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  • Essay / Depiction of South Africa during apartheid in Master Harold and The Boys by Athol Fugard

    At first glance, one would not understand the depth and significance of Athol Fugard's work. One of his works is Master Harold and the Boys, which is a particularly important playwright because it was written by a white South African during the apartheid period in 1950. Fugard's entire work was very fascinating for This is because of who he was, the times in which his work was created and the struggles that continued during the apartheid period. Its playwright raised awareness of many issues neglected by society during apartheid. Fugard was not only extremely interesting but intellectual and this is evident throughout his work, Master Harold and The Boys. Not only is this playwright interesting because of the themes of race, education during apartheid, friendship, life struggles and much more, but also the striking use of the word "Master" in the title. The reader or viewer can understand how the theme leads to the title once the play is finished. The deeper we look, the more Athol Fugard's work goes beyond. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe revolutionary writer Athol Fugard was born on June 11, 1932. He is currently eighty-six years old and looks how his work still influences viewers and readers today. Fugard made his opinions translucent in his work and showed that he was very wise beyond his years when he wrote Master Harold and The Boys. Fugard said he faced his demons through his work. It has been said that “from the painful and desperate realities of his native country he wrought such powerful dramas.” Fugard always had problems with alcohol while he was working. He himself said that he believed he needed alcohol to inspire himself and deepen his work. Fugard experienced all the difficulties associated with alcohol withdrawal and thought he would never be able to write again. After that, he learned yet another life lesson and continued to write. He describes himself as someone without "a lot of self-control or willpower, but I haven't had a drink since." Athol Fugard is a writer like no other, and his exceptional originality shines through his playwrights. Apartheid was a policy that divided relations between South Africa's white minority and the non-white majority. It granted racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-whites. This was made possible by the Population Registration Act of 1950. This act classified all South Africans as Bantu, colored or white. Separate was not equal and Athol Fugard showed that in Master Harold and The Boys. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times described Athol Fugard's work as a "powerful indictment of the apartheid system and the terrible human cost of the racism it codified and legalized." His work has truly touched many people personally for decades. Fugard's work has also been described as "a life through a full range of psychological and emotional events." We experience an event without having to experience it.” This is because Fugard was so wise since he experienced these events in different ways to personally deliver the full effect of the themes he exhibits in his work. The playwright of Master Harold and The Boys of Athol Fugard was and still is very legendary. in South Africa and around the world. The play is set at the St. George Tea Room in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Sam and Willie, two middle-aged black servants whowork for Master Hally. Hally is the young teenage son of the tea room owners. It soon becomes apparent that his father is an alcoholic and disabled. Hally's father did not control him because of his difficulties. For Hally, his father was therefore a burden. The news about his father makes Hally weary, irritable and apathetic towards his duties. Hally has a strange friendship with Sam and Willie. Sam, in particular, was a little closer to Hally than to Willie. As the timeline of the play progresses, the viewer or reader begins to think that perhaps Sam and Hally's friendship will overcome the struggle against apartheid. Later, the viewer is displeased to find that apartheid has ruined what could have been a step beyond apartheid. “Master Harold” was a character who gave truth to apartheid. He was a seventeen-year-old white boy living in South Africa during apartheid. He is the son of the owners of St. George's Park Tea Room, which gives him access to the greatest privileges not only due to race but also money. Master Hally is intelligent by his education but quite ignorant. Hally is always looking for competition to show his superiority over his “servants” Sam and Willie. He struggles with the shame of his father's alcoholism, racism, and physical disability, and finds his mother's weakness aggravating. He had found comfort in Sam and Willie, but the racism of the apartheid era creates a barrier between them by the end of the play. Threw Hally Fugard shows the horrible side of apartheid and how people of color were treated not only unfairly but animalistically. Fugard bringing this type of attention to a character like Hally demonstrated the raw truth about apartheid. The title of Master Harold and the Boys fits into the theme of apartheid for many reasons. Although the reader doesn't know exactly what the story will be about, it is interesting since for most of the story you hear Sam calling Master Harold, Hally in a very comfortable way. Then, over time, their relationship becomes more and more complex, leading Sam to believe that the barrier of apartheid has been breached and that he must return to who he “really” was. Fugard could easily have given the title Hally and the Boys, but no, he was arguing that "Master" Harold and the boys were completely separated because of apartheid and that even friendship could not overcome the ignorance that can accompany the privilege. Athol Fugard left his mark with Master Harold and The Boys. He has brought relevance to topics that have been ignored for too long and leaves readers and viewers in awe. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a personalized essay. Fugard made sure to put symbolism throughout his playwright Master Harold and The Boys. The first example of symbolism is found early in the playwright. Sam and Willie's love of ballroom dancing means so much more than is simply made out to be. It's a kind of escape for men, something they enjoy and takes their mind off work. Becoming proficient and talented in ballroom dancing is a goal they can work toward in their situation. For Sam and Willie, ballroom dancing symbolizes freedom and escape from their way of life. For Hally, however, it symbolizes something else entirely. When Hally comes home and talks to his parents on the phone, his mood turns sour and angry. He expresses his anger at Sam and Willie by downplaying what they care about most at the moment, ballroom dancing. At first, he describes him as "simple" and "mentally defective", then sees it as a34