Cry, the Beloved Country theme analysis. Chap 1-4

Character-yellow-antagonist (pg. 49)
       “’- You have been cheated, umfundisi.’” Here, the reader is introduced to, arguably, the first antagonist of the story. This man robs unsuspecting umfundisi of a pound. The author creates this problem for umfundisi this early in his arrival at Johannesburg to show the reader that this city is a tough one to live in, and one must be careful who they trust. By having umfundisi meet this person first, he is able to learn a lesson about the people that populate this large city, they can’t be trusted. This helps to portray theme in that it gives the reader something they can relate to, and helps introduce them to how new umfundisi is with this city.

Language-coral-tense (pg. 33)
       “The grass is rich and matted, you cannot see the soil.” In this spot, the author chooses to use present tense to describe setting, a tense rarely used in other novels. In doing this, he creates a friendly atmosphere that helps the reader relate to the story. One can more clearly visualize scenery in this tense than in say, past tense. Alan uses this in many descriptive cases, and makes it almost repetition or stability.

Setting-pink-figurative language (pg.33 & 45)
       “, and they are lovely beyond singing of it.” “, through hills lovely beyond any singing of it.” In these 2 places, Paton uses a figurative language tool, repetition, to describe the hills he sees. The author is able to make a calming, familiar type feeling by doing this. He is able to create the feeling that no matter where umfundisi may travel, the rolling hills will always be “lovely beyond singing of it.” Alan shows us that umfundisi can relate to his home no matter where he is.

Plot and plot structure-yellow-symbol (pg. 42)
       “And under her eyes the great lorry [truck] crushed the life out of her son.” In this quote, the author is introducing the uncertainty that umfundisi feels for this new city. The lorry is used as a symbol of his fear, or an amplifier of his fear. Umfundisi is not sure what is in store for him in this new, unpredictable city, and he has heard stories that make him fearful of the future. The lorry is a parallel for the fear he feels for finding his son and his aunt.