I want to make it clear that the "Mecca" in this story is not the Mecca located in the Middle East. Mecca is Helen's sculpture garden. She creates the sculptures as she sees fit; therefore, the sculptures themselves are very concrete expressions of Helen's artistic freedom. She doesn't consult other people as to what she should display, nor does she care about their positive or negative feedback. That's good because most of the feedback from her neighbors (who happen to be Christians) isn't positive. Helen's art is her way of showing her individual freedom from them. Helen's Mecca is also symbolic of her religious freedom as well. She points her sculptures east, toward the real Mecca. This is symbolic of her breaking from the standard Judeo-Christian Calvinistic church that is such a major part of her community. What's great about Helen and her artistic freedom is that it shows her...
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as a very strong and independent woman. Unfortunately, her independent freedom hasn't won her many friends and supporters. Elsa and Marius are just about her only supporters, and even Marius doesn't fully understand what Helen is trying to accomplish. That is why Elsa has to state it bluntly to him at one point.
"Those statues out there are monsters. And they are that for the simple reason that they express Helen's freedom. Yes, I never thought it was a word you would like. I'm sure it ranks as a cardinal sin in these parts. A free woman! God forgive us!"
To create art in any of its myriad forms is to embark on a process of discovery, a journey that can be deeply personal and spiritual. Therefore, one can think of it as a type of pilgrimage. The Mecca metaphor in Fugard's play speaks both to the freedom one can achieve through creativity and the journey embodied in the artistic process, itself.
Instead of becoming a recluse after her husband’s death and retiring to a nursing home, Miss Helen begins to create a series of cement statues and figurines (Mecca). While these outward manifestations of her creativity populate its exterior, the home’s interior, filled with mirrors and candles, metaphorically represents both the inner state of reflection that leads to the spark of artistic inspiration, as well as the light of humanity that still resides in Helen. One could also think of the candles and mirrors as the link between creativity and enlightenment.
Art’s creation often does not come without controversy, however; and Helen’s attempt to transform her life through her simple artwork makes her an object of gossip and ridicule among her religious neighbors, many of whom believe her a madwoman engaging in idolatry. Her only allies are her friend, Elsa and Marius, the pastor from her church. With Elsa’s help, Helen is able to remain at home and live life on her own terms.