Fear In Cry The Beloved Country

Words: 1502
Pages: 7
Open Document
Fear grips all societies and can take control of the mind if one is not careful with their own thoughts. In Cry, The Beloved Country, Alan Paton displays the major effects of fear through disputes between races, fear of the influence of Johannesburg, and fear of crime. Paton uses the effects of fear to show that it can be overcome by the power of love and faith. Throughout this essay I will explore the meaning and give evidence to the fear displayed in this novel, as well as give Paton’s answer to fear. When the title is finally said in the book, the word fear accompanies it. Paton exclaims, “Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply… For fear will rob him of all …show more content…
Paton says, “The journey had begun. And now the fear back again, the fear of the unknown, the fear of the great city where boys were killed crossing the street, the fear of Gertrude's sickness… the fear for his son… the fear of a man who lives in a world not made for him” (44). In the article “Altruistic and Vicarious Fear of Crime by Karen A. Snedker, she explains, “This literature establishes fear of crime for others is an important motivating factor in people’s behaviors and sense of security” (164). To further explain, Kumalo’s fear of crime for his family is a huge influence on the way he reacts and acts as long as that fear is still in him. As Kumalo is overwhelmed with his fears, he turns to the one thing that he knows will help alleviate his anxious thoughts: The Holy Bible. While on the train, he pulls out his Bible and begins to read. Paton describes the Bible as, “It was this world alone that was certain” ( 44). What Paton is communicating here is that the Bible is a great source of alleviating fears. That is why Paton uses Christianity as one of the main theme throughout the book because it is the most powerful source to cure the constant fears happening on each page. The Bible has many passages that explain anxiety/fear and how we are to overcome it. To give evidence of this claim, Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be …show more content…
The two men are an example of a character foil as well as a theme in the book. They both are fathers who originally are searching for their sons. On top of that, neither of them seem to know their son as well as they thought they did, which makes them fearful of the truth. But, towards the end the two are at peace with their sons, even though they both end up dying. Where the two contrast are each other's lifestyles. Kumalo is an African-American priest from a small village with little money. James Jarvis is a wealthy white man who comes from the city. Despite their differences, they form a bond that cannot be
Show More

Related Documents: Fear In Cry The Beloved Country

Things Fall Apart Comparative Essay

man who lives in fear of failure as he struggles to maintain the titles given to him by society. His life begins to fall apart as discord between his village and white Christian missionaries brings out his own internal conflict. The film Cry, the Beloved Country, based off of a novel by Paton, takes place in the 1940s and tells a similar story about an elderly African man, Stephen Kumalo, who becomes exposed to the corruption of the world while visiting…

Words 946 - Pages 4

Archetypes In Cry The Beloved Country

that it is the most alluded to book in English. Alan Paton receives inspiration from the Old Testament to weave his own stories. He compares the characters in his novel Cry, the Beloved Country to 2 Samuel in order to make evident the archetype of king and son. Absalom and Stephen Kumalo, the main characters of Cry, the Beloved Country, live in a village in South Africa. Uneducated, poor, and black, they live ignorant to societal strife. Upon traveling to Johannesburg, however, they discover the prejudice…

Words 494 - Pages 2

The Take Cry, The Beloved Country By Alan Paton

The take Cry, the honey Country by Alan Paton is a check about agitation and turmoil of both snow- cleans and benighteds over the white segregation policy called apartheid. The sustain describes how understanding between whites and blacks inflame end mutual idolatry and aggresion, and bring reform and hope to a small community of Ndotcheni as well as to South Africa as a whole. The language of the book reflects the incur book; further more, several characters and episodes are reminiscent of stories…

Words 312 - Pages 2

Cry The Beloved Country

because religion is the equalizer among peoples. In the eyes of God, it does not matter if his followers are black, white, poor, rich, Christian, or other they are just people to God; now to receive salvation or not is another matter. In Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton makes it clear that religion is hope. Religion gives the people a sense of salvation, redemption, or purpose, and salvation being the leading factor in Christianity, this is very important. Salvation is the deliverance from sin and…

Words 836 - Pages 4

Personal Narrative: My First Vietnam War

A shriek of cry comes out, as I seek for breath to fill my lungs and give me the power to immerse myself into reality. I only thing I remember is her tears dropping like rain as she ran away from all the pain and rising river of blood; the blood shed by her family as they sought to escape from the jaws of the shark that they called home. The pain in her eyes stood out as she ran for her life while protecting her sister in her arms. Her sister scrunched up into a ball in her hands crying, seeking…

Words 759 - Pages 4

The Odyssey Essay

Cyclops by saying his name is Nohbdy, “my name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy’” (9. 360-361). He tell The Cyclops that is his name because it is part of his plan when he stabs The Cyclops in the eye and The Cyclops cries for help, “Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me. Nohbdy’s ruined me!” (9. 402-404). When Odysseus does that just shows his intelligent way of looking at a situation and planning to get out of it. Therefore as a conclusion, Odysseus’s intelligence helps him…

Words 708 - Pages 3

To Kill A Mockingbird Loss Of Innocence Essay

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus’ children Jem and Scout along with their best friend Dill spend their summers together looking for ways to entertain themselves. The children go through many tough situations that introduce the difficulties of the real world. Man to man cruelty that occurs in the Scottsboro trial compel Lee to write her award winning novel in which three young children lose their innocence that change the perspective of many generations. Harper…

Words 722 - Pages 3

Mark Mathabane Character Analysis

The world is wrapped in venom. Villains like Poison Ivy from Batman exist all over the Earth. These villains are the oppressors doing what they do best, destroying those who appear different. However, for every single villain there is a courageous hero to defeat them. A hero not afraid to stand up and utilize his or her powers to take down these villians. These heroes will need unity, strength, will, sacrifice, education, hope, and love to win their battles. They must be prepared to take action through…

Words 1346 - Pages 6

The Importance Of Friendships In My Life

Sounds, articulation, and words that I failed to comprehend caused a sensation of fear to fill my eyes with tears. Voice cracking, throat shaking, all I could repeatedly state was “Quiero mi mami.” Five years old, trembling, I was the only Hispanic at an elementary school in Missouri; I was the shiny new toy. Nobody understood me. Not one student. Not one teacher. Nobody knew Spanish. All I could do was stand there and cry. All of the sudden, a piercing alarm went off and all of the other children reacted…

Words 1268 - Pages 6

Informative Essay On Horse Racing

been known as the “Sport of Kings.” It is a sport that entails several horses: bred for their stamina and endurance, and the riders that risk their lives to push the beasts to the finish line. This sport was first founded in countries like China, Persia and other European countries. Throughout the history of horse racing there has been only one dramatically increasing change: the mistreatment and inhumanity of the animals. The issue has become a hot subject and people are Bogle 2 more outspoken and…

Words 3162 - Pages 13