Cry, the Beloved Country

What are the roles of women within the novel? How do they figure into the novel’s themes and the history of colonialism?

Alan Paton includes several biblical allusions in the novel, such as the names Stephen, John, Absalom, and Theophilus. What is the literary significance of these allusions?

Cry, the Beloved Country was published in 1948, the same year that apartheid was legalized in South Africa. How do the events and perspectives in the novel foreshadow this change? In what ways was segregation already enforced in the novel? Provide specific examples.

Paton repeats the title of the novel several times throughout the narrative. Describe how the title relates to the novel’s themes, particularly the theme of Racial Divides and Societal Prejudice.

Why does Gertrude choose not to return to Ndotsheni? How does this decision relate to the theme of the Breakdown of Family and Community?

Describe the relationship between Kumalo and James Jarvis. How does this relationship affect both of their character development?

How do Kumalo and James deal with The Duality of Hope and Despair? Do they experience it the same way? Provide specific examples.

Describe the role of fear in the novel. In what ways do characters overcome fear? How does fear prevent characters from helping others? Provide specific examples.