Violence in Modern Drama - Essay Example

Violence in Modern Drama-A study of "Master Harold and the Boys" and "American History X" With the phenomenal growth of science and technology in the last two centuries, the world seems to be shrinking. But, in stead of understanding each other, and coming closer to each other, men seem to grow apart and view everyone with suspicion and intolerance. Violence and hatred has been a universal phenomenon of the twentieth century, continuing into present times. Modern playwrights like Athol Fugard have dealt with the increasing violence and racism encountered in different parts of the world. While the play, "Master Harold and the Boys" by Athol Fugard is set in South Africa during the 1950s, the film "American History X" is set in the U.S.A of the 1990s. Both works deal with different forms of racism, hatred and violence. Both the works try to show the futility of violence and hatred. In both the works, the mental turmoil faced by teenage boys due to frustration and confusion is highlighted .In "Master Harold and the Boys"' the cause of the violence is the policy of Apartheid followed by the government of South Africa , which fanned the anger and hatred between the blacks and the whites. In "American History X" written by David McKenna and directed by Tony Kaye, the death of their father who was shot while he was doing his duty as a fireman, turns the sons violent and full of hate for the other races. Both "Master Harold.." and "American History X" show that intolerance is learnt from the parents and society. It is intimately connected with racism leading to violence, which is ultimately futile. Athol Fugard has written a semi- autobiographical play in "Master Harold". The entire play takes place in a restaurant, St.George's Tea Room, in Port Elizabeth in South Africa . The year is 1950, when South Africa still followed a policy of apartheid. The play begins when the seventeen year old boy Hally (Harold), who is the son of the owner of the restaurant, comes back from school. Hally treats Sam and Willie, the two black employees as his friends. Sam is his special friend because Sam allows himself to be taught by the boy. Hally's father is an alcoholic and Hally does not like him. In fact, he hopes his father will stay some more days in the hospital where he is admitted. The friendship between Hally who is white and Sam and Willie who are black is quite sincere. Sam had taught the boy how to make a kite and fly it. Making and flying a kite had increased Hally's self confidence. Hally teaches Sam what he learnt in school, and Sam teaches Hally real life skills, like a father. Sam is an admirable character, who attempts to transcend the hate. He thinks life is like a dance where nobody knows the steps. In the racist environment of South Africa, Hally's role model is Sam, since his own father is not an admirable character. Hally who lacked self confidence, is taught by Sam to make and fly the kite .By the act of flying a kite, Hally gains self confidence. He says, ".I still can't believe my eyes.It was flying.I was so proud of us." (Fugard 1092) In the mid twentieth century, South Africa followed a policy of apartheid which humiliated the blacks. Sam says, referring to a "WHITES ONLY" bench on which Hally was sitting, "I couldn't sit down there and stay with you". (Fugard 1091) Growing up in such an environment, Hally is a confused person. Hally's father who is a cripple and a racist besides being an alcoholic, makes him do horrible tasks like cleaning pot full of phlegm Finally , when Hally hears that his father is returning from the hospital that day, his confusion turns into rage, and he ends by spitting in Sam's face. He forgets all the teachings of Sam to consider life like a dance, and turns violent. The policy of apartheid and his father's blatant racism are too much and they push him towards violence. The film "American History X" also deals with violence caused among young people by hate and intolerance. Written by David McKenna and directed by Tony Kaye, "American HistoryX" is a powerful film dealing with the forces of hate and racism which influence young people in the United States. Derek and Danny Vinyard are brothers and Danny admires his elder brother Derek. Their father, a fireman, was shot when he was putting off a fire in a black neighborhood. This turns Derek bitter, and he becomes a Neo-Nazi. He is also influenced by his father's racist statements One day, when two black people try to steal Derek's car, he shoots one of them and breaks the other one's neck. As a result, he is sent to prison. In the prison he joins the Aryan Brotherhood and is soon disillusioned by them .After being raped by them, he is helped by Lamont, a black man and he at last realizes the futility of hate. When he comes out of jail, he sees that his younger brother Danny is turning into a Neo-Nazi. Danny writes an essay on Hitler's "Mein Kamph" which angers his teacher. The School Principal Dr.Sweeny sets him a task of writing about his brother Derek's life leading up to his imprisonment and the effect it had on Danny's life Danny begins the paper with a tribute to his brother, saying, "Before Derek went to jail, the white kids didn't have to be afraid of the black kids. Derek made it safe." In the meantime, Derek who has come back from prison , fails to convince Danny to leave the gang, .Derek warns his old Neo-Nazi mentor, Cameron Alexander to keep away from Danny. In the ensuing violence, Derek beats up Alexander and tells Danny about his life in the prison. Danny is at last convinced of the futility of hate and violence. While "American History X" deals with violence generated by frustration , "Master Harold" deals with institutionalized racism and its fallout. In the latter we see a young man on the threshold of adulthood, who has a boorish father whom he cannot look up to, and an admirable friend whose social and racial status makes him seemingly inferior. The confusion in the boy's mind is exacerbated by the imminent return of his father resulting in the boy reverting to what he has been fed all along by his father and the society. He ends up by resorting to rage and violence , and spitting on his friend's face. The forces of his environment have been too strong , and they make him forget all that Sam had done for him. In "American History X"' , the frustration felt by Derek is brought out in these lines: Derek: "This country is becoming a haven for criminals.Decent , hard working Americans are being rubbed off by social parasites" Reporter : Parasites Derek : Blacks, Browns,Yellows, whatever. Derek 's racist inclinations are shown in these lines.His life before his incarceration is full of violence, culminating in his killing two people brutally. Both the works show convincingly that intolerance and hatred lead to racism and ultimately to violence. Intolerance, whether personal or societal can only end in violence . References Fugard, Athol. 'Master Harold' . . . and the Boys. Eds. Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell. Philadelphia: Hardcourt Brace College Publishers, 1994. "American History X" Directed by Tony Kaye, Produced by John Morrissey, Written by David McKenna Read More