Hello and Goodbye- Hester

Given Circumstances Hester

Hester is a white South African 30 year old women who has returned back to her father and brother. This is the first time she has visited since she left 12 years ago. During the years she was away she has been a prostitute, she lives by herself in poor conditions. The year is 1965 approximately,and South Africa is half through the apartheid.

The reasons for her returning at first seem genuine care for her father and her brother, however she has alternatve motives. Her father many years ago when her father worked for the South Africa railway he had an accident where he lost his leg, he received compensation. the money has been secretly hidden in the house both Hester and Johnnie believe it to be hidden in the house. the real reason for Hester's return is not for the care of her brother or father but to claim some if not all of the compensation money.

Hester has been traveled from a distance suggested by the discription during the monologue. The conditions of South africa, very hot, dry, rural open areas.
South Africa is a highly religious country even today compared to the U.K.

Here I have used the knoweledge that I have gathered from the play and used it in a
Hagen Objectives Exercise

Who am I?
My name is Hester Smit I am 30 years old from Johannesburg, I am a white Afrikaans woman. I live by myself in a shack in Johannesburg, to earn a living I’m a prostitute. I have a brother called Johnnie and my father who I haven’t seen in 11 years. My mother died when I and Johnnie were little, my father had an accident when he was working for the train company, and he lost his leg.

What time is it?
The time is 1965 at current there is apartheid happening in South Africa, in Johannesburg where I live there is a higher surrounding of black colonies compared to other regions.

Where am I?
I am in Johnnie’s kitchen in Port Elizabeth; this is in the far south of South Africa the Cape region. I am talking to Johnnie about my journey from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.

What surrounds me?
I am sitting down at the table talking to Johnnie; there is a spoon and glass on the table it was there before I arrived. I have a packet of cigarettes on the table they belong to me.

What are my given circumstances?
When I arrived I didn’t know whether he could remember me, I think he doesn’t want me to be here. I haven’t told him I’m a prostitute it’s nothing to do with him or father, I don’t think he would care any way. I have been alone for all these years by myself and haven’t seen my family in 11 years. I have no mother she died; I think this is when she died this is when the fun and happy memories died also. My father used to play with me and Johnnie when we were younger but then he had that accident and lost his leg. I don’t think he felt the same after that.

What is my relationship?
I am Johnnie’s elder sister; I must have left when he was about 15. I do care about him a lot if father wasn’t alive I would take him with me, only if he wanted to. I seem quite harsh at times but I have to be otherwise you get hurt and people mess you around. If you hurt them first then they won’t hurt you.

What do I want?
My real reason for returning is I want that compensation money of fathers; I can’t let Johnnie find out, even though half of that money is mine. I need the money my shack is falling apart and that is all I have. I have to get that money.

What’s in my way?
I think the money is in one of the boxes; my father is a hoarder so I think the compensation is hidden within there. But Johnnie won’t let me go into my father’s room, he thinks I might upset him, but I know Johnnie is hiding something.

What do I do to get what I want?

I let Johnnie think that I’ve missed them and that I couldn’t come back sooner that I was afraid to return because the forgotten memories. I want him to feel sorry for me and make him think I’m courageous to come from so far to see them after all this time. Say I’m staying for a short couple of days, then once I’ve got the money I can go and get on with my life.