The principal metaphor that Fugard uses in "Master Harold"... and the Boys displays a microcosm of relationships among people or groups of people. This microcosm is demonstrated by the activity on a ballroom floor, namely, at the Eastern Province Open Ballroom Dancing Championships for which Willie is practicing.

This microcosm may be seen in different manners and different levels. On page 46, Sam illustrates his idealized scenario of this microcosm on a universal level as he explains to Hally that collisions do not take place at the championships: "And it's beautiful because that is what we want life to be."

Through this use of metaphor, Fugard helps make it easier to locate the roots of the obstacles which get in the way of peace on many levels of relation. On page 60, Willie offers to begin making a change, saying that he will apologize to Hilda and that he will not beat her anymore. He assures Sam that everything will be allright, hoping for better conditions tomorrow. Through this simple act of apology he decides to amend the past by working on the future. Willie gives an example of hope for the championships, and at the same time, a metaphorical hope for mankind.

Within this principal metaphor are contained symbols that represent the certain elements which often stand in the way of the idealized scenario of peace among people. One thing that gets in the way of Willie's progress in learning the foxtrot is that Hilda often misses practice. It is revealed that the reason Hilda does not come to practice is because Willie beats her every time she makes a mistake. Not only does this beating cause an endless chain reaction of mistakes followed by beatings, but as Sam says on page 7, it "...takes the pleasure out of ballroom dancing.

In "Master Harold"...and the Boys , Sam acts more like a father to Hally than does Hally's own father. Sam comes across as a character who is very intelligent and perceptive. It is very touching to see how he gives the boy unconditional love throughout the whole play. In his father-figure relationship with Hally, it would seem that Sam would know

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Approximate Word count = 998
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)