by Alan Paton

Background information and context

Alan Paton (1903-1988)

Click info on Paton: http://zar.co.za/paton.htm

Background you need to know:Apartheid in South Africa: http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/f97projects/apartheid/Document5.html

Background (2):European Colonization of South Africa:

http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu29me/uu29me03.htm

Background (3):Johannesburg founded in 1886Mining town vast, newly discovered gold depositsCenter of the most populated region of South Africa.

Key FactsNarrator: 3rd person omniscient primarily;

also many other points of view on temporary basis

Point of View: Books I & III told from Kumalo’s point of view; Book II from JarvisOther chapters told from montage of voices

from different areas of S African societyNarrator also shows things from other

characters’ perspective occasionallyIntercalary chapters: chapters which do not

move the plot along, but give key information necessary to understand the novel

More Key FactsTone: lyrical, grieving, occasionally bitterTense: pastSetting:

Mid-40s, just after WW2Ndostsheni & Johannesburg, SA

Protagonists: Stephen Kumalo & James JarvisMajor Conflict:

Stephen Kumalo struggles against the forces: white oppression, corruption of city life that destroy his family & country

Plot Summaryblack priest from Ixopo, Stephen

Kumalogoes to Johannesburg to search

for his son and sisterdiscovers that his sister has

become a prostitutehis son has murdered the son of a

white Ixopo farmerStephen Kumalo returns to Ixopo

with his pregnant daughter-in-law, and his sister's son—sister remains behind

Kumalo seeks to reconcile with the murdered man’s father

bring Gertrude back to the village.

Story ChartRising Action:

Kumalo travels to Johannesburg to search for his son

ClimaxAbsalom is arrested for the murder of Arthur

JarvisFalling Action

Absalom is sentenced to deathJarvis works with Kumalo to improve conditions

in the villageAbsalom is hanged

Biblical Reference: AbsalomThere are many biblical references

throughout the novel. Names: Absalom, the son of Stephen Kumalo,

shares his name with the son of King David, who rose up against his father in rebellion.

Also, in the New Testament Book of Acts, Saint Stephen was a martyr who died rather than give up his beliefs.

More Biblical AllusionsAbsalom requests that his son's name be PeterName is one of Jesus's disciples

Peter's known for impulsivenessafter Christ's arrest, he denied knowing Jesus

three times, and later wept in grief over this.After the resurrection, Peter renewed his

commitment to Christ and to spreading the Gospel.

All of this suggests Absalom's final repentance, and his commitment to the faith of his father.

More AllusionsArthur Jarvis is described as having a large

collection of books on Abraham Lincoln, and the writings of Lincoln figure heavily in the novel.

Paton describes Arthur's son by using the same characteristics that Arthur had when he was a child. This alludes to the rebirth of Christ.

Stephen KumaloOne of the 2 protagonists in novelElderly Zulu Anglican priestSpent entire life in quiet country village:

NdotsheniQuiet, humble, strong faith in GodHas outbursts of anger; his words occasionally

cause pain to his familyDignity & faith despite the suffering he sustains Moral center of novelHis journey is a physical one to find his son &

sister in the corrupt city

James JarvisNovel's other protagonistWhite landowner whose farm overlooks

NdotsheniJarvis a conservative farmerMan of few wordsOnly son, Arthur, murderedLeads him to JohannesburgBegins to rethink his opinions and his

relationship to the villagers that live below his farm.

His journey is a spiritual, mental one

Theophilus MsimanguYoung minister at the Mission House in

Sophiatown Msimangu understands the problems that

face South AfricaHe helps Kumalo understand the people and

placesSympathetic to Kumalo, makes Kumalo's

quest his top priority.

Absalom KumaloStephen Kumalo's sonLeaves home for JohannesburgAbsalom turns to crimeCommits murderLack moral compass, influenced by bad

companions

John KumaloStephen Kumalo's brotherFormerly humble carpenter and a ChristianJohn Kumalo becomes a successful

businessmanOne of the three most powerful black

politicians in JohannesburgHe has a beautiful and powerful voice, uses

to speak out for the rights of black South Africans, but he fears punishment & is corrupted.

Arthur JarvisArthur Jarvis first appears after he has been

murderedHe is an engineer and fierce advocate for

justice for black South AfricansIs shot dead in his home by Absalom Kumalo

Mrs. KumaloStrong-minded, supportive, loving wifeMakes household decisions with her husband

as an equalShe bears hardship gracefullyKumalo is inclined to broodShe rouses him to actionShe supplies the courage needed to read the

bad news the mail brings from Johannesburg

Gertrude Kumalo Stephen Kumalo's sisterOriginal reason for his trip to JohannesburgGertrude, twenty-five years younger than

KumaloWent to Johannesburg to find her husbandTurns to alcohol and prostitutionHer young son returns to Ndotsheni with

Stephen Kumalo, but she remains in Johannesburg

Form & StructureProblem or sociological novelSocial issue is racial discrimination in South AfricaPropaganda novel?Strongly influenced by Steinbeck’s Grapes of WrathBooks are alike in structure:

Chapters 9, 12, & 23 are intercalary or inserted chapters

Give you a picture of society as a wholeDo not advance the plotLead to full understanding of the setting for the story

StructureNovel is circular

Begins in Natal-Moves to Johannesburg-Ends in Ndotsheni in Natal

Plot & Themes presented in 3 part structureBook 1: search for Stephen Kumalo’s son & sisterTheme of tribal disintegration stronger than tribal

rebuilding in this bookBook 2: trial, intercalary chapters give more social

issues backgroundBoth major themes appear, but breakdown of

traditional order is still strongerBook 3: resolution; Kumalo & Jarvis work to change

village of NdotsheniStress on theme of rebuilding; promise of hope for

future

StyleRealisticUses symbols:

Names of charactersTitihoya bird—symbol of landMeals sometimes a communionMountains & uplands seen as good placesValleys, places of decay—except Johannesburg

LanguageMore common English patterns when white

man is thinkingHarsh & to the point; more complicated than

his main style

LanguagePaton invented special style for the book

Simple vocabularyUse of biblical patternsUse of Zulu & other Bantu languages

Symbols like light & darkness Short clauses connected by but or and Repetition Used to represent speech or thoughts translated from

Zulu & give comments from the omniscient narratorBoth styles are seen in Chapter 22 where

prosecutor’s style contrasts with Absalom’s

Theme: Reconciliation between fathers & sonsSearch of 2 fathers for their sonsKumalo’s is a physical searchWhen Kumalo & Absalom are reunited they

are strangers to each otherTrial brings them closer; but verdict allows

Kumalo to finally understand his sonLetters from prison show repentance & the

little boy he remembers

Jarvis & his sonNot a physical searchRealizes knows nothing about his sonArthur was an advocate for South Africa’s

black populationHe & his father disagree on thisReconciliation with a dead man occursJarvis finds the way through Arthur’s writingsGives Jarvis clear insight into who Arthur has

becomeJarvis feels pride for his son

Inequality & InjusticeMassive inequalities towards non-whitesBlack Africans can only own limited amounts of

land poor quality, overworkedLand won’t support young adults—they must

leave to work in the mines or JohannesburgAbsalom & Gertrude—examples Economic lure of city leads to dangerLimited opportunities to earn money; separated

from family and tradition turn to crimeCity full of slums and gangs

These conditions lead to anger and violenceRob white homesWhites become afraid and loose sympathy for

the blacksMore injustice occurs and this makes

situation worseAbsalom’s lawyer claims Absalom is society’s

victimWhites get government troops to crack down

and the situation explodes

Christianity and Injustice• Kumalo’s main source of strength is God• Christianity also aids in resisting oppression• Arthur Jarvis calls the mine policies un-

Christian• Religion is seen as a way to bring social

justice without violence• Christianity is also part of the injustice• Black priests paid less than white ones• Religion says to suffer; not fight back• Arthur Jarvis also discusses that religious

figures claim God wants whites to rule blacks

Depiction of NatureContrasts the beauty of Natal against the

ugliness of South AfricaHills & Rivers of the whites more fruitful &

lovelyLand of the black farmers barren, dry, hostileContrast between beauty of the land vs.

ugliness of society shows necessity of changeAlso, offers hopeLand can be restoredTitihoya bird represents the land—has

deserted the barren land around Ndotsheni, but still around the white farms higher up

RepentanceMany characters lose temper in novel

Msimangu when learns Absalom abandoned his girlfriend

Young man at reformatory is mad at AbsalomKumalo loses temper at wife, son’s girlfriend,

his brother, sisterSometimes scenes are ugly

Acts are met by repentanceCharacters are forgiven Pattern demonstrates power of caring to

overcome bitterness

Repeated PhrasesPhrases repeated: show subtle changes in

meaningAs was the custom/or it was not the custom

Kumalo expects to be treated as an inferior When the custom is broken—phrase shows how

important these small acts areNot a thing done lightly shows this

Reconciliation scenesRepetition of these phrases shows how often

these taboos are changing

SymbolsChurch

Ndotsheni church simple, rough structureRepresents faith that is humble—leaky roof,

little shelterChurch closely linked to KumaloJarvis’s offer to build a new church is symbol of

his commitment to the village & friendship with Kumalo

Kaffir Boy-Mark MathabaneExcerpt from a novelAuthor born in South Africa, 1960Mother dragged him to school when he was 7—

stayed in school to spite his father who beat the mother for taking him

Lived in Alexandra, a township outside Johannesburg

Approximately 150,000 lived in an area of 1 square mile

Lived in a shack 15’ by 15’ and slept on cardboard sheets under the kitchen table

Story excerptExcerpt we read was when his Grandmother

took him to her employer’s homeThey gave him books and occasionally workAlso gave him a used tennis racketHe will teach himself to play and enters a

tournament in 1977Loses tournament but gains scholarship to

school in USAt 18 leaves South AfricaTennis was his way to further his education and

get out of South AfricaOnly through education would blacks gain rights

Mathabane conclusionFrom experience with the white family who

helped him learned are good and bad whites; just as good and bad blacks

Experience in US taught him racism everywhere just less obvious here

Has worked to gain opportunities for urban youth both here and in South Africa

“A Life for a Life”Short story by Alan PatonBrutal act of violence of a violent person who

is acting with the authority of societyThe white farmer is killed so someone must

pay for this—someone of colorTitle important because the death/murder of

Enoch Maarman by RobertsseDeliberate act of murder against an innocent

man that is allowed by societyMaarman is a Hottentot an African tribe

located around Capetown, South Africa

HottentotsKhoekhoeProper term for this tribeHottentots is considered

offensive as name was given by European settlers who took over the area around Capetown

This group was one of the 3 original inhabitants of South Africa with the Bantu and San tribes

“Drink in the Passage”Also by Alan PatoLiberal whites long to have a relationship with the

African blacksEdward Simelane personifies all that is best in the

natives according to themTheir fear however keeps them from inviting him

into their homes and so he is left standing in the hallway

This puts him at even greater riskWhites in story represent ineffectual & ambivalent

efforts of the liberal whites in South AfricaProtest treatment of natives yet lack power

“Drink . . .” continuedProtests attract government attention and

more repressive acts towards nativesPaton worries that South Africa will never

changeMuch like the white family in Kaffir Boy

excerpt—want to help but in a way that won’t take away from material wealth of the whites

Mother and Child

by Mike Munyaradzi

Why is this novel so important?Doris Lessing, the novelist and 2007 Nobel

laureate in literature said:“What you have to remember is that the

whole of southern Africa was seen as a very happy, fun place full of satisfied blacks…. Cry, the Beloved Country destroyed that vision.”

“[Cry, the Beloved Country is] the greatest novel to emerge out of the tragedy of South Africa, and ‘one of the best novels of our time.’”

~The New Republic

Helpful Hint:As you read the book, remember to refer to

the back, which has a GLOSSARY of African terms you may not be familiar with.