Virtue on Robben Island

Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former South African prison, paradoxically fostered communal virtues among political prisoners despite its status as a 'total institution.' The study reveals that the island's environment nurtured trust and virtues like honesty, humility, and generosity, akin to Aristotle's vision of communal friendship. However, it also highlights a tendency for such communities to define themselves by excluding others, regarded as alien or threatening. To counter this, the chapter introduces Levinas' ethical concept, emphasizing openness to otherness beyond Aristotelian bounds. A notable example is prisoners signing their names in Sonny Venkatrathnam's copy of Shakespeare's works, symbolizing an embrace of diversity and the stranger.

Schalkwyk, D. (2023). Virtue on Robben Island. Shakespeare and Virtue, 325–333. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108918589.037