Throughout
Book One of Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton uses literary devices such as
similes and repetition to get his themes and overall messages across. Descriptions
of native land and nature are shown repeatedly, especially in the first
chapter. Paton describes the land in order to show the brokenness of South
Africa. The land also symbolizes themes such as peace in the native country.
Paton uses the land to tell the story of a country being torn apart by
discrimination, inequality, and injustice.
In Chapter 1 of Book One, Alan Paton
describes the land in native South Africa compared to the land in the city,
which is Johannesburg. He uses opposite words and phrases to contrast the
country with the city. He describes native land as “rich” and “well-tended.” He
describes the city as “desolate” and “dead” because of the lack of care from
its people. Both descriptions show how it is for the people in that part of the
country. In the native area, life is full and beautiful, while in the city it
is broken and useless just like the land. Paton gives a visual image to the
reader that is helpful in picturing how different the city is from where
Stephen Kumalo is coming from.
In Chapter 4 of Book One, Alan Paton
describes Stephen Kumalo’s journey into the city of Johannesburg, where he is
searching for his family. Kumalo sees land that has “soil [that] is sick” and
“almost beyond healing.” These descriptions reflect the way the people become
while moving from their native land into the broken city of Johannesburg. Just
as the land, the people are sick and torn away from their customs, which
eventually lead them into pain, suffering, and destruction. Paton uses an
implied metaphor here that describes what it’s like to change from a healthy
lifestyle to pure evil.
In Chapters 11, 12, and 13, the city
of Ezenzeleni is described when Msimangu returns to see his people. It is
described as the “place of the blind.” It has “blue and distant mountains” that
lift one’s spirits, according to Stephen Kumalo. Here, the land is being
described by Alan Paton in order to show guidance and hope for those who have
none. Also, it is showing where Msimangu comes from, and furthers the idea of
him being honorable and righteous. In the middle of all the trouble, Ezenzeleni
is a peaceful and beautiful place that gives hope. Paton uses this to transfer
the mood of the story line.
Finally, Alan Paton often centers
the story on places that are beautiful or broken, depending on the current mood
of the story. Johannesburg is a broken and disturbed place with many bad people
and lost souls, therefore its land is also broken and disturbed. The native
people are joyful and peaceful, therefore their land is well-tended and
beautiful. The descriptions of land help the reader follow the story line
easier with mental images such as red, desolate ground or lush, green hills.
The imagery Paton uses is powerful and makes Cry, the Beloved Country the
classic novel that it is.
