Athol Fugards drama, Master Harold :: Athol Fugard Master Harold Essays

Athol Fugards drama, Master Harold . . . And The Boys, was written during a time of great conflict in South Africa, where he was raised.  Fugard was torn between his mother, who was Afrikaaner, (1291) and his father, who was of English decent (1291). These differing influences caused Fugard to use the banters between Sam and Hally to demonstrate the religious, racial, and political tensions of his lifetime in South Africa.   The discussion between Sam and Hally near who was a man of magnitude (1300) represents the religious tensions of Fugards lifetime in South Africa between the growing belief in phylogeny and delivery boy Christs teaching of Creation.  Hally says that Charles Darwin was a man of magnitude, (1300) because he was somebody who benefited all mankind (1301).  He admires Darwin for his Theory of Evolution (1301), which according to Hally, proves where we come from and what it all intend (1301).  Sam totally disagrees with Darwins Theory of Evolut ion (1301) because evolution is in contrast to the Bibles teaching on Creationism, and he says that just because it is in a book it does not mean hes got to believe it (1301).  Sam believes that Jesus Christ (1302) was a man of magnitude (1300).  Hally is obviously against Sams suggestion of Jesus Christ, because Hally makes it clear that he is an atheist (1303).  This distinction between Sam and Hally is really just an example of the religious tensions in South Africa during Fugards lifetime between the Theory of Evolution, (1301) which was becoming more accepted, and Christianity, which was taught by Jesus Christ.   A second discussion between Sam and Hally that occurs after Hally learns that his father has gone home demonstrates the racial tensions of Fugards lifetime in South Africa.  When Sam starts instruct Hally about how he treats his father, Hally becomes angry and tells Sam that he is treading on dangerous ground (1321).  Hally also tells Sam that his mother is right(1322) about warning him about allowing you to get to familiar (1322).  The climax of the argument is when Hally tells Sam that he is only a servant (1322).  This is the first noticeable statement that Hally makes that demonstrates the racial tensions experienced in South Africa.  The next racial statement Hally makes is when he tells Sam that his father is his boss because hes a white man and thats good enough for him (1322).