Understanding Cry, the Beloved Country: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents

by Ngwarsungu Chiwengo

Overview

Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country is one of the most influential works of South African literature. Appearing at a time when the South African political system was being increasingly questioned, the novel drew worldwide attention to the horrors of apartheid, a political institution promoting segregation and discrimination. This book overviews Paton's novel and its social and political contexts. It discusses South African history and provides a sample of documents related to the origin of apartheid and the challenges facing South Africans under the segregationist regime. In doing so, it helps students understand the political climate of South Africa under apartheid, as well as the challenges of racism that continue to plague contemporary society.

Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country (1948) is one of the most influential works of South African literature. Appearing at a time when the South African political system was being increasingly questioned, the novel drew worldwide attention to the horrors of apartheid, a political institution promoting segregation and discrimination. However, because historical and social issues figure prominently in the novel, it is sometimes difficult for modern students to understand. But because of the enduring plague of racism, it is all the more important for students to come to terms with the issues Paton raises. This book overviews Paton's novel and relates it to its social and political contexts.

The book begins with an analysis of the novel and gives attention to adaptations and films based on it. It then overviews South African history. This is followed by a selection of primary documents related to the origin of apartheid, the history and work conditions of miners, the social and economic conditions in urban and rural areas, the challenges facing South African women, and the state of post-apartheid South Africa. While the book does much to illuminate Paton's novel, it additionally helps students use the novel to explore important social concerns still present in society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313335082
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/30/2007
Series:	The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo is Associate Professor of English at Creighton University. her work has appeared in such jourbanals as South Atlantic Quarterly, Jourbanal of Black Studies, and African Literature Association Bulletin.

Table of Contents

Introduction     ix
Chronology of South African History     xiii
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms     xxi
Cry, the Beloved Country: A Literary Analysis     1
Cry, the Beloved Country: Historical Context     27
From
The Natal Diaries of Dr. W.H.I. Bleek 1855-1856 (1965)     55
Travel/Cape to Zululand; Observations by a Collector and a Naturalist, 1830-40 (1973)     59
ANC Youth League Manifesto (1944)     61
Nkosi Sikelel' IAfrika (1897 and 1927)     68
The Freedom Charter (1935)     70
The Land and People of South Africa     79
From
"Nationalism." The African Image (1962)     84
Return to Goli (1953)     87
"How to Be a South African" (2006)     88
Examination by Mr. Kathrada (1960)     90
The Roots of Apartheid     99
From
"Apartheid" (1996)     105
"Apartheid" The Words of Desmond Tutu (1989)     107
"The Birth of the Bond" (1882)     108
"Home" The Path of Thunder (1948)     112
"The Natives' Land Act" (1913)     113
History and Work Conditions in the Mines and Workers' Revolts     121
From
"The African Miners' Strike of 1946"     127
"Wages" The History of Black Mineworkers in South Africa (1992)     133
Time of the Butcherbird (1987)     134
Social and Economic Conditions in the City     139
From
Blame Me on History (1963)     141
"The First Group Areas Proclamations in Contentious Areas." The Group Areas Act. Its Effect on Human Beings (1956)     143
"Modern Industry and Tribal Life." South Africa Today (1951)     149
Kaffir Boy (1986)     151
"Kwashiorkor" The Will to Die (1983)     153
The Words of Desmond Tutu (1989)     156
Social and Economic Conditions in Rural Communities     159
From
The Words of Desmond Tutu (1989)     162
"One Night with the Fugitives" (1982)     162
"People Leave the Land" (1992)     168
Long Walk to Freedom (1994)     170
The Condition of South African Women     175
From
Black Women in South Africa (1980)     180
"The Changing Status of African Women" (1974)     183
We Are Done with Pleading (1991)     184
"Women and the African National Congress: 1912-1943" (1912)     185
"Women in Towns." For Their Triumphs and for Their Tears (1985)     188
Contemporary Applications: Life after Apartheid      191
From
"Life in This Strange Place" My Traitor's Heart (1990)     194
"God Believes in Us," God Has a Dream (2004)     196
"Cry for the Beloved Country: The Post-Apartheid Denouement" (2001)     197
"Post-Apartheid South Africa: A Reply to John Saul-Exchange" (2002)     199
"Why I'm Fleeing South Africa" (1998)     203
"Cry, the Beloved Country," Miramax World Premiere Speech (1995)     206
Index     209

Editorial Reviews

Chiwengo analyzes the literary and historical background of the novel Cry, the beloved country written by Alan Paton in 1948 about racial tensions in South Africa, and collect excerpts from primary sources for deeper study. The 38 excerpts document the roots of apartheid, work conditions in the mines, social and economic conditions, and the status of South African women.” —Reference & Research Book News

From the Publisher