Summary
Cry, the Beloved Country is a landmark novel in South African literature that addresses the nation’s complex racial tensions and social injustices. This powerful and poetic work was published in 1948, the year apartheid became law. South African author and activist Alan Paton explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the devastating effects of racial inequality through the story of a Zulu priest searching for his son in Johannesburg. The novel's impact extends beyond literature, with its most famous adaptation being the 1995 film starring James Earl Jones and Richard Harris.
Plot
Cry, the Beloved Country follows the journey of Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu priest from the village of Ndotsheni. Upon receiving a letter about his sister Gertrude's illness, Kumalo travels to Johannesburg. There, he discovers Gertrude has turned to prostitution and alcohol. While searching for his son Absalom, Kumalo learns that Absalom has been arrested for the murder of Arthur Jarvis, a white activist for racial justice.
As the story unfolds, we meet James Jarvis, Arthur's father and Kumalo's neighbor. Through reading his son's writings, James begins to understand and embrace Arthur's work for racial equality. Meanwhile, Absalom confesses to the murder but claims it was unintentional. Despite this, he is sentenced to death. Before Kumalo returns to Ndotsheni, Absalom marries the mother of his unborn child, who then joins Kumalo's family.
Back in the village, Kumalo finds little support for improving the barren land. However, James Jarvis, moved by his son's ideals, steps in to help. He funds the construction of a dam and hires an agricultural expert to teach modern farming methods. The novel concludes on the day of Absalom's execution, with both fathers grappling with the loss of their sons in a country torn by racial injustice.
Themes
Racial injustice and inequality
The breakdown of tribal culture
Fathers and sons
The power of faith and forgiveness
Fear and its destructive effects
Land degradation and rural poverty
Hope and renewal in the face of tragedy
Setting
Cry, the Beloved Country is set in South Africa in the pre-apartheid 1940s. The story takes place during a time of significant racial tension and social upheaval, as the country grapples with the challenges of urbanization and the erosion of tribal traditions.
The novel's geographical scope spans both rural and urban South Africa. Much of the action occurs in Johannesburg, the country's largest city and industrial center. This bustling metropolis serves as a stark contrast to the pastoral setting of Ixopo, a small village in the province of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) where the protagonist, Stephen Kumalo, resides.
Within these broader settings, Alan Paton portrays specific locales that highlight the racial and economic disparities of the era. These include the impoverished Black townships on the outskirts of Johannesburg, the affluent white suburbs, and the barren, eroded tribal lands. The juxtaposition of these diverse environments underscores the novel's themes of social injustice and the consequences of racial segregation.
Characters
Stephen Kumalo: The protagonist, a Zulu Anglican priest who travels to Johannesburg to find his son and sister. A compassionate man struggling with the changes in South African society.
James Jarvis: A wealthy white landowner whose son is murdered. He undergoes a transformation in his views on racial justice.
Absalom Kumalo: Stephen's son, who becomes involved in crime in Johannesburg and murders Arthur Jarvis during a robbery.
Theophilus Msimangu: A priest in Johannesburg who assists Stephen in his search and offers spiritual guidance.
John Kumalo: Stephen's brother, who has rejected tribal traditions and become involved in politics in the city.
Gertrude Kumalo: Stephen's sister, who has fallen into prostitution and alcoholism in Johannesburg.
Arthur Jarvis: James's son, a white activist for racial justice who is murdered by Absalom.
Mrs. Lithebe: A kind woman who provides lodging for Stephen in Johannesburg.
Father Vincent: An English priest who offers comfort to Stephen during his troubles.
The Girl: Absalom's pregnant girlfriend who becomes his wife before his execution.
Quick facts
Cry, the Beloved Country was published in 1948, the same year apartheid became law in South Africa.
An activist against racial injustices, Alan Paton wrote the novel in just three months while he was on a tour of correctional facilities in Europe and North America.
The book's title comes from a phrase that appears multiple times in the novel.
Before Paton's death, Cry, the Beloved Country had sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
In 1948, American publisher and author Bennett Cerf named it one of only three novels “worth reading” released that year.
The writing style deliberately echoes the rhythms and tone of the King James Bible.
Many of the characters’ names, like Absalom and Stephen, have Biblical significance.
Cry, the Beloved Country was adapted into a Broadway musical called Lost in the Stars in 1949, with music by Kurt Weill.
The novel has been made into two films–one in 1951 and another in 1995, starring James Earl Jones and Richard Harris.
Paton wrote the screenplay for the 1951 film adaptation, though it was initially uncredited.
About the Author
Alan Paton was a South African author and anti-apartheid activist born in 1903. His work often explored themes of racial inequality and social justice, combining lyrical prose with social commentary. He is best known for his novel Cry, the Beloved Country, published in 1948, which became an international bestseller and brought global attention to the cruel, racist policy of apartheid.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Paton worked as a teacher and later as the principal of Diepkloof Reformatory for young Black offenders. This experience profoundly influenced his views on race relations and social reform. In 1953, Paton co-founded the Liberal Party of South Africa to oppose apartheid policies through peaceful means. He served as the party's president until it was forcibly dissolved by the government in the late 1960s.
Throughout his career, Paton wrote several novels, short stories, and nonfiction works, including biographies of prominent South African figures. His other notable books include Too Late the Phalarope (1953) and Ah, but Your Land Is Beautiful (1981). His activism and writing made him a target of the apartheid government, which confiscated his passport for a decade. Despite facing restrictions, Paton continued to advocate for a just and democratic society until his death in 1988.
