Symbolism in Master Harold and the Boys
Summary: Reviews South African playwright Athol Fugard's play, "Master Harold" . . . and the Boys. Examines Fugard's use of symbolism in the story. Considers the influences on Hally's character.
The book is about Hally, a white young man, and the damage done to him by apartheid and alcoholism. The black servants Sam and Willie work for Hally's parents which own a restaurant. They have been part of Hally's upbringing and are two close friends. Hally educates Sam with knowledge acquired from school text books, but Sam tries to teach Hally vital lessons necessary for a healthy lifestyle. With a racist environment and an alcoholic as a father, Sam has been a positive role model for Hally.
There are many symbols in this book which need to be examined closely, which all influence Hally's future. The kite is an object to resemble Hally and Sam's relationship, Sam wanted Hally to be proud of something, proud of himself, and he gave him the encouragement for flying and climbing above his shame. After flying the kite, Hally was given ideas and feelings of believing in miracles, but Sam left Hally up on the hill, with the sense of pride, beside the bench. Hally wondered why Sam left him alone that day. The two of them were up there for a long time; the only bench on the hill read whites only. The bench is a symbol of apartheid and racism. It is apartheid that Hally hides behind and uses in his defense against Sam and Willie. Hally is filled with so much rage over his father, he is torn between hate and love. When something goes wrong in Hally's life he takes it out on his two black friends. He tries to pretend that they are not his friends by acting strictly like a boss.
Along with the kite and the bench, the dance is another symbol.
They talk about the art of dancing and how it can be a metaphor of life. The dance is a symbol of social peace and a world without violence and aggression. This is an ideal world. Sam try's to convince Hally the importance of dance, and how it can teaches us about everyday life. Even though there are bumps that leave bruises life keeps existing and if everything was prepared like a dance everything would be perfect and graceful like the ballroom championships, no bumping into each other. After a phone call from Hally's mom and speaking to his dad, his perspective of dancing changed cause he realized that life is nothing like dancing because his father is an example of someone wrecking the dance of life. Here Hally is stating that his father is the cause of ruining his life. "We've had the pretty dream, its time now to wake and have a good look at the way thing really are" Nobody knows the steps, there's no music, the cripples are also out there tripping everybody. Hally's drunken father caused his rage and apartheid made it acceptable to take it out on Sam. Their friendship disappeared when Master Harold's spits in Sams face.
In conclusion after years of a good friendship and Sam being a positive role model Hally learnt nothing. All Hally had learnt was knowledge from school books, which is meaningless and has no value. He became the man who caused his pain. Even though his drunken father and apartheid could have influenced his decision, he did not have to make the choice that he did. Hally choose the negative symbols to influence his life, the bench (whites only, apartheid) and the disease of being like his father. Therefore you can now see how apartheid and alcoholism influenced Hally's life in a negative way.