Cry, the beloved country is the deeply moving story of stephen kumalo, a zulu pastor, and his son, absalom. Kumalo is not transferred because of the letter that james jarvis sent back about helping them build a new church and that his wife suffered before their son died. Jarvis are two men who both are able to overcome the socially acceptable mindset of segregation during the time of apartheid in south africa. This novel like many others including the lord of the rings books, the harry potter series, and the. We are introduced to the reverend stephen kumalo, the novels main character. James slyly slips harrison a check for the boys club arthur helped start. It talks about a man from a small village named ndotsheni who travels to a large city to help his city. Many people who knew kumalo would call him umfundisi, which is a title and used with respect. Cry, the beloved country, the most famous and important novel in south africas history, was an immediate worldwide bestseller in 1948. In the novel, paton writes of the journey of stephen kumalo and james jarvis, both who show exceptional displays of moral courage and sacrifice. A priest, or umfundisi, named stephen kumalo, receives a letter. Cry, the beloved country, alan paton cry, the beloved country is a novel by alan paton, published in 1948. Ndotsheni where stephen kumalo, a local black church. Need help with book i, chapter 2 in alan patons cry, the beloved country.
From his journey to johannesburg, stephen kumalo learns that there are great changes taking place in south africa, and that they are represented, for better or for worse, in the city of johannesburg. This lesson provides an analysis of the main character in cry, the beloved country, stephen kumalo. Cry, the beloved country is a novel by alan paton, published in 1948. Cry, the beloved country reveals many complex facets of complex issues and humanitys struggle to endure in a world of strife. American publisher bennett cerf remarked at that years meeting of the american booksellers association that there had been only three novels published since the first of the year that were worth reading cry, the beloved country, the ides of march, and the naked and the. Cry, the beloved country is a wonderful story of the struggles of apartheid in south africa written by alan paton first published in 1948. Stephen kumalo character analysis in cry, the beloved country. Learn about his early character traits, his trip to johannesburg, and his transformation. The saga of stephen kumalohis struggle as a father, as a reverend, as a brother and as a mancaptures the very essence of south africa in transition from a rural, tribal nation of spiritual heritage to a modern country of big cities, violence and upheaval.
In search of missing family members, zulu priest stephen kumalo leaves his south. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Terms in this set 46 identify stephen, john, and gertrude. The cry, the beloved country quotes below are all either spoken by stephen kumalo or refer to stephen kumalo. What does stephen learn from his journey to johannesburg in. Cry, the beloved country paperback november 1, 2003. Remarkable for its lyricism, unforgettable for character and incident, cry, the beloved country is a classic work of love and hope. Cry, the beloved country 1948 edition open library. He gains a great awareness of many facets of life by going on a journey to johannesburg. In another allusion, arthur jarvis is described as having a large collection of books on abraham lincoln, and the writings of. Chads money, so that he may go and fetch his sister. The subtitle of cry, the beloved country, after all, is a story of comfort in desolation.
Kumalo refuses to put all the blame on the white man and asserts the gratitude he feels for the way in which mr. At the same time the jarviss head back to ndotsheni. He lives in the country with his wife and he wants to restore his family. Cry the beloved country, for the child that is the inheritor of our fears alan paton writes in his novel, cry, the beloved country. A southafrican preacher goes to search for his wayward son who has committed a crime in the big city. Alan paton wrote the inspiring novel, cry, the beloved country, which is set in the time period of racist johannesburg, south africa. Stephen kumalo is the protagonist of the novel, cry, the beloved country. When the chief goes with jarvis and the magistrate to mark out land for the new dam, he puts one of the little. Reverend stephen kumalo in cry, the beloved country shmoop. Stephen kumalo character analysis in cry, the beloved. Besides james jarvis, arthurs father, is the neighbour of stephen kumalo.
As kumalo prepares to leave he confronts his brother about mathews dishonesty and johns stance in the politics. Returning with the elixir resurrection reward the ordeal the ordeal is when jarvis is stuck in the chapel with kumalo during the storm, and they talked about the consequences. Cry, the beloved country is a novel about an african reverend called stephen kumalo. Stephen kumalo changes drastically during the course of the novel. Cry, the beloved country, novel by alan paton, published in 1948. I am reading again books i first read when i was young, in the light of a maturer i hope. Dec 19, 1994 the subtitle of cry, the beloved country, after all, is a story of comfort in desolation. Country is the deeply moving story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and his son. The bishop suggest that kumalo should leave ndotsheni because the father of the man kumalo s son murdered is his neighbour. Cry, the beloved country is a novel of social protesta protest against apartheid, the policy of racial segregation that existed in south africa.
It is set in the south africa of the 1940s 1946 to be precise a country fraught with racial tensions and searching desperately for a solution to its problems. Cry, the beloved country is the deeply moving story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and his son, absalom, set against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice. Cry, the beloved country and over 8 million other books are available for. He is a quiet, humble man, with a strong faith in god and a clear sense of. The chief we meet in cry, the beloved country only achieves one thing. Stephen kumalo is the protagonist and moral compass of cry, the beloved country. Hailed as one of the greatest south african novels, cry, the beloved country was first published in the united states, bringing international attention to south africa s tragic history. Listen to cry, the beloved country by alan paton at. Cry, the beloved country is a beautifully told and profoundly compassionate story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and his son absalom, set in the troubled and changing south africa of the 1940s. Though both men are very different, kumalo is a priest in a small. Cry, the beloved countrystudy guide flashcards quizlet. Why absalom is the perfect criminal for cry, the beloved country, at least cry, the beloved country paints a sort of sympathetic portrait of why some black people in south africa fall into stealing and smuggling.
One of the most beautiful books written about south africa. The theme of the movie cry freedom is a lot like the book. Jan 18, 2016 cry, the beloved country is essentially the story of kumalo s newfound concern for the fate of south africa and its inhabitants. Cry the beloved country book 2 world history is a mystery. Cry the beloved country is the deeply moving story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and. The book cry, the beloved country is an interesting novel about apartheid in south africa. This is one of the most powerful stories i have ever come across. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Cry, the beloved country is an incredibly influential and important book that relates directly to our thematic statement.
Stephen kumalo, the father of absalom kumalo, exhibits courage and compassion throughout alan patans cry, the beloved country. But once he has the money in his hand, he cant bring himself to actually use it because the money was meant to send his son absalom to school. The new version aspires to be more faithful to the. Stephen kumalo from cry, the beloved country charactour.
Kumalo warns the demonstrator not to hate any man and not to desire power over any man. Cry, the beloved country is essentially the story of kumalos newfound concern for the fate of south africa and its inhabitants. Nov 25, 2003 cry, the beloved country is the deeply moving story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and his son, absalom, set against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice. Cry, the beloved country was written by alan paton and was first published in great britain in 1948. Oct 03, 2011 by rayuela cry, the beloved country was written by alan paton and was first published in great britain in 1948. Set in the troubled and changing south africa of the 1940s, it is also the story of a land and. Cry, the beloved country is a deeply moving story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and his son absalom, set against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice. This has meant that what could be interpreted as patons ways of resolving the particular issues that have. John kumalo the brother of stephen kumalo, he is a former carpenter who has become a great political leader in johannesburg primarily because of his charisma and speaking abilities. Before this journey, he was a country priest who was a good man but who had no understanding of the wider world. If you want to understand the world nelson mandela grew up in, theres no better book than cry, the beloved country.
They both lost touch with their sons and when they had the chance to get them back it was to late. Apartheid was instituted only four months after book was published. He is depicted as a kind, compassionate, and faithful character. It tells of the decay of tribal culture and the overcrowding in the cities, that can lead to crime. Cry, the beloved country book three, chapters 47 summary. Stephen kumalo stephen kumalo, who was an anglican preacher with great moral value. American publisher bennett cerf remarked at that years meeting of the american booksellers association that there had been only three novels published since the first of the year that were worth reading cry, the beloved country, the ides of march, and the naked and the dead. Compare stephen and john kumalo cry, the beloved country. Reverend stephen kumalo in cry, the beloved country. One of the fascinating and significant aspects of cry, the beloved country is that it tells a particular fictional story and is at the same time, to some degree, a book about south africa in 1946 and its possible or probable future. Stephens wife insists, however, that the money is no longer necessary because absalom has gone to johannesburg and won.
Stephan kumalo, a black preacher whos life reflects the overall struggles of the natives in south africa, and james jarvis, a white farmer who has the courage to begin to change his views of blacks. He is the priest of the impoverished parish at ndotsheni, near. Remarkable for its lyricism, unforgettable for character and incident, cry, the beloved country is a classic work of love and hope, courage and endurance, born. John kumalo the brother of stephen kumalo, he is a former carpenter who has become a great political leader in johannesburg primarily because of. Stephen kumalo is the main character of the novel who johannesburg in hopes of restoring of restoring order to his family.
Paton explains these crimes using social causes like lack of education and employment. Cry, the beloved country by alan paton cry, the beloved. After sending the child away, stephen asks his wife to get the st. Cry, the beloved country by alan paton, 9780099766810, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. He is also worried about whether what he will find in johannesburg might be beyond help. It tells the story of a fathers journey from rural. In the remote village of ndotsheni, in the natal province of eastern south africa, the reverend stephen kumalo receives a letter from a fellow minister summoning him to johannesburg.
Content cry, the beloved country is a novel about an african reverend called stephen kumalo. The novel, cry the beloved country, by alan paton, is an exceptional book. Kumalo is upset with himself for lying to the people around him, pretending that he is more sophisticated than he is. Before the train leaves, kumalos companion asks him to inquire about the daughter of sibeko, who has gone to johannesburg to work for the daughter of the white man usmith. An immediate worldwide bestseller when it was published in 1948, alan patons impassioned novel about a black mans country under white mans law is a work of searing beauty. Remarkable for its lyricism, unforgettable for character and incident, cry, the. Two of the main characters in cry, the beloved country, reverend stephen kumalo and james jarvis, are pulled together by fate through an unfortunate and. A 69yearold zulu priest who attempts to find his family in johannesburg, and later to. An oprah book club selection, cry, the beloved country, the most famous and important novel. The demonstrator and kumalo have a discussion about who has responsibility for the condition of the land. In the back country of south africa, black minister stephen kumalo journeys to the city to search for his missing son, only to find his people living in squalor and his son a criminal. Cry, the beloved country a southafrican preacher goes to search for his wayward son who has committed a crime in the big city. Cry, the beloved country kindle edition by paton, alan. In cry, the beloved country, a new voice from the past.
Kumalo and jarvis had both failed to get to know their sons. Cry, the beloved country tells the story of stephen kumalo, who travels from his hometown of ndotsheni to the city of johannesburg in search. The one moment in the book that really relates to the theme of being courageous to induce change is the point in the book whe. The one moment in the book that really relates to the theme of being courageous to induce change is the point in the book whe stephen decides to go talk to the chief of ndotsheni about making changes in the ways of the village.
An analysis of the character of stephen kumalo from cry. Cry, the beloved country is the deeply moving story of the zulu pastor stephen kumalo and his son, absalom, set against the background of a. Stephen kumalo, his sincere and helpful newfound friend, rev. Alan patons impassioned novel about a black mans country under. The book is written with such keen empathy and understanding that to read it is to share fully in the gravity of the characters situations. He was very firm in his beliefs, yet very nave when it came to the real world. An analysis of the character of stephen kumalo from cry, the.
746 603 516 965 354 728 410 1631 1240 1468 52 1420 1343 1386 643 343 472 1392 904 1383 383 1610 825 1618 47 1411 909 1478 612 1139 479 1261 900 654 1433 885 1350 1491 1388 684 94 1217 942 181 1111 766 1367 949