Cry, The Beloved Country Flashcards
Who is the author of cry the beloved country?
Alan Paton
Who is Alan Paton?
Experience no world wide event. At 22 he became a teacher at an all white school. 10 years later he was the principal at a black school loosening restrictions. He travelled world wide
When did he published the book?
After World War II he wrote and published in 1948
When did apartheid start?
1948
Who was elected at the general election?
National party was elected
When did South Africa become its own union?
1962
What was the time of the play?
Set in the 1940s. There was economic and political tension
Who are the characters?
- Stephen Kumalo
- Absalom Kumalo
- John Kumalo
- Matthew Kumalo
- Mrs Kumalo
- Jame’s Jarvis
- Arthur Jarvis
- Margaret Jarvis
- Theophilus Msimangu
Where does Act 1 take place?
Carisbrook, Ndotsheni, Umzikulu Valley, Natal
What is the fertility of the white man’s farm?
green hills = fertile
What is the fertility of the black man’s farm?
Not fertile
There is a drought. What does this do to the land?
The land cannot hold rain. Bare and cattle have overgraze land.
What has increased soil erosion?
Drought
Why can’t the rural areas support so many people anymore?
Young people have left for Johannesburg and therefore the people that are left all the old people and the children. They cannot sustain themselves
Why do the young people go to Johannesburg?
Gold mining industry
Who received a letter from who? What was the letter about?
Stephen receives a letter from the minister Theophilus. Stephen must come to Johannesburg as Absalom is illl
Who is Absalom than in relation to Stephen?
See his son
What is this journey for Stephen?
It is a journey of discovery for Stephen as he searches for his son
When Stephen arrives where is Absalom?
In a reformatory
What is a reformatory?
A place for young people who break the law
Why is Absalom in a reformatory?
He got a girl pregnant
Why was Absalom released?
He did well
How did Absalom end up in the reformatory in the first place?
He came under the influence of his cousin
Who is Absalom’s cousin?
Matthew
What does Matthew and Absalom have in common?
They are criminals
What happens to John?
He was initially a carpenter which is now involved in political activities. He turned away from traditional or tribal valleys. He denounces Christianity
How does Stephen gain information?
From travelling around Johannesburg
How does Stephen become aware of the new societies?
He sees the new societies as John speaks about it and becomes aware of the racial and economic divisions. He sees the fear of people on a level of crime
What news broke out that was negative?
The prominent white man (took a stand against racial injustice) Arthur Jarvis was murdered
Why was Absalom and Matthew arrested?
Murder
Why does John get Matthew a lawyer?
He sees a way out for Matthew
Where does act two take place?
High Place, farm in hills above Ndotsheni
Who is the high pace from owned by?
Margaret and James Jarvis
Who are Margaret and James Jarvis?
The parents of Arthur Jarvis
Who did Arthur leave behind?
His wife and two children
What increases the devastation of Arthur’s parents?
Arthur was an only child and they leave for Johannesburg
Why does the parents journey of discovery begin?
James learns about his son philosophy
When the two fathers meet what did they realise?
They have been in contact before. Stephen remembers Arthur as a young boy riding his horse is past the farm
Why does James bear no bitterness towards Stephen?
James reaches a new understanding of the countries problems
Who are the two protagonists?
Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis
What does Stephen do for a living?
He is an elderly Zulu priest or Reverend
What is quality traits does Stephen have?
Good, kind, honest man who has strong moral sense and abiding faith in God. He is naive in the city
What does Stephen learn?
Learns about plight of people - difficulty. Gained a better understanding of his son
How does Stephen accept his suffering?
Through dignity and grace
Why is Stephen determined to help these people?
Concerned about disintegrating tribal traditions
Who is Absalom Kumalo?
Stephen son and he leaves the farm for Johannesburg
Why does Absalom quickly get into trouble?
He is easily influenced by bad elements and commits a murder
What does Absalom do in relation to the murder?
He takes accountability for his actions
When is Absalom redeem?
When he reclaims his underlying decency by marrying his pregnant girlfriend
What is the last thing Absalom does?
Send a letter to his parents
Who is John Kumalo?
He is Stephen’s brother.
What was Johns job?
He used to be a carpenter and practice Christianity
What happens to John in Johannesburg?
He become successful businessman and a powerful black politician. He rejects or denounces Christianity as he has an affair
Why is John dishonest?
He does not have the truth about the involvement of his son Matthew in the murder. He leaves Absalom solely accountable
What quality trait defines John?
He is a man with out courage
Who is Matthew Kumalo?
Absalom’s cousin
What does Matthew not take responsibility for?
Denies being present at Jarvis’ house robbery. Turns his back on his cousin
What quality traits does Matthew have?
Bad influence and criminal element
Who is Mrs Kumalo?
Stevens wife
What a quality traits does Mrs Kumalo have?
Strong minded, supportive, loving. Supplies courage needed to read the bad news. Bares is hardship
Who is James Jarvis?
Wealthy white land owner whose farm overlooks the farm.
What was James initially?
Initially relatively conservative farmer griefs with death of his son
What does James gain an understanding of?
Understanding of racial injustice and evaluate his sons opinions on the issue. He develops a deeper appreciation for his son
When is James redeemed?
When he improves his relationship with the villagers who lives below his farm
What career does Arthur Jarvis follow?
He is an engineer and has a fierce advocate for justice of black South Africans
What quality traits does Arthur have?
He is honest and principled
What did Arthur bass he’s writing on?
Understanding, fairness and compassion
Where was Arthur shot dead?
In his home by Absalom
Who is Margaret Jarvis?
James’s wife
How did Margaret take the death of her son?
Very hard
What did Margaret think about her sons views?
Understood and appreciated it always
How does Margaret supporter husband?
Support her husband to the grief. Shares in his plan to help the van
Who is Theophilus Msimangu?
Minister of the mission house in Sophiatown
Who is Theophilus in relation to Stephen?
Stevens host and guide in Johannesburg. He helped Stephen to understand people and places they encountered
What quality traits does the Theo?
Compassionate
What is Theo have a good understanding of?
The problems in South Africa
List the themes
- Racial oppression
- Urbanisation and destruction of tradition
- Fear and crime
- Role of the church
- Redemption
- The journey
What did the oppressive laws due to the black people in South Africa?
Forbade black people to live in certain areas. Most land was full white people
What did people depend on in racial oppression?
People depended on the land and each other. It was a cycle of support and care
What did the land depend on in racial oppression?
The land depended on the people to care for it. Without one the other one is broke and and they both do a weekend and dying
Why did the black people struggle to successfully farm in racial oppression?
There was so little land available
What is racial oppression?
Economic inequality and racial lines caused resentment, mist trust and fear
Where did people in rural areas leave for? urbanisation
Urban areas. They went for factories and mines - push/pull factors
What did moving to urban areas lead to? Urbanisation
Moving away from traditional cultures. They became different people from who they were in religious areas. They were less religious and more political
What did the young people in Johannesburg create? Urbanisation
They created a new type of society
What happened to the people left behind in the Rurel areas? Urbanisation
They missed their loved ones
What happened to the young ones in JHB? urbanisation
Young people are lost without their families, communities and traditions
What happened to many characters when they went to Johannesburg? Urbanisation
They suffered when they left
It was difficult to find housing in Johannesburg. What does this mean? Fear and can’t
People were forced to erect to shantytowns which are full of crime
Why did people commit crime? fear
This will people committed crime to escape from poverty
Why did white people fear the black people? Fear
Incidences of crime in majority
Who were men of the church?
Stephen, Theophilus and Vincent or people of faith
What does Christianity bring? Role
Stability and tranquillity to live lives of followers
What was power and corruption related to? Role
Secularism and atheism
What is the role of the church illustrated in?
Two Kumalo brothers
What is the difference of beliefs between the two brothers? Role
Stephen is a man of faith despite his troubles he finds peace. John reject Christianity. Faith in contrast and is portrayed as force
What stabilises the tribe?
Land and the repeated song of the anthem
What is redemption?
Act of making up ones wrong doing. Starting afresh
What does redemption involve?
Involves finding forgiveness. oneself or people one has hurt
What does redemption change?
Doing something good by changing your behaviour and acting different
What are the two meanings of the journey?
Literal and figurative
What is the literal meaning of the journey?
The fathers travel to Johannesburg
What is the figurative meaning of the journey?
It is a metaphor. It is the change they go Siri and the lessons they learn.
What change do the two fathers go through
Psychological and spiritual change
