Master Harold and the boys - Inclusion in the Curriculum Essay

bounce back Harold and the boys - Inclusion in the Curriculum EssayIn his masterpiece Master Harold and the boys, Athol Fugard has journeyinged deep into sensitive issues including racism and growing up,without sacrificing the heights technical standard that oftendistinguishes great theatre. The poignant and enlightening journeythat is Fugards piece undoubtedly deserves inclusion in any Englishcurriculum, with the works characterization, basiss, conflicts andmotifs entirely earning this distinction.With only three characters sharing dialogue and one of these playing aminor role, detailed characterization is a highlight of MasterHarold and the boys. The major protagonist, Hally, is a whiteseventeen-year-old intended to be an autobiographical depiction of ayounger Fugard. Hally is an intelligent and thoughtful young man,whose cheerfulness is dulled in the book with the news that his fathermay be returning to his groundwork from hospital. Essentially, Hally isashamed of his alcoh olic, crippled and untrustworthy father, anddislikes having him at home. In a intercourse to his mother, hestates Im sick and tired of emptying stinking chamberpots full of apathy and piss (48) revealing this discontent. Thus, whenever he is mentioned, Hally becomes autocratic and aggravated towards the othermen - he unreasonably expects the boys to seamlessly move betweenscapegoat and friend. Nonetheless, when we reach the completion of thenovel, Hally says with great pain I love him, Sam (58). Thus Hallyis divided in his heartfelt emotions of both love and anger.The other major characters in Master Harold and the boys argon Sam andWillie - the boys. These two black men are servants of Hallysmother, and work at the tearoom in which the play is set. Sam is acompetent, intelligent and intuitive man, and it seems that in anyother society, he would be a valued and successful citizen consideringhis abilities. From Sams intellectual and emotional aptitude, Fugardclearly depicts to rea ders the outrage of the South Afri bottomlandApartheid system of racist segregation during which the play is set.Willie, on the other hand, is portrayed as a character that would bean outcast regardless of the societal values that surround him. Littleis heard from him during the novel. Thus, Fugard has picture to usthe three echelons of Apartheid society... ...ve something truly special. Nonetheless, their friendship isbroken by the Apartheid system, be by the final motif - thebench. The Whites Only bench is symbolic of the theme of whitesupremacy and segregation, which splits relationships and friendsapart. Sam realizes this and comments to Hally You know what thatbench means now, and you can leave it any time you choose. (60) Thisis Fugards underlying message - that if we look agone racist idealsand walk external from them, we can fly another kite (59) and establisha society where equality and harmony are paramount.Master Harold and the boys is a masterfully composed, poign ant pieceof drama, and undoubtedly deserves inclusion in English studies. Withtechnical aptitude in characterization and motifs, and moving,sensitive issues explored in its themes and conflicts, this work willundoubtedly encourage students to question racial injustice andsegregation in modern society. Just as Fugard intended, it will naturalize young minds that to be just and fair in regard to racism insociety, All youve got to do is stand up and walk away from it.(60). That is perhaps the most important lesson of all.