Cry the Beloved Country
The controversial novel, Cry the Beloved country, originally published in 1948 by Alan Paton has received just as much praise as condemnation. The novel, thought long since antiquated by some, remains a classic still, after 50 years. Paton's novel has been continually critiqued, compared, and contrasted against not only his own later work, but also with other South African novelistsPaton, who grew up in Pietermartizburg, Natal, South Africa; always enjoyed the beauty around him. At the age of 22, he began a teaching career, first at a native school in the village of Ixopo, then at Pietermartizburg College. Years later he abandoned teaching to begin a career as a reformatory worker. He was appointed principal to the diepkloof reformatory, where he attempted to loosen the restrictions placed on the boys and emphasizes preparation for life outside the reformatory walls. He traveled extensively to study reformatories throughout the world. It was on one of these trips that he was inspired to write cry the beloved country, the novel that made him famous.In the 1930's and 40's South Africa was a nation torn apart by racial segregation, enforced inequality, and prejudice. A wave of crime, mostly by
Characters such as Kumalo and Msimangu demonstrate how people who are complete strangers - and yet have so much in common by being under the same circumstances - can come together and help each other so unselfishly. Out of this conflict, the word and idea of "Apartheid" develops, making life for the native black people full of segregation and racial injustices. In this way Jarvis' grandson has bridged the gap of Apartheid and has challenged the old ways and accepted his teacher as his teacher, and nothing more. Upon their return to Natal, where they both ironically lived in close proximity to each other, they began to interact with each other. Paton uses such vivid imaging, and creates so blunt a reality, that one can't help but imagine the experiences that these people actually went through. These sub-chapters take us away from the personal conflict of Steven Kumalo and James Jarvis, and take us to problems on a much more global scale. Also these chapters focus on the bus boycotts, the miner's strikes, and native crime. Kumalo taught the young boy the native Zulu language. These intercalary chapters give us images such as the racial conflict and how a solution won't be found until people have an open mind. He chooses to romanticize and put into perspective the conflict between the Europeans, and the native south Africans. Most interesting to me was how Paton used the transition chapters where he took us away from the story of Kumalo and his son, and gave us a detailed picture of everyday life in South Africa. But when he finally finds him, it is too late. The boy was a very respectful and attentive student. Though, when potential for good in a person comes to mind, the character Jarvis would have to be the most deserving of praise. This can be seen in Paton's description of the "Shanty-towns" predominant in South African provinces.
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Acceptance Essays
