Cry, the Beloved Country Chapter 31

Motifs  Faith – Kumalo constantly prays for Ndotsheni throughout the chapter.  Barrenness – Kumalo talks to the chief about the barrenness of the land. He also talks about the maize not being as high as a man again.  Power – The headmaster cites the school’s lack of power as the reason for its inability to keep people in the tribe. Kumalo talks to the chief first because he is the most powerful person in the tribe.

Language/Contrasts  The entire chapter is in third person.  Stephen Kumalo and the young white boy talk about Zulu words.  Contrasts  The difference between St. Mark’s Church in Johannesburg and St. Mark’s Church in Ndotsheni.  The wealth of the boy vs. the wealth of the tribal people – he rides around on a horse, with a hat and shoes, while their cows are sick and their children are barefoot.

Questions  Why does the chief try to bring Kumalo’s interview to an end without going into depth on the issue? (231)  If the chief can’t fix the tribe’s brokenness why doesn’t he say so? Why does he just say that he will talk to the white inspector again?

 What does Paton mean by “For the counselors of a broken tribe have many things, but none for the matter of a broken tribe” (232)?  Why do you think the white boy goes to Kumalo’s house?  Who is the “stern, silent man at High Place” (238)?