Cry the Beloved Country is a novel by Alan Paton that was first published in 1948. The book tells the story of Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu pastor, who goes to Johannesburg to find his sister and help his nephew get out of trouble. Along the way, Kumalo meets many different people and experiences the harsh realities of life in South Africa during apartheid.
Paton uses a variety of literary devices to tell Kumalo’s story, including symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony. For example, the title of the novel itself is symbolic of the pain and suffering experienced by black South Africans during this time period. The use of foreshadowing helps to create suspense and tension throughout the novel, while the irony highlights the contrast between the beautiful country of South Africa and the racism and violence that were so prevalent during apartheid.
Cry the Beloved Country is a powerful novel that speaks to the human capacity for hope and redemption, even in the darkest of times. Paton’s use of literary devices makes Cry the Beloved Country a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for many years to come.
The unique writing style and descriptive elements in Cry the Beloved Country might be thought of one of the most relaxing and enthralling books ever made since they pull you into the book and make you feel as if you’re actually there. There are several parts in this book where you may go from being pleased to completely devastated.
It’s a story that is meant to make you feel, and it definitely succeeds. One of the literary devices used Cry the Beloved Country is flashbacks. In some of the more crucial scenes, such as when Stephen Kumalo finally meets his sister for the first time in years, Alan Paton uses flashbacks to provide more context for the reader. This allows us to understand what Cry the Beloved Country is really about: not just a tale of two families, but also a commentary on the state of South Africa as a whole.
If you haven’t read Cry the Beloved Country, I highly recommend doing so. It’s a classic for a reason, and its messages are just as relevant today as they were when it was first published.
The novel Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton explores the theme of forgiveness through metaphors, which is significant since it promotes friendship and peace. Because forgiveness is something that everyone must experience and give to one another, this topic is contemporary. The poem Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Pat on demonstrates the subject of forgiveness through imagery, which encourages camaraderie and peace in today’s culture.
One example of a metaphor in Cry the Beloved Country is when Stephen Kumalo states, “The sun pours down on us, and we are parched like dry grass” (Paton 116). This simile is used to explain how the government has neglected the people. The author employs this literary device to show that despite the current state of things, there is hope for the future.
Another example of a metaphor in Cry the Beloved Country can be seen when Msimangu says, “It is very strange that the tongue can talk of brotherhood while the heart thinks only of hatred” (Paton 94). This quote demonstrates how people can say one thing but feel something entirely different. The use of this literary device allows Paton to highlight the hypocrisy that exists in society.
In addition to metaphors, Alan Paton also uses symbols in Cry the Beloved Country to depict the theme of forgiveness. One example of a symbol in the novel is when Msimangu says, ” Cry for the broken tribe, for the law and the custom that is gone. Aye, and cry aloud for the man who is dead, for the woman and children bereaved” (Paton 94). The author uses this quote to represent how South Africa is in need of healing. By employing this symbol, Paton is able to show that forgiveness is necessary in order to move forward.
Another example of a symbol in Cry the Beloved Country can be seen when Stephen Kumalo states, “The sun pours down on us, and we are parched like dry grass” (Paton 116). This quote symbolizes the hope that exists for the future. The use of this literary device allows Paton to show that even though things may be difficult now, there is still reason to believe that things will get better.
The literary devices used by Alan Paton in Cry the Beloved Country serve to highlight the importance of forgiveness. Without forgiveness, people would be unable to move forward and would remain stuck in a cycle of hatred. However, by forgiving one another, people are able to form bonds of friendship and peace. This is significant because it shows how relevant the theme of forgiveness is to today’s society and culture.
“One thing is about to be done, but here is something that has just begun,” as James put it (Paton). Jarvis was implying that the past is finished. Life goes on. He followed through with his idea of indirect friendship by assisting Kumalo with his church, family, and personal life when he didn’t know about it.
Stephen Kumalo is a reverend in the village of Ndotsheni, which is in a very poor state. Kumalo goes on a journey to Johannesburg in search of his family and ends up finding much more than that. Cry, the Beloved Country was published in 1948 by Alan Paton. It’s a story based off of the racial discrimination between black and white people in Johannesburg, South Africa during Apartheid. Cry, the Beloved Country uses many literary devices such as foil characters, important objects, and symbols.
Foil characters are used to contrast each other. In Cry, the Beloved Country there are two sets of foils. The first set is between Stephen Kumalo and Msimangu. Kumalo is a reverend who is shy and not very outspoken whereas Msimangu is also a reverend who is very outgoing and likes to talk. Kumalo is also very gullible and tends to believe what he’s told, which gets him into trouble, while Msimangu is very street savvy and knows when something isn’t right.
The second set of foils are between Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis. Kumalo is a black man who grew up in the country side of South Africa while Jarvis is a white man who grew up in the city. Kumalo is uneducated while Jarvis went to college. Despite their differences, they become good friends by the end of the novel.