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1. This of course is an ever-popular book report book because it is so
essential. That is why I chose it. 2. Stephen Kumalo’s village of Ndotsheni, on
the east coast of Africa, is the setting of this novel. 3. Cry the beloved
country, by Alan Paton, is a book which tells the story of how James Jarvis, a
wealthy estate owner who, because of his own busy life, had to learn of the
social degradation in South Africa through the death of his only son. If Arthur
Jarvis had never been killed, James Jarvis would never have been educated by his
sons writings. One of the first things that James learns of his son, and his
views, he learns in Arthur’s' room. In reading his writings, James finds that
Arthur would have risked anything to help other people, and ended up doing just
that. James finds that his son was well researched on the problems of their
society, and was interested in helping the development of the social structure
in South Africa. From the pictures of Jesus and Lincoln on his wall, James
discovered the admiration Arthur had for these two men.
These were men of
action, who showed love for their friends, and at the same time, their enemies.
These two men suffered and died for their beliefs, as did Arthur in a way, this
is showing Arthur’s' father what a great man his son was by comparison, and
similarity to others. This revelation shows Arthur’s concern for humanity. After
the discovery of his sons views through all of his writings, James begins to
realize the problem, and starts to think of the problems of others before his
own. Following his sons Death and the acquaintance of Stephen, James donates
1000 pounds to the African boys club. Jarvis is not just giving gifts in memory
of his son, or just to give, but giving those who need help ways to help
themselves. When James gave the money to the club, he didn't just decide to give
it to them, but knew that if he gave it, the club would use it to improve the
country’s condition. In all of his donations, James uses this subtle method to
emancipate the blacks. Using his sons views again, James decides to do something
about Kumalos' village, which is falling apart. This task is a fairly large one.
He first provides milk for the village kids, who only have warm water to drink,
and then he builds a church. The rain in Ndotsheni is a bit of foreshadowing of
hope for The village, and maybe of what is to come. Through James' education, we
learn the similarities between Mr. Jarvis and Kumalo.
When we first meet Jarvis,
the setting is much the same as when we met Stephen. They both live in the
farming areas of South Africa, and they share the love for the land, and what is
in their lives. They each are married with one son who they know nothing about,
and both are forced to come to terms with the guilt of the whites by the same
occurrence. After they both lose their sons, they have a need to understand
them, although all that is left are the memories. They each learn of the
problems in South Africa Through their sons, and after the realization, they
both try to do Something to improve the social, and racial differences which
plague Johannesburg. 4. Stephen Kumalo is a native priest who attempts to
reconstruct the disintegrating tribe and his own family. He gains a great
awareness of many facets of life by going on a journey. He is a humble person.
James Jarvis is a wealthy landowner whose son is murdered. Msimangu is a parish
priest in the city who unselfishly helps Stephen, and who wrote Kumalo about
Gertrude’s plight. 5. I would have better explained the title. 6. When the son
dies, because it was so dramatic. 7. This book is about human nature. How racial
views can affect other people in different ways. 8. I would cast Sean Connery as
Kamulo, Matt Damon as Msimangu, and Scrooge as James Jarvis. 9. The Beloved
Country 10. 8
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