In your essay, be sure to

• Develop a clear, defensible thesis that takes a stance on Mama Nadi's role as either a figure of resistance, complicity, or a complex blend of both.
• Use at least three specific pieces of textual evidence (dialogue, stage directions, or plot events) to back up your argument.
• Analyze how Nottage uses Mama Nadi's character to comment on gender, power, and survival in conflict zones.
• Address and refute at least one counterargument to your thesis.
• Conclude by linking Mama Nadi's individual story to the play's broader thematic statement about the costs of survival under systemic oppression.

Suggested Time

45–60 minutes

In your essay, make sure to:

• Formulate a clear, arguable thesis that explores Mama Nadi's dual role and its thematic significance.
• Include at least three specific scenes or exchanges from the play as textual evidence.
• Analyze how Nottage employs dramatic structure, dialogue, and staging to challenge the audience's moral assessment of Mama Nadi.
• Reflect on how the title Ruined operates on various levels (literal, figurative, and symbolic) in connection with your argument.
• Address at least one counterargument: for instance, that Mama Nadi is merely a survivor acting out of self-interest, lacking any broader symbolic meaning.

Length

4–6 pages (MLA or as directed by your instructor)