Master Harold and the boys - Inclusion in the Curriculum Essay

Master Harold and the boys - Inclusion in the Curriculum EssayIn his masterpiece Master Harold and the boys, Athol Fugard hasjourneyed fatheaded into sensitive issues including racism and growing up,without sacrificing the high adept sufferard that oftendistinguishes great theatre. The poignant and enlightening journeythat is Fugards piece undoubtedly deserves inclusion in any Englishcurriculum, with the works vitrineization, themes, conflicts andmotifs all earning this distinction.With only three characters sharing dialogue and one of these playing aminor role, detailed characterization is a high spot 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 modify in the book with the news that his fathermay be returning to his home from hospital. Essentially, Hally isashamed of his alcoholic, crippled and untru stworthy father, anddislikes having him at home. In a conference to his mother, hestates Im sick and tired of emptying stinking chamberpots full ofphlegm and piss (48) revealing this discontent. Thus, whenever he ismentioned, Hally becomes autocratic and aggravated towards the othermen - he unreasonably expects the boys to seamlessly move betweenscapegoat and friend. Nonetheless, when we reach the climax of thenovel, Hally says with great pain I love him, Sam (58). Thus Hallyis divided in his high-priced emotions of both love and anger.The other major characters in Master Harold and the boys are Sam andWillie - the boys. These two black men are servants of Hallysmother, and work at the tea parlour 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 mental and emotional aptitude, Fugardclearly depicts to readers the injustice of the South Afri female genital organApartheid 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 depicted to usthe three echelons of Apartheid society... ...ve something truly special. Nonetheless, their friendship isbroken by the Apartheid system, represented 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 past racist idealsand walk away from them, we can fly another kite (59) and confirma society where equality and harmony are paramount.Master Harold and the boys is a masterfully composed, poignant 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 prejudice andsegregation in raw society. Just as Fugard intended, it willeducate 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.