Narratives of Racial Injustice and Moral Redemption in Alan Paton's "Cry, the Beloved Country"

Abstract

This paper depicts the condition of people in South Africa. Paton, in his novel named “Cry, the Beloved Country”, tried to show racial injustice. He also depicted the decline of ethical things. The setting of the book is an early phase of apartheid in the South African region. The story of Absalom Kumalo indicates how people try to rebuild their ethical values in a separate society. In South Africa, the law was created to differentiate people based on race strictly.  This novel tells the story of a Zulu priest, Stephen Kumalo, and a white landowner, James Jarvis. These two characters represent their country. Paton depicts the reality of the country by enclosing scenes from their personal life. They both have tragic experiences; one is losing his son, and the other is losing his son, brother, and sister. The black people were insecure in the country because families were separated by the law, which was reflected by the custody and trial of Absolom. The unfair law was reflected during the trial of Absolom, and it became clear that the entire justice process was race-based in the apartheid era. In this overall scenario of racial injustices, ethical change is also an important thing.  This novel is an excellent example of the changes in the white man James Jarvis's attitude toward kindness following the tragic death of his son, Arthur Jarvis. Paton’s character, Stephen Kumalo, demonstrates patience and forgiveness in the face of grief. He also connects the condition of people with the condition of the land. It hints that the land and people are interconnected. The influence of the Bible on Paton's writing is reflected in the novel's powerful words. He has also used images of rural life to indicate the condition of South Africa during the apartheid phase in his book.