Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom

by

Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom: Chapter 71 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Conditions on Robben Island slowly improve, although there are still setbacks. Prisoners are eventually allowed to attend religious services. Mandela is Methodist but attends every ceremony he can of all religions. Prisoners hold tournaments in chess, checkers, bridge, and Scrabble. They also put on plays around Christmas, and Mandela gets involved with a production of Antigone.
Mandela’s interest in all religions, even ones that are very different from his, show how he has an interest in the things that unify people. In a similar vein, the games and theater production that Mandela gets involved with also fulfill the role of bringing people together. Antigone is especially significant because it’s a play about an unjust government.
Themes
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress Theme Icon