The Strength of Hope Hope grants many people strength. Hope’s ability to provide endurance to various people rejuvenates their ideas and efforts. Although hope reveals possibilities, not every person has the ability to utilize the positive energy. A person who wields the power of hope contains endless opportunities. In Alan Paton’s 20th century South African novel, Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton employs characterization to convey hope throughout adverse situations. Thereby, the audience learns hope has the ability to provide strength and perseverance in perilous circumstances. Hope appears as a promise for the future. Kumalo and Jarvis reflect the hope and yearning for a stronger future between races. As Jarvis’ forgiveness results in new possibilities, Paton writes, “Indeed, there is something new in this valley, some spirit and some life, and much to talk about in the huts” (300). Paton communicates the hope and promise for the town and everyone in the valley. Paton’s characterization of Jarvis symbolizes the development throughout life and the changes people face in life. Through Jarvis, Paton explains to the audience how hope may represent the power to move on and gain courage. Strength develops in those who wish to …show more content…
Kumalo refuses to fail in his mission to endure his dilemma. Kumalo finds his peace and hope in the valley of his home: “Then he turned to thanksgiving, and remembered, with profound awareness, that he had great cause for thanksgiving, and that for many things” (309). Paton enforces the profoundness of Kumalo’s return to characterize Kumalo’s peace as a result of his surroundings. Paton’s characterization of Kumalo shows the audience adverse situations may result in happiness. The hope Kumalo finds after Johannesburg instills in the audience a brighter outlook for the future. All the hope that radiates from Kumalo’s characterization, supports strengths power throughout the
The future is a series of unexpected chapters in our lives packed with thrilling mysteries and remarkable miracles. Although the future may blossom with new, budding experiences, unforgettable tragedies and misfortunes can alter an individual's life. Refraining from grief takes plenty of courage and determination to overcome. As an individual with numerous experiences and involvements throughout my life, I strongly believe that our hopes and beliefs are exceptionally powerful. Throughout The Book Thief ,there are plenty of reasons to support the countless themes that are mentioned in this book. However, I was intrigued by the symbolization of hope, how it had affected the characters and their surroundings, as well as their belief in hope.
What is the director ultimately saying about the ways in which hope affects the individual?
While buried, so deep beneath the cavity of adversity, finding hope is nearly impossible. But, it is the ability of decisions that aids as the last gleam of hope retrievable. After facing many struggles, it becomes almost involuntary for someone to put up a guard. With using that strategy, and the transgression of time without progress, there’s a certain ignition of comprehension. Change needs to occur, and a complete remedy of that
“Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.” President Obama’s 2004 keynote speech gives a timeless message of hope that especially resonates with minorities who face an uncertain future. Similarly, in her novel Beloved, Toni Morrison develops the theme that hope in the face of forced dehumanization, through the relationship between darkness and light, gives the oppressed a purpose and the ability to overcome and thrive despite persecution.
The theme of this book is that the human capacity to adapt to and find happiness in the most difficult circumstances. Each character in the novel shows this in their way. For instance, their family is randomly taken from their home and forced to work but they still remain a close nit family. In addition, they even manage to stick together after being separated for one of their own. These show how even in the darkest time they still manage to find a glimmer of hope and they pursued on.
In 1930’s and 1940’s South Africa, many people suffered through traumatic events, whether it be a robbery, a loss of livelihood, a beating, or the ultimate tragedy, the loss of a loved one. In his novel Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton makes sure that this is not left out of his true-to-life, albeit fictional, account of life in South Africa. James Jarvis is the recipient of this tragedy in the novel. His son, Arthur Jarvis, is murdered in his home by Absalom Kumalo during a botched robbery attempt. This sudden loss breaks Jarvis’ heart and sends him reeling. He goes to Johannesburg for the trial and ends up realizing that he really didn’t know his son at all. Reading his son’s writings causes him to have a moral conversion, and he begins his new life when he returns to Ndotsheni. Even though James Jarvis is a man of few words, he has much to say after his son’s death and he speaks through his actions.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is extensively a story of hope. Hope is to wish for something with expectation of its fulfilment and to have confidence; trust. This is shown through the themes, issues and the characters in the novel. Atticus represents hope, he is optimist. He is from the higher class and defends the lower class and still has the anticipation to win. The Finch family has hope as Atticus has taught his children to be accepting and have open-minds. Racism and prejudice, give people the hope for change. For one day there be a world that is fair and equal. Hope comes in many shapes and forms, including the children, Atticus, and themes, akin to racism and prejudice, although hope present throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
Hope has the incredible ability to make or break someone. People are always told to make large goals in school and employment, and try to reach those ambitions no matter how far they are. Hope is the motivation behind accomplishing dreams, but it also has the ability to break people who have hoped for something so desperately, yet never came to fruition. Only determination and personal situations can persuade hope to fly or fall. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly highlights this ambiguous hope we depend on through the use of symbolism, characterization, and inner conflict.
Many authors borrow ideas and themes of past novels, art, or other culture, which helps them plant messages into their own message. Many of these come from the bible, with stories of redemption and hope, struggle and revelations, and forgiveness and sin. In the 20th century novel, Cry, The Beloved country, Alan Paton utilizes biblical allusions, referring to the struggles Kumalo endures in Johannesburg, developing how forgiveness leads to a more united society. Struggles that people endure help shape them, which brings out both the bad and good in a person. Although she is aware of her sins, she chooses to become a nun, similar to St. Gertrude, who joins a nunnery at a young age.
Hope is the strong feeling of desire for something good to happen. Hope is a driving force in the progression of life. The idea of hope is powerful because it can lead to patience, courage, and happiness. Hope is an important concept in Cry, the Beloved Country. Hope is what the main character Stephen Kumalo must use to keep fighting for his beliefs, for his son, and for his tribe. The power of hope is one of the only things that people had to overcome apartheid in South Africa. If hope were not present, Stephen Kumalo may have gave up on restoring himself, his son, and his tribe. Hope is the concept that helps Stephen Kumalo and other characters develop during the span of the novel. Hope is found in the characters, the tribe, and the land.
It was a cold, dark morning when the phone rang. It was boisterously loud and the clock read six o'clock. The deafening noise jolted us again, and there was only one way to make it stop. Chris picked up the phone and in a tired, drowsy voice, answered, "Hello."
Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, takes place in1946 near the small rural town of Ixopo in the smaller village of Ndotsheni. The main character is Stephen Kumalo, a native priest who sets out on a mission to find his family. He receives a letter from a fellow priest, Msimangu, telling him his younger sister is ill. Kumalo decides he must go to Johannesburg to help his sister. He also hopes to find his only son and see if his brother is well because they too have gone away to Johannesburg. He arrives and with his new friend, Msimangu, searches for his sister and his son. He finds his sister and decides to take her and her son with him to Ndotsheni. He then speaks to his brother who has changed and forgotten his family. His brother helps get them started on their mission to find his son, Absalom. He eventually finds his son, but finds him in prison. Absalom murdered the only son of James Jarvis, a white man. A trial is held and Absalom is sentenced to death. Kumalo returns to his village and has suffered great pain but is welcomed. Through the tragedy he has made a connection with James Jarvis despite the fact his son murdered his. Jarvis is understanding and the two begin to rebuild the Ndotsheni community.
Racism Exposed in Cry, the Beloved Country. The purpose of Cry, the Beloved Country, is to awaken the population of South Africa to the racism that is slowly disintegrating the society and its people. The. Alan Paton designs his work to express his views on the injustices and racial hatred that plagues South Africa, in an attempt to bring about change and.
It is undeniable that human life is filled with change. While hope and despair are antonyms, one must exist in order for the other to occur; a transition between the two is inevitable. This simple change in emotions can help give a human face to a fictitious character. Perhaps this is the reason many authors choose to use the inseparable themes of hope and despair in their literary works. Hope, accompanied by despair, is a central theme in the short stories "The Story of An Hour," "Eveline," and "Miss Brill."
Bibliography w/4 sources Cry , the Beloved Country by Alan Paton is a perfect example of post-colonial literature. South Africa is a colonized country, which is, in many ways, still living under oppression. Though no longer living under apartheid, the indigenous Africans are treated as a minority, as they were when Paton wrote the book. This novel provides the political view of the author in both subtle and evident ways. Looking at the skeleton of the novel, it is extremely evident that relationship of the colonized vs. colonizers, in this case the blacks vs. the whites, rules the plot. Every character’s race is provided and has association with his/her place in life. A black man kills a white man, therefore that black man must die. A black umfundisi lives in a valley of desolation, while a white farmer dwells above on a rich plot of land. White men are even taken to court for the simple gesture of giving a black man a ride. This is not a subtle point, the reader is immediately stricken by the diversities in the lives of the South Africans.