Book Sharing---Cry, The Beloved Country

Cry, the Beloved Country is a powerful novel written by Alan Paton, first published in 1948. Set against the backdrop of South Africa's apartheid era, the novel explores the devastating effects of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination on both white and black South Africans. With its lyrical prose and poignant themes of race, class, poverty, and social injustice, Cry, the Beloved Country remains a timeless and powerful work of literature that continues to resonate with readers around the world. In this novel, Paton provides a searing critique of the social and political conditions of his time, while also offering a glimmer of hope for a better future through the power of human compassion and reconciliation. Join me in discovering what makes this book worth recommending!

1) Socio-Political value

One of the more notable themes in the novel is the exploration of racial discrimination. The native population has few possibilities to succeed in the bigger cities, away from their tribal towns and villages. At one point, one of the characters mentions that they are only fit for menial jobs. As a result, these low paying jobs force them to live in run down sections of towns, and even hastily built houses in a section referred to as shantytown.

The discrimination is not just economic either. Alan Paton describes how the natives are to approach white people, the form of greeting they are to use, and that they are not allowed to enter a white man's house through the front door, but rather a side or back door. The natives are not treated as equals on any level. Paton's description of these acts raises an awareness and evokes an emotional response through this inequality. Paton does a fair job of making sure this socio-political message comes across subtly so that it does not overwhelm the reader. In doing this, the message becomes more effective and retains its relevance half a century later[1].

2) Sense of patriotism

Paton wrote Cry, the Beloved Country while traveling through Scandinavia and the United States on a study of penal systems. While touring Scandinavian prisons in 1946, he was struck with an intense feeling of nostalgia for his homeland. The fjords and forests of Norway inspired him to write the famous opening passage about the road that runs ''from Ixopo into the hills...'' ''It is a song of love for one's far distant country,'' he wrote in the introduction to the 1987 edition of Cry, the Beloved Country. The first half of Cry, the Beloved Country conveys a strong sense of how the people are connected to the land.

The second half of the book digs more deeply into the theme of social justice. That same research trip also took him to Washington, D.C., where he drew inspiration from the Lincoln Memorial. He described his visit: ''I mounted the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with a feeling akin to awe, and stood for a long time before the seated figure of one of the greatest men of history, surely the greatest of all the rulers of nations, the man who would spend a sleepless night because he had been asked to order the execution of a young soldier. He certainly knew that in pardoning we are pardoned.''[2] Reading inspires readers to cultivate their love for their country and a sense of emotional attachment to the land, while also gaining insights into human nature through the actions of famous historical figures.

3) Race

The novel explores the effects of apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination, on both white and black South Africans. The racial divide is depicted as causing deep-seated mistrust, fear, and animosity between the two groups. Readers can learn the psychological and social effects of racism, and the destructive impact it has on individuals and society as a whole.

4) Social Injustice:

The novel tackles the issue of social injustice, particularly in the context of the criminal justice system. It shows how the justice system can be biased against certain groups, particularly the poor and marginalized, and how this can lead to further injustice and social unrest. The novel highlights the need for fair and just systems of governance and the importance of holding those in power accountable for their actions.

5） Class issue

The novel also examines the wide gulf between the haves and have-nots in South African society. It explores how the wealthy and privileged live in relative comfort and safety, while the poor and marginalized are trapped in cycles of poverty and violence. The novel raises questions about the ethical implications of such social inequality, and highlights the need for social justice and equal opportunities for all.

[1] Why is Cry, The Beloved Country a Great Work of Literature? https://study.com/academy/lesson [2] Why Did Alan Paton Write Cry, The Beloved Country? https://study.com/academy/lesso