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Theme of oppression in "Cry the beloved country
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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. As she regrets her decisions, she breaks down. She wants to please the umfundisi, and can not, but knows her …show more content…
Kumalo's son commits many crimes, and is not the role model son a parsan would expect. It is noted by Mr. Carmichael, who confronts Kumalo about his son's behavior: “Now I must have all the facts about your son, Mr.Kumalo, when and where he was born, and what sort of child he was, and whether he was obedient and truthful, and when and why he left home, and what he has done since he came to Johannesburg” (156). Much like Stephen Kumalo, St. Stephen in the Bible has a son who leaves the church, and commits various crimes. Stephen Kumalo's is a humble man of God, who only travels so he can help his sick sister, as he avoids sin. The quote brings facts about the sins of his son, and furthers the relation between Kumalo and St. Stephen. It also brings connections to the Bible character Absalom and Absalom Kumalo. Absalom Kumalo in the bible goes out avenging his sister in an unknown city, while in the novel, Absalom seeks his aunt. These biblical allusions casts new light onto the novel, adding depth to characters, that the audience can further connections
Symbolism is very prominent over the course of this story, giving it that much more meaning. Knowles makes not only one, but several instances to religious principles and more precisely in this case, Adam and Eve. These of jealousy, greed, and selfishness are prominent throughout both stories as well is a significant fall whether it would be as monstrous as humanity or on the smaller scale of relationships. The disruption of peace and harmony are also evident in the two. In addition, it is interesting how the author finds a way to tie them all into each other.
It reminds us of a time not so different from where we live now, a world filled with lies, hatred, and moral ambiguity. It’s a story that largely reminds us as humans who we are, prone to mistakes and preconceptions that can lead to disastrous results, but also capable of growth and redemption. This story really allows you to understand different philosophies, perceptions, and differing opinions of morality and
demonstrates how the characters of the book are reckless and view love as something that can
In Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country two characters, Absalom's girl and Gertrude, show the how society in Johannesburg is as a whole. Absalom's girl symbolizes how girls her age are mothers and have even become divorced several times before. On the other hand Gertrude, Kumalo's sister, illustrates the qualities of a young woman who becomes corrupt from Johannesburg's filthy system of stealing, lying, and prostitution. Both of them show the ways of Johannesburg as a whole.
Cry the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton is a novel inspired by the industrial revolution. Paton describes in detail the conditions in which the Africans were living during this time period, 1946. This story tells about a Zulu pastor who goes into the city in search of his son and siblings who left in search of a better life. The pastor sees this immense city where a ruling white group is oppressing the black population. This novel is more than just a story, but it depicts the effects imperialism and the Industrial Revolution had on South Africa. Although the government has intervened to protect the people, some of these effects are still present in our societies.
The conflict never resolves itself. Her goal and desires die with her after her attempt to grasp them. For a few days she may have felt fulfilled but it was short lived and led to her downfall.
Fear and Redemption in Cry the Beloved Country & nbsp; Fear grips all black societies and is widespread not only among black people but also white people. An unborn child will inherit this fear and will be deprived of loving and relishing his country because the greater he loves his country, the greater will be his pain. Paton shows us this throughout this book, but at the same time he also offers deliverance from this pain. This, I believe, is the greater purpose of this book. & nbsp; When Stephen goes to Johannesburg, he has a childlike fear for "the great city" Johannesburg. Khumalo's fears about his family are exactly the same as every other black person in South Africa.
She no longer has a will to repress any untold secrets from the past, or perhaps the past. Since she has strayed far from her Christian beliefs, she has given in to the evil that has worked to overcome her. She believes she is finally achieving her freedom when she is only confining herself to one single choice, death. In taking her own life, she for the last time falls into an extremely low mood, disregards anyone but herself, and disobeys the church.
“Cry for the broken tribe, for the law and the custom is gone. Cry, the beloved country, these things are not yet at an end (Paton, 105).” In Cry, the Beloved Country, it is 1946 and the land reserved for blacks in Ndotsheni, a part of South Africa, is drying up. In the novel written by Alan Paton, young men and women begin to leave Ndotsheni for the new city Johannesburg. One of those gone is John Kumalo, a businessman in Johannesburg and younger brother of Stephen Kumalo, a reverend in Ndotsheni. Stephen and John Kumalo differ in their regards for family, religion, and corruption.
Cry the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, is the story of the two fictional characters, Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis, who lose their sons in South Africa in 1948. In his story, Alan Paton used the George Hegel's Dialect of thesis, antithesis, synthesis, in order to expose social injustices in a microcosm of South Africa that correlate to the macrocosm of the issues faced by the entire country and what must be done to fix these injustices. Paton subdivided his story into three books. The first of these books, depicts the Journey of Stephen Kumalo, to try and restore his family, is a cry against injustice. The second book focused mainly on James Jarvis’s plight to understand his deceased son, depicts the yearning for justice. While the final book displays the restoration and repair of the injustices derived from the yearning for justice.
The story symbolizes character’s in different way that can be interpreted to analyze. Harry Ashfield, a 5 year old kid, dies in a tragic way where his belief and faith lead him to what seemed a pointless death. His literally taking of Bevel Summers words lead him to God, where he wanted to be after living a life so empty and concerning The story represents actions and events that help us visualize what each character symbolizes, to conclude to a characters faith, belief, and weakness/strengths. Flannery O Connor helps us to connect with the story and possibly think about how are religion or beliefs affected us towards conflicts. Having personal connection is our main focus and the characters in the story may represent us or something in our lives.
Cry, the Beloved Country is such a controversial novel that people tend to forget the true meaning and message being presented. Paton’s aim in writing the novel was to present and create awareness of the ongoing conflict within South Africa through his unbiased and objective view. The importance of the story lies within the title, which sheds light on South Africa’s slowly crumbling society and land, for it is the citizens and the land itself which are “crying” for their beloved country as it collapses under the pressures of racism, broken tribes and native exploitation.
Consequently, they are put to the test. In other words, people like James Jarvis, Absalom, and Gertrude Kumalo have juxtaposed decisions to be made, ones that can greatly affect theirs and others well-being. Situations arose with their family where a trip to Johannesburg had to be made since at that time and place, “All roads lead to Johannesburg,” ( 83). However, as they went to the city, Absalom and Gertrude Kumalo were negatively affected and had their morals altered in order to adapt to the very different environment of the city. Once finding out firsthand what happened to them, it sparks sympathy and hope that they can change.
Every society has segregations: segregations according to race, according to wealth, according to level of education, and others. Alan Paton in Cry, The Beloved Country uses tone to highlight the racial segregation in South Africa. Racial segregation leads to social inequality.
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.