Study Guide: Master Harold...and the boys

Humanities 211
Culture(s) & Literature of Africa
(Oral Arts & Film)
Prof. Cora Agatucci

6 October 1998: Learning Resources
http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/SocSci/1998/ss-981006.html

Study Guide: "MASTER HAROLD" . . . and the boys (1982)
by Athol Fugard (b. 1932 South Africa)

1.         THE PERSONAL & THE UNIVERSAL

            Read about the autobiographical sources of Athol Fugard's play in the excerpt from his Notebooks 1960-1977 and in Heinrich von Staden's Interview with Athol Fugard. [Link to Cora's Reserve Articles here!!] Consider the correspondences between the play and the real-life incident described by Fugard on which the play is based. Fugard observes that the play deals with an "important friendship" to him with Sam Semela, and Fugard admits his need to "exorcise" one moment in the history of that friendship from his "soul" as a way to deal with his "shame.” What is the source of Fugard's shame and in what sense does the play "exorcise" it?

            Given the personal nature of Fugard's story, consider why it has had a strong appeal to world audiences outside South Africa, including those who know very little about the injustice and tensions created by South African apartheid. The literary concept of "universality" refers to the phenomena of some artistic works' appeal and meaningfulness beyond their own time, place, and culture. Do you believe the themes of this play stretch beyond the South African context to speak to us here in the contemporary U.S.A.? To you personally? If so, how so? If not, why not?

            Note also that in the van Staden interview, Fugard discusses his experiences with South African censorship and self-censorship in creating his dramatic art. What does he mean by making a "choice between silence and being heard.” Do you believe in artistic censorship? Why or why not?

2.         CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS

            Describe and compare Hally's relationships to Sam and to his mother and father. Trace the key events presented in the play in the history of these relationships, particularly that between Sam and Hally to understand better how their friendship developed and what it means to each of them. How do Hally's parents view Hally's friendship with Sam? What are Hally's feelings regarding his mother bringing his father home from the hospital? Why? Do you agree that "Hally reveals throughout the play that he is more attached emotionally to Sam . . . than he is even to his own parents"? Why or why not? Support your view with evidence from the play. What causes Hally's brutal outburst toward his longtime friend Sam near the end of the play? How does Sam respond? Do you believe that these two friends will "try it again" and resolve their conflict? Contrast Sam's and Hally's attitudes toward life and its problems and conflicts.

3.         BALLROOM DANCING

            Describe Sam and Willie's relationship. Compare it to Sam's relationship with Hally. Why has Willie's partner Hilda left him? What is the "romance" of ballroom dancing? Why is the contest so important to Sam and Willie? Consider these points: Sam works hard to enable Hally to imagine the event, and at one point Hally understands Sam's "vision" (980) and is excited about "A World without Collisions." What larger theme is being expressed here? Contrast Sam's "vision" to Hally's "principle of perpetual disappointment" (976). After Hally leaves in the end, it is Willie who commands Sam: "Let's dream." He spends a coin on a Sarah Vaughan song and the two men dance. Consider the relationship between ballroom dancing, dreaming, and Sam's vision of a beautiful world without collisions. How do the lyrics of the jukebox song comment on the meaning of the play?

4.         SOCIAL REFORM

            Consider the interaction between Sam and Hally regarding the world's social reformers and their various candidates for true greatness. Do you see a pattern of significance in their respective choices? How has Hally educated Sam from Forms 4 through 9? In what ways has Sam educated Hally?

5.         THE KITE

            Compare the two versions--Hally's and later Sam's--of the kite flying incident. Is there a subtext here? At first Sam claims not to remember why he built the kite for Hally; later he reminds Hally of the true reason. Why did Sam build the kite? What is the significance of Sam and Hally's success in flying the kite? There's a self-reflexiveness in Hally's habit of making stories or dramas out of his past and their shared memories: he envisions in this case a story called "The Kite Flyers," but complains that it has no "twist ending." Later Sam supplies a twist ending involving the bench: explain the significance of the bench and why so long ago Sam had to walk away and leave Hally alone flying the kite.   Sam's last words to Hally before he leaves suggest that the bench has a larger significance; Sam calls upon Hally to "stand up and walk away from it"--why? Hally then leaves the tea room: what kind of resolution to the conflict between Hally and Sam does Hally's action suggest?

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