Best Books Study Work Guide: Cry, the Beloved Country. Lucille Smuts

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СКАЧАТЬ free from fear, even though the exact moment cannot be predicted: “But when that dawn will come, of our emancipation, from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear, why, that is a secret” (p. 238 in your school edition).

      3.2.4 Suffering

      South Africa: The novel illustrates many incidents of intense suffering caused by social injustice that, in turn, is a consequence of moral decay in the South African political landscape at the time. In Johannesburg, the migrant labourers suffer because they cannot find accommodation in overcrowded Alexandra, Sophiatown and Orlando. Desperate for shelter, they construct their own shacks; they start Shanty Town.

      Shanty Town: The intense suffering of a child and her mother in Shanty Town is dramatised in Book One, Chapter Nine. The child is dying, probably from tuberculosis, because she does not have proper food, shelter and medical care. Her mother anxiously asks for a doctor and Mr. Dubula promises that they will send one. Tragically, it is too late and the mother accepts her daughter’s death and her own suffering in silence: “Such is the lot of women, to carry, to bear, to watch and to lose” (p. 50 in your school edition). These words foreshadow the suffering of Reverend Kumalo’s wife and of James Jarvis’ wife in Ndotsheni at the loss of their sons’ lives.

      Reverend Kumalo’s story: The crippling effect of suffering is also dramatised in the description of Reverend Kumalo and James Jarvis’ actions when the two fathers share a memory of Arthur Jarvis: “The old man’s face was working. He continued to look on the ground and Jarvis could see that tears fell on it. He himself was moved and unmanned, and he would have brought the thing to an end, but he could find no quick voice for it” (p. 157 in your school edition).

      3.2.5 Caring

      In contrast to the theme of suffering, the theme of caring explores the power of love and compassion to provide comfort to people in their suffering.

      The power of prayer: Reverend Kumalo finds comfort in reading his Bible and in praying to God. The power of prayer to counteract the crippling effects of suffering is illustrated when Father Vincent tells Reverend Kumalo to pray for his son’s repentance; for the caring work done by the priests at the Mission House; for the rebuilding of black blind people at Ezenzeleni; for his family and the people of Ndotsheni; for his own rebuilding. Reverend Kumalo’s prayers restore his faith and lead to the restoration of Ndotsheni.

      Love: The people of Ndotsheni’s love and care for Reverend Kumalo restores his confidence. He is no longer afraid and he confesses the sins of his sister, his brother and his son. The final chapter of the novel shows the power of Reverend Kumalo’s faith in God’s love to provide comfort to him and to his son in their suffering. He holds a vigil for his son. He celebrates Holy Communion and entrusts his dying son to God’s love and saving grace.

      Compassion: James Jarvis shows compassion towards Reverend Kumalo even before he recognises him as the parson of the church in Ndotsheni. After Reverend Kumalo has told James that Absalom has murdered his son, he is not angry at him. Upon his return to Ndotsheni, James Jarvis provides the means for the community to restore their land, to build a dam and to rebuild the church. His caring is demonstrated in a practical way. James Jarvis meets Reverend Kumalo on his way to his vigil for Absalom. The fathers’ suffering for the loss of their sons has created a bond of compassion between them so that Jarvis can say, “I understand completely” (p. 233 in your school edition).

      3.2.6 Journey

      A journey takes place at several levels: physical, emotional and spiritual.

      Physical journey: The physical journey happens when Reverend Kumalo travels from Ndotsheni to Johannesburg to find his son; when he travels around Johannesburg, Alexandra, Sophiatown, Orlando and Shanty Town; when he returns to Ndotsheni. James Jarvis and his wife also travel from Ndotsheni to Johannesburg, then to Springs; and they return to Ndotsheni. Absalom, Gertrude and John Kumalo travel to Johannesburg, but do not return to Ndotsheni. Arthur Jarvis travels to Johannesburg, where he is killed. Absalom’s wife and Gertrude’s son travel with Reverend Kumalo from Johannesburg to Ndotsheni.

      Reverend Kumalo’s emotional journey: Reverend Kumalo’s emotional journey leads him from anxiety to an ever-deepening fear of destruction. He discovers the impact of corruption and crime in Johannesburg when he meets his sister and brother. His fear becomes overpowering when his son pleads guilty to murder. Reverend Kumalo describes his journey to Father Vincent as a “sorrowful journey” (p. 92 in your school edition), whereupon Father Vincent comforts him by saying that fear “is a journey, a terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arriving” (p. 93 in your school edition). Reverend Kumalo has arrived at a stage in his emotional journey where he realises that he can be instrumental in rebuilding relationships with his son, his family and his community.

      James Jarvis’ emotional journey: James Jarvis’ ability to feel compassion for the suffering of black people grows. His emotional journey of suffering after his son’s death leads to a desire to understand his son’s thinking. He discovers his son’s commitment to social justice. Intellectually and emotionally, he travels with his son while he reads his manuscripts and looks at his books and paintings in his study. His son’s “Private Essay on the Evolution of a South African” (p. 150 in your school edition) describes Arthur Jarvis’ own journey from ignorance about the suffering caused by social injustice in South Africa to his commitment to social and political justice.

      Spiritual journey: Reverend Kumalo’s spiritual journey takes him from destructive anger at Gertrude and Absalom to the uplifting power of forgiveness. He repents for his cruelty towards Absalom’s girlfriend and his brother. He forgives Msimangu and the white young man’s anger born of their frustration at witnessing how corruption and a lack of moral values destroy young people in Johannesburg.

      After his first visit to his son, Reverend Kumalo is bitter because it seems that his son is only sorry for himself. At the trial Absalom tells the judge that he prayed for forgiveness after he had buried the revolver that he used to shoot Arthur Jarvis. He tells the judge that he repented only because he “was in trouble” (p. 144 in your school edition) and not because he was sorry for his deed. Reverend Kumalo finds new strength in his faith in God when he is able to pray for his son’s repentance.

      He is able to show compassion towards him. Even though his son’s plea for mercy was denied, Reverend Kumalo’s love and faith in God’s saving grace continue. He holds a vigil for his son when he has to die.

      Fathers discover their sons: The fathers’ physical journey to Johannesburg has taken them out of their own environments and comfort zones. Both fathers have come a long way in discovering and coming closer to their sons, who were strangers when they first made contact with them in Johannesburg. Reverend Kumalo met his son in prison and James Jarvis met his son by reading his writings and by visiting the house where he had lived.

      Both fathers are shocked and angered when they discover that they were ignorant of the challenges and dangers that their sons face in Johannesburg. Their journey to find their sons ends in loss and in new hope. Loss because both sons die. Hope because their increased insight into the social and political problems of South Africa creates opportunities to strengthen communication and rebuild moral values in their relationships with their grandchildren, family and communities in both Ndotsheni and Johannesburg.

      3.2.7 Restoration

      The theme of restoration presents the writer’s plea for change from the old to the new in a positive way. Destruction of the soil, tribal tradition; moral standards and social conscience eaten away by greed for power, possessions and fear can be reversed through commitment to positive change.

      Commitment to restoring the valley of Ndotsheni: Reverend Kumalo and James Jarvis undergo a change of heart СКАЧАТЬ