Cry, the Beloved Country

“Stand unshod upon it, for the ground is holy, being even as it came from the

Creator. Keep it, guard it, care for it, for it keeps men, guards men, cares for men. Destroy it and man is destroyed.”

Alan Paton explores the importance of South African land to Black South African people. Rather than exploit the land through mining gold or expanding cities, the people of Ndotsheni understand the importance of preserving nature, and with it, their identity and culture.

“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. Deep down the fear of his son. Deep down the fear of a man who lives in a world not made for him, whose own world is slipping away, dying, being destroyed, beyond any recall.”

Reverend Stephen Kumalo’s fear introduces the theme of The Duality of Hope and Despair. He fears his family is unsafe in Johannesburg due to racism by white South African people, which pervades every aspect of South African society. Therefore, he feels he lives in a world that he does not belong in.

“So they talked of the sickness of the land, of the broken tribe and the broken house, of young men and young girls that went away and forgot their customs, and lived loose and idle lives. They talked of young criminal children, and older and more dangerous criminals, of how white Johannesburg was afraid of black crime.”

In this quote, priests connect drought to the loss of tribal society. As Black South African youths forget their traditions in pursuit of power in Johannesburg, the tribe continues to break. The quote highlights the theme of Racial Divides and Societal Prejudice as the influx of Black South African youths causes white South African residents to fear crime due to racism.