Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Author’s Background Born in Pietermaritzburg in the Natal Province in eastern South Africa, a region once known as Zululand Born in Pietermaritzburg in the Natal Province in eastern South Africa, a region once known as Zululand Parents were devout Christians Parents were devout Christians Attended Natal University College, where he studied mathematics and physics Attended Natal University College, where he studied mathematics and physics Served as principal of the Diepkloof Reformatory for black youths in Johannesburg—improved conditions and sought to rehabilitate Served as principal of the Diepkloof Reformatory for black youths in Johannesburg—improved conditions and sought to rehabilitate

Paton’s Social Conscience Paton is considered a reformer and used his novels, short stories, and essays as vehicles for his strong philosophical and moral viewpoints. Paton is considered a reformer and used his novels, short stories, and essays as vehicles for his strong philosophical and moral viewpoints. He strove to promote social change, particularly with regard to the treatment of native South Africans and the preservation of the land He strove to promote social change, particularly with regard to the treatment of native South Africans and the preservation of the land

Cry, the Beloved Country Published in February 1948 Published in February 1948 Novel was a huge success in Europe and U.S., but was unpopular in South Africa Novel was a huge success in Europe and U.S., but was unpopular in South Africa The novel was translated into Zulu and a number of other languages and has sold well over 15 million copies The novel was translated into Zulu and a number of other languages and has sold well over 15 million copies

Comments on Cry “Although circumstances drew Paton into political activity, it would be improper to regard this novel as a political document. While a primary concern of art is a formal beauty that may reflect justice, a primary concern of politics is the pursuit of power, and literature that serves it is propaganda, not art. Cry, the Beloved Country is not propaganda.” Professor Callen “Although circumstances drew Paton into political activity, it would be improper to regard this novel as a political document. While a primary concern of art is a formal beauty that may reflect justice, a primary concern of politics is the pursuit of power, and literature that serves it is propaganda, not art. Cry, the Beloved Country is not propaganda.” Professor Callen

Literary Techniques Intercalary Chapters or “Inserted”—a passage that is not part of the narrative and does not involve the main characters. Usually used to make a thematic point, or to describe a scene that is apart from the action. Intercalary Chapters or “Inserted”—a passage that is not part of the narrative and does not involve the main characters. Usually used to make a thematic point, or to describe a scene that is apart from the action. Dialogue---Paton’s use of dashes, rather than quotation marks, serves to quicken the pace of the dialogue and to emphasize words, rather than the speaker. Speaker is rarely identified, requiring the reader to pay careful attention. Dialogue---Paton’s use of dashes, rather than quotation marks, serves to quicken the pace of the dialogue and to emphasize words, rather than the speaker. Speaker is rarely identified, requiring the reader to pay careful attention.

Literary Techniques, Continued Repetition of phrases, paragraphs and description Repetition of phrases, paragraphs and description Language---use of Afrikaan words, such as veld, kraal, inkosana and umfumdisi. Note: the word “native” is used exclusively to refer to black descendants of tribal Africans and not to the whites, who had lived in South Africa for generations. Language---use of Afrikaan words, such as veld, kraal, inkosana and umfumdisi. Note: the word “native” is used exclusively to refer to black descendants of tribal Africans and not to the whites, who had lived in South Africa for generations.

Genre: The Social Realism Novel Movement began the second half of the 19 th century as artists and writers rebelled against Romanticism’s idealized portrayal of life. Movement began the second half of the 19 th century as artists and writers rebelled against Romanticism’s idealized portrayal of life. Focused on the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution and the problems created by a growing urban migration. Focused on the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution and the problems created by a growing urban migration. The goal of art for the Realist is to achieve verisimilitude—to portray people, landscapes, and social situations as they actually were— giving a “slice of life” with photographic accuracy. The goal of art for the Realist is to achieve verisimilitude—to portray people, landscapes, and social situations as they actually were— giving a “slice of life” with photographic accuracy.

Classic traits of the Social Realism work Vivid, unflinching, and usually unsentimental descriptions of actual places, though frequently these places are given fictional names Vivid, unflinching, and usually unsentimental descriptions of actual places, though frequently these places are given fictional names A plot that centers on a social or political conflict or problem. Common themes are racial injustice, the oppression of the poor, the degradation of the land, the problems caused by urban migration A plot that centers on a social or political conflict or problem. Common themes are racial injustice, the oppression of the poor, the degradation of the land, the problems caused by urban migration Complex and often flawed characters or archetypal characters that represent different facets of society. Complex and often flawed characters or archetypal characters that represent different facets of society.

History of South Africa History of South Africa Dutch arrived in 1652 and established Capetown. Within 5 years, they began importing slaves. Dutch arrived in 1652 and established Capetown. Within 5 years, they began importing slaves. Over the next 100 years, Dutch, German, and French Huguenot immigrants settled South Africa, pushing deeper into tribal regions. These settlers were known as Afrikaners, or Boers, who developed a common language known as Afrikaans Over the next 100 years, Dutch, German, and French Huguenot immigrants settled South Africa, pushing deeper into tribal regions. These settlers were known as Afrikaners, or Boers, who developed a common language known as Afrikaans

Afrikaans Language Formed by Dutch colonists in Africa in the 17th century Formed by Dutch colonists in Africa in the 17th century Originally, a popular dialect composed of Dutch with a lot of borrowings from aboriginal languages of Africa Originally, a popular dialect composed of Dutch with a lot of borrowings from aboriginal languages of Africa The official language of South African colonies was Dutch, but Afrikaans was spoken by farmers who left Cape town seeking better lands to the north The official language of South African colonies was Dutch, but Afrikaans was spoken by farmers who left Cape town seeking better lands to the north

More on Afrikaans The official language of the Republic and Transvaal and the Orange Free State when they were founded in the 19 th century The official language of the Republic and Transvaal and the Orange Free State when they were founded in the 19 th century Became the official language of South Africa in 1914 Became the official language of South Africa in % of the lexicon derived from Dutch 99% of the lexicon derived from Dutch 1% of lexicon is Zulu, including the names for animals, plants and nature objects typical for South Africa, and English 1% of lexicon is Zulu, including the names for animals, plants and nature objects typical for South Africa, and English

Back to the History of South Africa In 1795, Britain gained control of Capetown from the Dutch, which led to a century of sporadic fighting over control of the region. In 1795, Britain gained control of Capetown from the Dutch, which led to a century of sporadic fighting over control of the region. In 1820, British immigrants settled on the eastern coast of South Africa, in an attempt to push back the native tribes in that region. In 1820, British immigrants settled on the eastern coast of South Africa, in an attempt to push back the native tribes in that region. British missionaries, opposed to slavery, arrived in the early 1800s and caused further division between the British and slave-owning Dutch. British missionaries, opposed to slavery, arrived in the early 1800s and caused further division between the British and slave-owning Dutch.

More History of South Africa After Britain outlawed slavery, the Boers began moving north and east of Capetown and formed two republic, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal or ZAR. After Britain outlawed slavery, the Boers began moving north and east of Capetown and formed two republic, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal or ZAR. Discovery of diamonds in these lands led to an English invasion Discovery of diamonds in these lands led to an English invasion This led to the Boer Wars between the late 1880s-early 1900s from which Britain emerges as the victor. This led to the Boer Wars between the late 1880s-early 1900s from which Britain emerges as the victor.

Birth of Apartheid In 1940, the Afrikaner National Party gained a strong majority In 1940, the Afrikaner National Party gained a strong majority In 1948, strategists in this party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system In 1948, strategists in this party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system

Origins of Apartheid Apartheid was a social philosophy which enforced racial, social, and economic segregation on the people of South Africa. Apartheid was a social philosophy which enforced racial, social, and economic segregation on the people of South Africa. The term apartheid comes from the Afrikaans word meaning “separation” or “apartness” The term apartheid comes from the Afrikaans word meaning “separation” or “apartness” Initial aim was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation; ultimately, it emphasized territorial separation and police repression Initial aim was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation; ultimately, it emphasized territorial separation and police repression

More on Apartheid Legalized discrimination by: Legalized discrimination by: prohibiting inter-racial marriages prohibiting inter-racial marriages barring blacks from holding jobs classified as “skilled labor,” and almost all well-paying jobs barring blacks from holding jobs classified as “skilled labor,” and almost all well-paying jobs mandating separate schools and hospitals mandating separate schools and hospitals restricting the movement of blacks through “pass laws,” which required them to carry passes with ID and fingerprints when accessing non-black areas restricting the movement of blacks through “pass laws,” which required them to carry passes with ID and fingerprints when accessing non-black areas restricting land ownership by blacks restricting land ownership by blacks requiring all South Africans to register by race requiring all South Africans to register by race

Images of Apartheid

Apartheid in 1950s and 1960s 1951—government established “homelands” and assigned Africans to these homelands according to their tribe of origin, stripping native blacks of their South African citizenship. 1951—government established “homelands” and assigned Africans to these homelands according to their tribe of origin, stripping native blacks of their South African citizenship. 1960s—the United Nations called for sanctions against the Republic of South Africa to protest apartheid and human rights but had little effect for three decades. 1960s—the United Nations called for sanctions against the Republic of South Africa to protest apartheid and human rights but had little effect for three decades Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela, the leader of the anti-Apartheid movement, was tried for treason and sentenced to life in prison.

Apartheid in the 1970’s

End of Apartheid 1976—a peaceful march by Soweto schoolchildren turns deadly when police fire into the crowd, sparking rioting and international outrage. 1976—a peaceful march by Soweto schoolchildren turns deadly when police fire into the crowd, sparking rioting and international outrage — serious political violence led to State of Emergency over the entire country — serious political violence led to State of Emergency over the entire country 1990—South Africa freed Mandela and began repealing apartheid laws 1990—South Africa freed Mandela and began repealing apartheid laws 1994—a multi-racial democratic election is held with over 20 million voting, and Mandela is elected president. He served until —a multi-racial democratic election is held with over 20 million voting, and Mandela is elected president. He served until 1999.

South Africa Post-Apartheid a new constitution was signed, guaranteeing broad political, social and cultural rights, including the rights to speech and assembly, housing, health care, and education a new constitution was signed, guaranteeing broad political, social and cultural rights, including the rights to speech and assembly, housing, health care, and education 1996 – Thabo Mbeki elected president in second democratic election 1996 – Thabo Mbeki elected president in second democratic election –Kgalema Motlanthe, president following resignation of Mbeki –Kgalema Motlanthe, president following resignation of Mbeki 2009 – Jacob Zuma elected president despite controversial background involving criminal charges 2009 – Jacob Zuma elected president despite controversial background involving criminal charges

South Africa Today Although the days of Apartheid are gone, life remains challenging. Although the days of Apartheid are gone, life remains challenging. o Unemployment rate is 38% o 50% of blacks are impoverished o HIV infection rate is the highest in the world (as of 2009, 5.6 million were infected)