Cry The Beloved Country Analysis

Paton, author of Cry, the Beloved Country, brings awareness to the racial discrimination that devastates South Africa. In Johannesburg and other cities alike, the African population considerably outnumbers the European community, but even so, it is mainly blacks that suffer from discrimination. The perpetrators of this unjust treatment, in most instances, originate from the white community; they defend their actions against Africans by claiming to uphold the belief “that because [God] created white and black, He [will give] the Divine Approval to any human action that is designed to keep black men from advancement” (Paton 187). In doing so, they not only segregate themselves from native people, but they essentially give leeway to other Europeans
Equilibrium cannot exist if the base of the scale is built on unleveled grounds; in order to fix this problem, the ground on which both whites and blacks stand upon needs to be rearranged so that both sides of the scale are even. The foundation of most of the citizen’s belief systems is based on the idea that because “it took [whites] thousands of years to achieve [their] own advancement… it would be foolish to suppose that it will take the black man any lesser time” (187). Since the arrival of the first whites, there has been drastic improvements, especially in areas of government, the way children are educated, and an increase in jobs, but along with all these improvements came the destruction of an old system; the tribal system. Much like how a new way of living was put into place for the black nation then, whether it was decent or not, there needs to be another reform in what is being done now to fix the current dilemma. A young white man by the name Author Jarvis understood the need for ameliorate in the way society viewed and accepted things. He acted as South Africa’s Libra and dedicated his life to fighting for equality amongst blacks and whites. In an unfinished writing, found during his father’s search amid the scattered papers on his son’s desk, Author passionately writes, “It was permissible as
Once this realization is made, the individual will no longer have to face the decision of acting according to popular belief, or on their own accounts. The reason being: they will be in control, in power, and without the distraction of choosing acceptance over morality. There are few who have already come to this conclusion and live at peace with themselves and the decisions they make while the world around them struggles to grasp the concept of equality for all. One of the few, a priest housing in Johannesburg, takes his perception and preaches to others what understanding can do for the better of this city; this priest, Msimangu, acts as Paton’s messenger. After a hurtful conversation between Kumalo and his now corrupted brother, Msimangu aims to comfort his companion by explaining that “there is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power.” (71). As nonconformist as this sounds, Msimangu is right: with love, there is no grab for power. Power, in this society, lies within how you are perceived, but if you care not how you are perceived, then essentially you have gained control. Author Jarvis, before he had been murdered, understood the minority, and his advocation for them had an effect on those around