1. For fair use in a classroom only. Images and quotations in this presentation are not cleared for republication. Copyright 2001, 2009, Department of English, Abilene Christian University.

2. “In the course of a night watching a play in a theater," says Athol Fugard, “you can have a new thought, a new sensitivity to something. And if you change people, you'll end up changing a society.”

3. Biography b. 1932 in South Africa Grew up in Port Elizabeth, the setting for most of his plays, attended Cape Town University 1958 -- Johannesburg, worked as court clerk –Experience made him aware of injustices of apartheid –Organized multiracial theater for which he wrote, directed, and acted

4. Biography Attacks on apartheid brought conflict with South African government 1961 -- Blood Knot produced in England, government withdrew passport for 4 years 1962 -- Supported international boycott against the South African practice of segregating theater audiences

5. Postcolonial Literature Definition: literature from former colonies, dealing with their gain of independence and identity in the 20 th century. Nigerian literature, for instance, is postcolonial when it deals with escape from British control and with the cultural complications involved. Before WWI, European empires (English, French, Russian, etc.) controlled 85% of the rest of the world.

6. Above: Colonies color-coded to imperial countries Below: British colonies only

7. South African History Apartheid is rooted in Whites’ historic drive for control. Republic of the Orange Free State and South African Republic combine forces against the British, beginning Anglo-Boer War in 1899. June, 1900 -- English invade capital of the so-called South African Republic, Pretoria

8. Anglo-Boer War Boers begin guerilla underground war in 1900. British responded with concentration camps (shown here) and scorched-earth policy. Peace treaty of 1902 favors British. Removes all Boer independence, forces the two Boer provinces to become English.

9. Anglo-Boer War

10. Apartheid 1910 -- policy of racial separation introduced through series of laws (forced menial labor, etc.) Other laws remove the right to vote or strike – blacks retain no political rights ANC, African National Congress, forms (disorganized resistance and liberation movement) After WWII conflict escalates, many blacks form strikes

11. Apartheid Whites nervous, elect right-wing National Party and D. F. Malan (1948). Legislation begins: –Take measures against “black menace” –Control and regulate all non-white areas –Inter-racial marriage forbidden –Segregate everything (public facilities, education, etc.)

12. Apartheid Fugard’s “’Master Harold’ and the Boys” is set in 1950, as apartheid laws are being created. Soweto Uprising (1976) -- thousands of demonstrating pupils brutally shot. Police State emerges

13. Collapse of Apartheid Old regime collapsed (after many years of economic and trade embargo) Negotiations opened door to first general elections in South Africa 1989 -- President F. W. de Klerk admitted failure of apartheid policies

14. Issues in “’Master Harold’” Racism: Apartheid Social roles: powerful vs. submissive Initiation story (coming-of-age): Will Hally accept the same White role as his parents? Family dysfunction: Hally as peacemaker/enabler

15. Acknowledgements Research and assembly of presentation by Emily Hardegree, through a grant from the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence, Abilene Christian University. Edited by Dr. Chris Willerton.