Concepts of Pacifism Thematic underpinnings in Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country, a novel of social protest

Definition of Pacifism Peaceful rather than violent relations should govern human interaction Peace is intrinsically good and should be upheld as more conducive to human welfare than violence or use of force

Related Ideas The destructiveness of modern warfare fails to resolve conflicts Avoidance of war best serves the interests of humanity and the human race Only peace can preserve peace and break the chain of violence

Concept 1: Killing In general, pacifists cannot condone killing Their beliefs emphasize the sanctity of human life Question: should all forms of killing be prohibited?

Concept 2: Violence and the Use of Force The ability to reason is humankind’s most important faculty Reason should triumph over emotion Force should not be used to restrict the individual’s movement in society Question: Is the use of force ever justifiable?

Concept 3: Innocents War, violence, force, or restraint should not harm the innocent Should innocents be subjected to violence to preserve the overall peace?

Models of Pacifism Nonviolent techniques can prevent the outbreak of violence and move society toward pure justice Examples: Mohandas Gandhi influenced the British withdrawal from India; Martin Luther King, Jr. acquired civil rights for African-Americans

Alan Paton and Pacifism As a pacifist, Alan Paton sought to portray the tragedy of apartheid In Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton creates the characters of Msimangu and Arthur Jarvis, who become the author’s mouthpieces for peaceful reform Cry, the Beloved Country was banned in South Africa, and Paton’s passport was confiscated for ten years