Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Cry, The Beloved Country
I would consider Paton's most important theme to be segregation. Although there are many different themes in "Cry, The Beloved Country", the one that seems to occur the most is segregation. The social inequality is what causes many of the terrible events in Johannesburg. In Book I Stephen Kumalo is introduced to crime and injustice as he travels to Johannesburg to search for his family. I think segregation is one of the main causes of crime because it plays a huge part in the majority of the characters.
One example of racial discrimination is on page 52 when Paton says, "They talked of young criminal children, and older and more dangerous criminals, of how white Johannesburg was afraid of black crime." This statement is stating that the white people are scared of the black people because of their rising crimes. The blacks are becoming criminals because of all the racism and limited opportunities they have. This example also refers to Johannesburg as "white Johannesburg", as if the white people own it. All the people blame the blacks for the destruction and danger of the land when the whites play a big part in the causes of it.
Another example of inequality in this book is on page 67 when John Kumalo is talking with Stephen Kumalo and Msimangu. John says, "I do not say we are free here. I do not say we are free as men should be. But at least I am free of the chief. At least I am free of an old and ignorant man, who is nothing but a white man's dog. He is a trick, a trick to hold together something that the white man desires to hold together." John Kumalo gives us his point of view on the discrimination and unfairness of the world. He believes he isn't as tied down and bossed around in Johannesburg as he was in Ndotsheni. One of the strong points of what he said was when he compared himself to a white man's dog. He is stating that he was treated as if he was owned by the chief. This is what caused John to move to Johannesburg and pull away from his Christian home life.
In the second paragraph of chapter 9 Paton says, "The black people go to Alexandra or Sophiatown or Orlando, and try to hire rooms or to buy a share of a house." This shows how the blacks are limited to their opportunities such as land. The black people were having to suffer just trying to find a house to stay in. One reason it was so difficult to get land or a house was because they didn't have enough money thanks to the blacks earning less money than the whites. In my opinion the racial injustice is a major theme, and it causes a majority of the problems in the book.
Segregation is the most important dominant theme portrayed throughout this novel. Paton has a way of tying discrimination into most events. Out of everything the social injustice stood out to me because I can see how it is a major cause of the native crime and Absalom's bad choices. The blacks were limited on their income, their land, their voice, and basically on everything. The inequality is what caused the blacks to become hostile towards the whites and both have a lack of understanding for one another. It won't end until all people come together and work for the improvement of their country.
Another example of inequality in this book is on page 67 when John Kumalo is talking with Stephen Kumalo and Msimangu. John says, "I do not say we are free here. I do not say we are free as men should be. But at least I am free of the chief. At least I am free of an old and ignorant man, who is nothing but a white man's dog. He is a trick, a trick to hold together something that the white man desires to hold together." John Kumalo gives us his point of view on the discrimination and unfairness of the world. He believes he isn't as tied down and bossed around in Johannesburg as he was in Ndotsheni. One of the strong points of what he said was when he compared himself to a white man's dog. He is stating that he was treated as if he was owned by the chief. This is what caused John to move to Johannesburg and pull away from his Christian home life.
In the second paragraph of chapter 9 Paton says, "The black people go to Alexandra or Sophiatown or Orlando, and try to hire rooms or to buy a share of a house." This shows how the blacks are limited to their opportunities such as land. The black people were having to suffer just trying to find a house to stay in. One reason it was so difficult to get land or a house was because they didn't have enough money thanks to the blacks earning less money than the whites. In my opinion the racial injustice is a major theme, and it causes a majority of the problems in the book.
Segregation is the most important dominant theme portrayed throughout this novel. Paton has a way of tying discrimination into most events. Out of everything the social injustice stood out to me because I can see how it is a major cause of the native crime and Absalom's bad choices. The blacks were limited on their income, their land, their voice, and basically on everything. The inequality is what caused the blacks to become hostile towards the whites and both have a lack of understanding for one another. It won't end until all people come together and work for the improvement of their country.
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