Master Harold and the Boys

Do some more research into how apartheid functioned in South Africa. How has your research informed your understanding of “Master Harold”...and the boys? Did anything that you learned surprise you?

Why do you think Athol Fugard incorporated so many autobiographical elements in his work? How does knowing about those elements change or inform your perspective on the story?

Watch one of the film adaptations of “Master Harold”…and the boys (there is one from 1985 and one from 2010). How well do you feel the adaptations capture the original work? In which ways do they succeed? What could have been better?

Consider the role of the women, Hally’s mother and Hilda, who never appear on stage but who each have a distinct presence. What is each woman’s position in the systems of oppression under apartheid? Do they have power? If so, over whom? Support your answer with evidence from the play.

This play uses some terms that are specific to South Africa. Research these terms to learn what they mean if you are not familiar with them. How did the inclusion of these terms affect your understanding of the text?

“Master Harold”…and the boys was initially banned in South Africa; it premiered in the United States, and only one of the three actors in the initial cast was from South Africa. How do you think this cultural shift affected the play’s performances and reception?

Do you see the play’s ending as hopeful or tragic? Write a brief scene exploring how the characters’ lives might be different in a few weeks, months, or years. Research the history of South Africa when formulating your answer.

Compare and contrast apartheid in South Africa with the Jim Crow era in the United States. How were the two systems similar? How were they different? What do they say about each country’s history? Connect your answer to the themes of the play.