The play "Master Harold" and the boys, by Athol Fugard, illustrates life in South Africa under the apartheid rule. "It would mean nothing has been learnt in here this afternoon, and there was a hell of a lot of teaching going on one way or the other," (p.59) quoted by the Black servant Sam, demonstrates the differences in mentality, opinion and social relationship the inferior Black racial group held compared with the dominant White race. Racial prejudice was very common and constantly relevant during apartheid rule. The consequences were enormous for the Black society, who were basically kept in prison on native land. The Whites determined their lives, educated and passed down laws for Blacks. Thus the relationship between the two controversial racial groups in most cases was not very good, because life of a Black native South African was oppressed. The three most significant characters of the play are Master Harold, member of the White race and also referred to as Hally, secondly the Black Sam and thirdly also a Black servant named Willy. Both Sam and Willy are servants working for Harold's family. The relationship between Hally and his servants, Hally"s childhood experience, White mentality towards Black society and true friendship will be discussed throughout the following paragraphs. .
The typical relationship between a Black and a White during apartheid rule was very distant. The Whites were the dominant people, acting as masters while the Blacks were seen as naturally inferior and thus were oppressed. The relationship between Hally and Sam, however, does not follow the typical pattern. Their relationship is a more friendly and open one. Sam, unlike his colleague Willy who calls Hallly "Master Harold," refers to the White teenager simply as Hally. This was obviously not very common during apartheid rule, with most Blacks finding themselves in the same position as Willy. .
Like most Blacks Sam is uneducated.
