Cry, The Beloved Country Chapter 1-17

Cry, the Beloved Country Chapter 1-17

Chapter 1 Characters: none Summary: The ugliness of the land is a result of the segregation by the white rulers, they lived on the top of the hills where the land is green and fruitful. Black South Africans, however, are forced to tend their settlement at the bottom of the hills in the unforgiving land of the valley. Puny: small and weak. Chapter 2 Characters: Stephen Kumalo, John, Gertrude, Absalom, Theophilus Msimangu Summary: Kumalo’s life is orderly. His village holds him in high esteem, and a child who brings him this note is awed by the comfort of his home. Now Kumalo and his wife find themselves argueing and are forced to squander their savings. Kumalo is a master of his domain, but every time he thinks of the city and its dangers, he becomes small and weak. Laboriously: requiring considerable effort and time. Chapter 3 Characters: Kumalo, Sibeko, Summary: Kumalo has an inconsistent temperament which we see when he makes sure the girl who delivers him the message gets something to eat but then erupts furiously at his wife only a few moments later. Shrouded: a length of cloth or an enveloping garment in which a dead person is wrapped for burial. Chapter 4 Characters: Kumalo, Reverend Msimangu, Mr Mafolo, Summary: Kumalo is afraid of his surroundings, Kumalo does not know what he is talking about. Even familiar sights and sounds appear to be corrupted. Behind Gertrude’s door, Kumalo hears the sound of laughter, but even this sound is so twisted that it is more terrifying than reassuring. Decipher: convert into normal lauguage.

Chapter 5 Characters: Msimangu, Kumalo, Mrs Lithebe, Gertrude, Absalom, John, Vincent Summary: Kumalo is quick to adapt at Msimangu’s Mission House Kumalo does require Msimangu’s help just to find Gertrude’s place, Kumalo learns rapidly and shows remarkable resourcefulness despite his foreign surroundings. Lodgings: a place in which someone lives or stays temporarily. Chapter 6 Characters: Msimangu, Kumalo, Gertrude, Absalom, Mrs Lithebe, Mafolo Summary: Msimangu appreciates that a white man “brought his father out of darkness” by converting him to Christianity, Kumalo is helped and treated with respect by the men he speaks to on the train and by Mr Mafolo. The priests at the mission sit together redgardless of the color, demonstrating that racial is possible, and they greet Kumalo’s story with friendship and interest. Decimation: kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or pat of. Chapter 7 Characters: Kumalo, Gertrude, Mrs Lithebe, Msimangu John, Esther, Absalom, Mrs Ndlela Summary:John says that the church preaches submission and meekness, and the old village way of life is dying, and that a new way of life is being born in Johannesburg. Msimangu’s states his father being carried out of the “darkness” into Christianity reflects that he has submitted himself to a new order, it is clear that Johannesburg, with its prostitution and liquor-selling, represents a corruption of old village values. Decries: publicly denounce. Chapter 8 Characters: Msimangu, Kumalo, Dubula, Absalom, Mrs Mkize, Hlabeni, Summary: John is unreliable in the old village, he has broken his family ties by parting with his wife, due to his infidelity, Then Msimangu hints that John does not have the courage to match his convictions, John fears taking real risks to improve the lot of black Africans. Msimangu stands for the incorruptible power of love, and states there is only one hope for the country when white men and black men desire only the good of their country. Kaffir: either of two South African plants with straplike leaves and stems bearing a number of red, pink, or orange flowers; a plant with star shaped flowers. Chapter 9

Characters: Dubula, Summary: Racial harmony and human decency are possible, even if the government seems to unwilling to operate in accordance. John operates from corrupt motivations, his friend and colleague Dubula, seems to work tirelessly and selflessly for his people, leads the bus boycott to protest economic prejudice against blacks. Squatters: a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land. Chapter 10 Characters: Kumalo, Gertrude, Mrs. Lithebe, Msimangu, Absalom, Mrs Hlatshwayo, Mrs Mkize, Summary: Absalom has been in trouble with the law, has impregnated a young girl, and has now disappeared, Absalom is involved with the murder Arthur Jarvis’s murder its terrible social disorders that shocks the country Jarvis had wished to help Black Africans regain their rights. Cunningly: having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion. Chapter 11 Character: Msimangu, Kumalo, Vincent, Arthur Jarvis, Summary: The tragic irony, then is the fact that he is murdered by people for whose rights he is fighting. Exhaustive: examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects, fully comprehensive. Chapter12 Characters: Mrs Ndlela, Msimangu, Kkumalo, Absalom, Mkize Summary: The man who worries that more schooling will make blacks smarter criminals, on the other hand represents the belief that the black population is inherently immoral Abed: in bed. Chapter13 Characters: Kumalo, Msimangu, Summary: The Kumalo family becomes a model for coping with great suffering, and Kumalo’s experiences show how grief can prompt a range of emotional responses. Absalom is unable to function in prison, he mostly nods, cries, and says he doesn’t know. Kumalo and his son epitomize grief as a kind of paralysis, during which even the everyday functions of the body, like talking or moving, are impossible. Smitten: strike with a firm blow. Chapter 14

Character: Gertrude, Kumalo, Msimangu, Mrs Lithebe, Absalom, Arthur Jarvis, John, John, Vincent. Summary: Both Msimangu and Father Vincent comfort Kumalo with words from the Bible. Father Vincent reminds him that the ways of God are secret and suggests to him that he must find meaning by showing his compassion for others, rather than by trying to understand why Absalom has gone astray. The ability to accept the idea that there is a divine plan for the universe leads to a sense of order that provides refuge when everyday life seems disorderly or cruel. Comforting other provides a similar refuge. Kumalo had always gotten strength from helping others, as evidenced by his rejuvenation when he finds and rescues Gertrude. Remnants: a small remaining quantity of something. Chapter 15 Characters: Kumalo, Father Vincent, John. Summary: Father Vincent also has his moment of paralysis while the two men sit together in silence, but he recovers his sense of well-being by reminding Kumalo of God’s Mercy and helping him keep his faith and find peace. Kumalo is frequently left alone and is unable to remain hopeful. Bereaved: be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence. Chapter 16 Characters: Kumalo, Absalom, Summary: Absaloms girlfriend accepts Kumalo’s offer because she attributes much of her misfortune to the circumstances of her past and not to her own actions. Gertrude sees no hope for her situationm while Absalom’s girlfriend has complete faith. Lamenting: a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. Chapter 17 Characters: Gertrude, Mrs. Lithebe, Absaloms girlfriend, Kumalo, Mr. Carmichael, Father Vincent, Summary: Mr. Carmichael is a man of dignity and respect, and even though he is white, he is a great friend and leader of black South Africans. He is a man of integrity who exist above the dominant prejudice of his era. Dejection: a sad and depressed state.

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