationship lacks intimacy and trust.
• Lamprecht is jealous and distrustful (“ … he would have tried his luck with you.
They always do! I see these bastards coming and you leading them on.”)
• He doesn’t respect Stella’s privacy; he steals the letter she has been writing and
gives it to Barney to read to him.
• Lamprecht tries to control Stella.
• Tells her not to go near the lepers or the insane, and asks her “Why can’t you be
like other women and stay at home?”.
• He reacts negatively to any opposition or independence of opinion “Now what’s
that supposed to mean?”.
• Stella is uninterested in Lamprecht’s views or opinions.
• “Stella nods”; and appears not to be paying attention when he is speaking about
Prospero.
• Stella ignores Lamprecht’s instructions to be careful about who she sees on the
island and shows a lack of respect for him.
• “Forget it. No use explaining to you.”
• Stella appears to be defiant in her conversations with Lamprecht.
• “Don’t tell me what to do” and “(slams her fist on the table)”; “Damn it! Damn it!”).
• Lamprecht recalls the way they used to dance in Mossel Bay early on in their
marriage and calls Stella to dance with him. Stella ignores Lamprecht’s calls. He
then dances with a broomstick instead. Her actions imply that their relationship has
lost the joy and intimacy that it once had.
Imprisonment and freedom
• The desire for freedom is felt intensely by those who are imprisoned (trapped) – in this case,
Plaatjies and Stella.
• Plaatjies is desperate to escape the mental asylum as well as Robben Island and to return to the
mainland (he builds and re-builds a boat to escape – it is regarded as a suicide mission).
• Stella – is trapped in her relationship which lacks intimacy – she desperately seeks intimacy and trust
from her husband (she writes him love letters and tries to reason with him - hope).
• Plaatjies is powerless against bullying and humiliation by Barney (a warden), and this in turn
brings out the worst in him – Barney insults and degrades Plaatjies by forcing him to
address him as “mijn baas” – shows he is not free - imprisonment.
• Plaatjies’ is so desperate for freedom that his hope survives on very little (building his boat).
• Lamprecht wants all possible rivals for his wife’s attention to disappear (including Plaatjies
who is innocent) and therefore unconsciously imprisons Stella in their relationship.
• Lamprecht continually tries to control Stella, which limits/removes her freedom.
• He discourages her from exploring the area and warns her not to speak to people on the island.
• He demands to know why she can’t be like other wives and stay at home.
• A relationship can be just as restrictive of one’s freedom as an island or a prison.
• Freedom is in the mind, not in one’s circumstances.
• Plaatjies made a decision to pursue freedom no matter what, which in itself freed him and
gave him hope of a future.
• Plaatjies was unperturbed even though Barney would continually destroy his boat just before
completion.
• His boat was his hope.
• When Plaatjes is locked up in the Kraal, near the end of the play, Lamprecht promises to
have him released, Stella tells him that “He doesn’t need you to set him free! He is free!”
implying that Lamprecht is not in control of Plaatjies’ freedom.
• Stella wrote love letters to Lamprecht, in secret, in order to keep her hope of a loving
relationship alive. This gave her the strength to go on despite feeling trapped.
• Had these characters given up hope, they would not have gained freedom.