Hally Racism Quotes

Journal 3 On pages 56 and 57, Sam and Hally fight over racist remarks. The events of pages 56 and 57 takes place after Hally makes a racist joke about being fair. His joke causes tension to escalate and causes Sam to lose respect for Hally. This scene is heartbreaking because it polarizes Hally and Sam. It cements their differences and creates a permanent rift. It also demonstrates the effects of racism and shows that the characters no longer have any pretense over racism. Through dramatic elements, Fugard highlights this scene as a defining moment of the novel where the characters fully acknowledge racism and its effects. Moreover, the characters get to choose how they respond to racism. Before this scene, the characters acknowledge racism

As a result of Hally’s racist joke, Sam “drops his trousers and underpants and presents his backside for Hally’s inspection.” (56). This act is the ultimate symbol of disrespect. Fugard chooses to make Sam do this to emphasize that Sam no longer respects Hally. This action is significant because Sam is always polite and subservient to Hally, but by presenting his bottom to Hally, this clashes with Sam’s nature, creating tension. Fugard generates tension to create a permanent rift between Sam and Hally. Furthermore, he also uncovers racist attitudes, which are not as prominent in the scenes before. Throughout the novel, Sam tries to make Hally acknowledge racism and its effects, but Hally always brushes the topic off. Contarily, during this scene, all the characters fully acknowledge racism and its consequences. For instance, Hally uses racism as a weapon against Sam to distinguish himself from Sam. Hally knows that by being racist, he could hurt Sam and degrade him. As a result of Hally’s racist remarks, Sam flashes Hally with his backside. In addition to Sam’s presentation, Fugard makes Hally spit in Sam’s face (56). Hally spits in Sam’s face because he “thinks [he’s] safe inside [his] fair skin” (56). This produces friction between Sam and Hally because spitting in someone’s face is a sign of

Stage directions helps reveal the emotions of the characters in this scene and laces this scene with violence. After Hally spits in Sam’s face, Sam’s anger bubbles and he “mov[es] violently towards Hally.” (56). Here, Fugard choses to make Sam feel violent because violence is one of the reactions to racism. Fugard demonstrates that people may react to racism by becoming violent. The promise of violence builds up as the next stage direction sets up “[a] dangerous few seconds as the men stand staring at the boy.” (57). Here, Fugard emphasizes violence and creates the climax of tension. Sam and Willie are two black men whom Hally degrades. They could hurt Hally as retribution; however, “Willie turns away, shaking his head”, while Sam’s “violence ebb[es] away into defeat as quickly as it flooded” (57). These stage directions show that people could choose not to act violently. After Sam calms down, the stage directions directs Sam to talk to Hally. Like Sam, people could choose to calm down and talk instead of fight. Fugard uses these stage directions to demonstrate that there is another response to racism that isn’t violent. Fugard highlights that it’s better to be civil then to be violent through the stage directions. Additionally, the stage directions also shows shame. Willie shaking his head and Sam’s violence “ebbing away as quickly as it flooded” (57) indicates