CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY CHAPTER

28

By: Joan Klages

Summary

The judge says that there is not enough evidence to convict Pafuri and Johannes to be charged. So they are declared not guilty.

Judge sentences Absalom to death by hanging.

A young white man helps Kumalo through the black doors.

Motifs

Crying – After the judgment Absalom falls crying to the floor

Segregation – The white and black sections in the court room

Pain – Kumalo is in emotional pain when he is leaving the court room.

Right and Wrong – The judge talks about how something can be right but according to the law be wrong

Contrasts

Respect vs. disrespect- Before the judgment the crowd is respectful. After the judgment the crowd is crying out as the judge leaves.

Point of View/Language

This chapter is in the third person point of view.

The judge is speaking in English, but what he says is being translated into Zulu.

Themes

Justice – Absalom is punished for killing Arthur Jarvis.

Prejudice – The white and black sections and the white man crying out for silence when Absalom is defending himself.

Questions

Do you think the judge’s decision of letting Pafuri and Johannes go, but punishing Absalom was just?

Before Absalom is sentenced it says that the girl is looking at the judge and not at her lover. Why would she be doing this?

Why is it such a big deal for the young white man to go out the black door while helping Kumalo?