by Chad Cowgill

Created on: November 10, 2009

Master Harold and the boys is a play by Athol Fugard that was originally performed in the 1980's and was originally banned from South Africa. The play is set in South Africa during apartheid. It all takes place in one room with only three actors. Master Harold is a teenage white boy and his family owns a small restaurant. Two black men, Sam and Willie, work for Harold's family and have been a part of his life for many years.

When Harold was younger, Sam and Willie would play with him and they would all have a great time together. Often Sam and Willie were like father figures for Harold as his father was an alcoholic and crippled. At this age, the color of Sam and Willie did not bother Harold.

As Harold has grown and is now a teenager, he is starting to develop a superiority complex over Sam and Willie. Harold's school gives an assignment to write about an annual cultural event. Harold decides to write about the ballroom dancing that Sam and Willie enjoy so much. The dancing is used as a metaphor for life. In particular, it represents the togetherness of people and the avoidance of bumping into each other as we all dance through life. Although, sometimes Willie wants to hut his dance partner if she is not good enough.

Harold receives a phone call that tells him that is father will be home from the hospital soon (where he was experiencing complications of being crippled) and this makes Harold angry. He abuses Sam and Willie and makes racist remarks towards them. This causes them great anguish. Sam and Willie try to make Harold feel better and to get to a good place in their relationship again. However, Harold, who is now mature and indoctrinated with apartheid thinking does not want to cooperate. Sam and Willie realize that his anger against them is a result of the abuse of his father and is not their own fault. They also realize that society teaches hatred against other races.

I originally read this play as part of an English class that concentrated on the writings of other countries. This play is appropriate for high school level and older and also has a film version that is an accurate representation of the written play. I think this play deserves more attention that it gets as it delivers an important message about the injustice caused by racism and how we should have tolerance for different cultures and peoples. Athol Fugard is a master of writing and in particular on matters of race having been raised a white man in South Africa.

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