Sam character analysis: Master Harold and the boys, a protest play written by Athol Fugard in 1982 about the Apartheid system, is set in South Africa in the 1950s. The 1950s marked the peak of the Apartheid era. It was first performed in Yale Repertory Theater, New York in March 1982 because it was banned in South Africa during the Apartheid. Each character portrays the stereotypical version of a 1950 citizen part of Apartheid. Fugard creates Sam to represent the black man who struggles against the idea of Apartheid. His character is in his 40s and works at the tea park room. He is portrayed as a curious, compassionate and refined person. Throughout the play, Sam’s interactions strongly represent Fugard’s view of the black man who struggles against the idea of Apartheid. This can be inferred by the audience as Sam constantly tries to educate himself and learn new things from Hally. There are several instances of this with an example being, Hally teaching him vocabulary like “An intrepid social reformer will not be daunted by the magnitude of the task he has undertaken” (Fugard 17). To add to this point, the audience can also notice several intellectual conversations between Sam and Hally. For example, when they talk about a man of magnitude and finally reach an agreement, Hally says, “Splendid Sam, Splendid! For once we are in total agreement. The major breakthrough in medical science in the Twentieth Century.”(Fugard 28) Fugard has created Sam as such a character who is trying to educate himself even if he does not have the opportunity as a black man. Fugard builds Sam as a character who prioritises building a relationship between him and Hally over the racial tension between black and white people to portray Sam’s struggles with the idea of apartheid.. His unprejudiced thinking shows how unwilling Sam is to accept racism. In 1950, if anyone heard about a father-son relationship between a 17-year old white boy and a black man in his 40s they would consider it strange or even crazy because of the biased thinking of the time. Hally’s views aligns the Apartheid ideals with him saying, “Strange isn’t it.... Little white boy in short trousers and a black man old enough to be his father flying a kite. It’s not every day you see that.” (Fugard 38) Sam questioning the idea behind this relationship being strange saying, “But why strange? Because the one is white and the other black?” (Fugard 38) makes the audience draw the inference that he is not judging this relationship through a racial lens and is questioning why people do. Fugard’s choice of Sam’s dialogues and actions do a lot to portray the symbol behind his character. Especially near the end of the play, you could instance of this would be Sam’s outrage after Hally makes a joke about a “n*****s arse”. Sam says, “It's me you’re after. You should have said “Sam’s arse”... because that’s the one you are trying to kick. Anyway, how do you know it’s not fair? You’ve never seen it. Do you want to? [He then drops his trousers and underpants and presents his backside for Hally’s inspection…]”. (Fugard 56) Just from this example, you can notice that Sam refuses to accept apartheid indoctrination. His outrage at Hally’s racist yet normalized comment (at the time) is a clear indicator that he is not okay with this system. To conclude, Fugard's choice of Sam’s interactions, dialogues, actions, and unprejudiced thinking guides the audience to conclude that Fugard creates Sam to represent the black men who struggle with the idea of segregation and racism. Work Cited Fugard, Athol. Master Harold and the boys. New York, Vintage, 1982.
I'm glad you liked it. The first time I saw it was in Albuquerque with Jason Bernard as Sam and an alum from my high school as Hally. I thought this was way better than the movie.
The perpetual struggle between good and evil, the luck of the draw, internal conflict and shame...all brilliant material for theatre since the dawn of civilization. I've loved this play for 40 years. Thank you.
Also the 2010 version directed by Lonnie Price is a wonderful production. Well written story with relevant social commentary for individual and the society.
IIRC, this play is actually semi-autobiographical, and the character of Hally is based on Athol Fugard's younger self, as Fugard had a crippled father, and his mother ran a tea shop. Fugard also had a similarly complicated relationship with his family servants, shifting from treating them like friends/playmates to subservient help, and insisting that they call him "Master Harold" (Fugard's birth name), and in a moment of fury, he once spit in the face of one he had been close to.
In the movie with Freddie Highmore they called it a Kaffir's ass. I thought it was stronger in the play to use the worse word. It made Harold ugliness all the more intense.
While Hally's racism is out of line, I feel like he's being unfairly shamed for simply not wanting to have to provide treatment for his crippled father, and calm arguments between his parents. He is still a child, and he's going through parentification.
Yeah if he just borrowed his friend's dad's sports car he could go for a joy ride instead of writing his essay on a "culturally significant event." I'm sure his teacher would disapprove. 🤣
Definitely. That's how the parents would refer to them, a hideous racist term. It reminds me of an episode of All in the Family when Archie gets into a confrontation with a black refrigerator repairman. In the retelling it was inspired by Rashomon. The man was either a violent Black Panther or passive and deferential. The truth was that he was reasonable but called Archie out on addressing him as "boy" and said "I'm a man, not a boy."
Well, during apartheid black people were called boys and girls regardless of age. In actual fact black male domestic workers were called house boys . The tittle is meant to enlighten and not denigrate.
Sam's performance was absolutely gorgeous. Such an interesting play.
Sam character analysis:
Master Harold and the boys, a protest play written by Athol Fugard in 1982 about the Apartheid system, is set in South Africa in the 1950s. The 1950s marked the peak of the Apartheid era. It was first performed in Yale Repertory Theater, New York in March 1982 because it was banned in South Africa during the Apartheid. Each character portrays the stereotypical version of a 1950 citizen part of Apartheid. Fugard creates Sam to represent the black man who struggles against the idea of Apartheid. His character is in his 40s and works at the tea park room. He is portrayed as a curious, compassionate and refined person.
Throughout the play, Sam’s interactions strongly represent Fugard’s view of the black man who struggles against the idea of Apartheid. This can be inferred by the audience as Sam constantly tries to educate himself and learn new things from Hally. There are several instances of this with an example being, Hally teaching him vocabulary like “An intrepid social reformer will not be daunted by the magnitude of the task he has undertaken” (Fugard 17). To add to this point, the audience can also notice several intellectual conversations between Sam and Hally. For example, when they talk about a man of magnitude and finally reach an agreement, Hally says, “Splendid Sam, Splendid! For once we are in total agreement. The major breakthrough in medical science in the Twentieth Century.”(Fugard 28) Fugard has created Sam as such a character who is trying to educate himself even if he does not have the opportunity as a black man.
Fugard builds Sam as a character who prioritises building a relationship between him and Hally over the racial tension between black and white people to portray Sam’s struggles with the idea of apartheid.. His unprejudiced thinking shows how unwilling Sam is to accept racism. In 1950, if anyone heard about a father-son relationship between a 17-year old white boy and a black man in his 40s they would consider it strange or even crazy because of the biased thinking of the time. Hally’s views aligns the Apartheid ideals with him saying, “Strange isn’t it.... Little white boy in short trousers and a black man old enough to be his father flying a kite. It’s not every day you see that.” (Fugard 38) Sam questioning the idea behind this relationship being strange saying, “But why strange? Because the one is white and the other black?” (Fugard 38) makes the audience draw the inference that he is not judging this relationship through a racial lens and is questioning why people do.
Fugard’s choice of Sam’s dialogues and actions do a lot to portray the symbol behind his character. Especially near the end of the play, you could instance of this would be Sam’s outrage after Hally makes a joke about a “n*****s arse”. Sam says, “It's me you’re after. You should have said “Sam’s arse”... because that’s the one you are trying to kick. Anyway, how do you know it’s not fair? You’ve never seen it. Do you want to? [He then drops his trousers and underpants and presents his backside for Hally’s inspection…]”. (Fugard 56) Just from this example, you can notice that Sam refuses to accept apartheid indoctrination. His outrage at Hally’s racist yet normalized comment (at the time) is a clear indicator that he is not okay with this system.
To conclude, Fugard's choice of Sam’s interactions, dialogues, actions, and unprejudiced thinking guides the audience to conclude that Fugard creates Sam to represent the black men who struggle with the idea of segregation and racism.
Work Cited
Fugard, Athol. Master Harold and the boys. New York, Vintage, 1982.
Nice college paper bro
thank you i was reading this book for school you really helped me with this👍
Where did you know this?
How would you know since you've never been? @@thedvdhole331
Thanks for posting this means alot as I need it for school.
Same!!
I'm glad you liked it. The first time I saw it was in Albuquerque with Jason Bernard as Sam and an alum from my high school as Hally. I thought this was way better than the movie.
That also why I'm here💀💀
The perpetual struggle between good and evil, the luck of the draw, internal conflict and shame...all brilliant material for theatre since the dawn of civilization. I've loved this play for 40 years. Thank you.
I saw this years ago I still remember how beautiful and painful it was.
Ever since I read the book I have been attached to this book it has alot to learn✌️
This is a beautiful piece. Full of lessons. Thanks for posting it
Thank you! Thanks you! Thank you! I've been looking for a decent copy of this for years! Decades ago, this really spoke to me. Will watch again now.
Zakes is such an interesting actor - this was so smooth!
Also the 2010 version directed by Lonnie Price is a wonderful production. Well written story with relevant social commentary for individual and the society.
Appreciate you posting this, was able to use a piece of this for my essay :)
IIRC, this play is actually semi-autobiographical, and the character of Hally is based on Athol Fugard's younger self, as Fugard had a crippled father, and his mother ran a tea shop. Fugard also had a similarly complicated relationship with his family servants, shifting from treating them like friends/playmates to subservient help, and insisting that they call him "Master Harold" (Fugard's birth name), and in a moment of fury, he once spit in the face of one he had been close to.
I love this film. This should’ve been a theatrical film, critics like Siskel & Ebert would’ve praised it.
Love this play
I like the movie it shows a lot
Perfect.
We studied this play during my 10th grade english class in High School.
Brilliant theater
*The best scene that really spoke to me was* 1:13:53
In the movie with Freddie Highmore they called it a Kaffir's ass. I thought it was stronger in the play to use the worse word. It made Harold ugliness all the more intense.
While Hally's racism is out of line, I feel like he's being unfairly shamed for simply not wanting to have to provide treatment for his crippled father, and calm arguments between his parents. He is still a child, and he's going through parentification.
whats ferris doin there
Yeah if he just borrowed his friend's dad's sports car he could go for a joy ride instead of writing his essay on a "culturally significant event." I'm sure his teacher would disapprove. 🤣
willy molapo
*1:13:53*
43:25
ballroom dancing as political vision..... 😆
i hate my life doing an essay on this BULLSHIT
same
I thought I was the only one bro
@@_.incredible_magnum._291 good luck lad
@@Latesthunder passed bro.
I'll have to do o e from this too
"Master Harold and the Boys"?! What a racist and arrogant title?!😡 These are 2 grown men, they're not Boys!
just talkin to talk
Definitely. That's how the parents would refer to them, a hideous racist term. It reminds me of an episode of All in the Family when Archie gets into a confrontation with a black refrigerator repairman. In the retelling it was inspired by Rashomon. The man was either a violent Black Panther or passive and deferential. The truth was that he was reasonable but called Archie out on addressing him as "boy" and said "I'm a man, not a boy."
Well, during apartheid black people were called boys and girls regardless of age. In actual fact black male domestic workers were called house boys . The tittle is meant to enlighten and not denigrate.
Aren’t we all waiting for them to Oreo
I’m afraid that my first impression of this statement is correct.
That’s a horrifying thing you just said
Totally Stupid comment.
40:18
I'd write about the Boston Marathon.