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This can be interpreted several ways. One, why does the title of this book include the word "Cry"? Also, does "cry" attempt to portray the main action of this book? For example, is it named Cry because the people in this book cry over their pains and troubles? Is it named Cry because, in a way to deal with their problems, people cry out for help? Do they cry out against injustice? Are people crying out of agony? physical hurt?
Why Cry. I say that "cry" was integrated into the title of this book, "Cry, the Beloved Country" because ALL of these things happen. People are in agony. People are in pain. People all over South Africa are suffering. They suffer because of apartheid-because of crime and the availability of liquor. They cry for the detrimental path that the Native African culture has strayed down with the influx of Western Culture. People cry because of the injustice of the government and economy. And over the fact that the white people as a whole do essentially nothing to help the natives. People are dying in this land. People are standing by and watching death come to those around them. People are crying. |
Yes, I do agree with Gideon, but it is also a line used throughout the book.
Pages 104-105: "Sadness and fear and hate, how they well up in the heart and mind whenever one opens the pages of these messengers of doom. Cry for the broken tribe, for the law and the custom that is gone. Aye, and cry aloud for the man who is dead, for the woman and children bereaved. Cry, the beloved country, these things are not yet at an end. The sun pours down on the earth, on the lovely land that man cannot enjoy. He knows only the fear of his heart." I may be mistaken, but this pretty much sums it up: "Cry" because Kumalo's tribe is never going to be the same again. "Cry" because Absalom has just shot and killed Arthur Jarvis and left Arthur's children fatherless-his wife a widow. "Cry" because all of these worries, are not yet at an end. |
Fine posts, Gideon and Abbatiello! |
I think the author decided to put "Cry" in the title because he was trying to reflect the way he once felt possibly at the time when he was writing this book, or a certain time in his life where he felt like all he could do was cry. I'm sure the author instilled some of the feelings he once felt into his characters. |
Gideon and Jason make fine points about this title."Cry the Beloved Country". the question is... "Why Cry"? The title, I believe has several meanings. When a person cries, it's like a torrent of confused emotions, sad emotions, are released.
For Kumalo, he has many reason's involving his family. He had lost contact with his sister, his brother, and his one, and only son. The classical ending is finding the son and "happily" going on with life. This is not always the case. This storyline shows a different story. One can only imagine, unless he/she has gone through it, the sheer agony Kumalo must be going through. Losing contact with most of his family, he is finally reunited. But reunited to what? A sister who has become a prostitute, and who makes liquor? A brother who has become nothing but a political symbol? And a son, who has just committed the ultimate crime. Murder. Not only that, he has murdered a white man. They all have lost all religious faith, unlike their Priest brother Kumalo. |
Gideon, Jason, Femi, and Josh all make exceptional points. "Cry, the beloved country, these things are not yet at an end." - I feel that this quote explains the general muddled mess of problems in South Africa. Natives who grow up in disheveled homes and lack education and job opportunities as a result, have been committing many criminal actions such as thievery, rape, murders, and other austere and illicit activities. Segregation is an immense issue: poverty seems to be unremitting; employment is completely unjust towards natives; families are being ripped apart; innocent victims are being murdered, and plenty of other controversies are occurring. "Cry" may refer to people actually crying out of pain, misery, and sorrow. Some may be "crying" out for help. Kumalo cries out of disappointment in his son for murdering a man. He also cries out of disappointment in Gertrude who turned to liquor exchanging, prostitution, and overall carelessness. Random characters in the book reflect on the strain and torture that people must endure. For example, a woman lost her baby because of insufficient health care. Another example is how difficult it is to find a house to live in and having to be put on a waiting list. These all represent why people cry and why they cry out for help. I believe the whole country is crying for help and aid, hence the title "Cry, the Beloved Country". |
Why Cry? “Gertrude Kumalo…, is very sick…, a worse kind of sickness…, it would be truer to say that she has many husbands…, you can see liquor running in the streets…” Why Cry? “You must stand in line…, have you money for the ticket…, the young man took the pound and walked a short distance to the corner…, but there was no sign of the young man…” Why Cry? “OLD COUPLE ROBBED AND BEATEN IN LONELY HOUSE. FOUR NATIVES ARRESTED.” Why Cry? “MURDER IN PARKWOLD. WELL-KNOWN CITY ENGINEER SHOT DEAD. ASSAILANTS THOUGHT TO BE NATIVES.” Why Cry? “children…, not more than four out of ten are at school…, of those four not even one will reach his sixth standard…,” Why Cry? “…and they told him they were searching for one Absalom Kumalo…, it was he who fired the shot.” Why Cry? “This Court finds you guilty, Absalom Kumalo…, I sentence you…, to be returned to custody, and to be hanged by the neck until you are dead.” Why Cry? “Jarvis sat down…, is it my son?, is he dead?, he was shot dead at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon in Johannesburg.” Why Cry? “ANOTHER MURDER TRAGEDY IN CITY. EUROPEAN HOUSEHOLDER SHOT DEAD BY NATIVE HOUSE-BREAKER.” Why Cry? “The little boy was there, the red dress and the white turban were there. But Gertrude was gone.”
Why not Cry? Everything is going in the wrong direction. |
Very good post, Eddy!
Could this apply to our society, then?...Could it not apply to most/all contemporary societies? |
This could most definitely apply to our society now. Everywhere you live there are always going to be worries. In our society; for example, the economy is very bad. In a third world country people might not know if they are going to have food for tomorrow. |
Everyone makes amazing points and I agree with all of them. As, Eddy said why not cry when all goes wrong. This question and the responses that have been made forced me to think about the connection between this thread and the "Is it possible to live a life that will be a memory without pain?" When life is going down, many times we attempt to beguile ourselves by thinking that it is ok. But, many times the bad things in life can be eternal. In Cry,the Beloved Country, Kumalo goes to Johannesburg questing for his son and his sister. What he finds is a woman who has forsaken her pride and religion for money; he also finds his son a murderer and soon to be a father out of wedlock. For Kumalo, a man of God, these indiscretions of his family are deep and personal. He would never leave his family. In times of trouble we cannot help but think that we are hopeless. The question posed was "Why Cry?" my question to you is, if we have done everything yet nothing has changed then why not cry? |
Crying is more then just salt water droplets rolling down the side of your cheek. Crying is a reliever; it takes all the pain or sorrow trapped in your heart and pours it out. It is a good way to relieve your pain. It doesn't matter what happens to you. If you need to cry, do it; there is nothing wrong with it. My mom always tells me, don't hold any of your feelings in because one day you will meet your boiling point, and it will not be pretty. The real question is: Why NOT cry? Life is hard, and we will always go through trials and tribulations, so when you feel like you're in pain, take a pillow and cry your heart out: then rethink the situation. |
