An Analysis of Cry, the Beloved Country
In Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country two characters, Absalom's girl and Gertrude, show the how society in Johannesburg is as a whole. Absalom's girl symbolizes how girls her age are mothers and have even become divorced several times before. On the other hand Gertrude, Kumalo's sister, illustrates the qualities of a young woman who becomes corrupt from Johannesburg's filthy system of stealing, lying, and prostitution. Both of them show the ways of Johannesburg as a whole.
When Gertrude is first found, by Kumalo, she is seen as a ragged and dirty person making her living as a prostitute. When Kumalo sees this he thinks of how she could have a much better living if she came back with him. This is, in essence, the same thing that Kumalo and the blacks are trying to do to Johannesburg. These people are trying to fix the corruption that has taken place in the city.
Gertrude, like many others who have come to Johannseburg, or who were even born there, were brought to a world where corruption is the key to living. This is the only way to make a decent life and so they stoop to the lowest levels possible, cheating and prostitution. And just like the rest Gertrude can't be saved from what has become. Even though Kumalo tries to save her and the city of Johannesburg from what it has become it is known that once they have become what they have it's impossible to change them back.
Absalom's girl, on the other hand, symbolizes how the society gets into many difficulties at a very young age. This girl has already had several husbands and has a child. Like the rest of the population of Johannesburg she has been confronted by something she is not ready to face. Because of the way of life in this city her choices, along with many others, is half chance. Even though it seems to be the right thing it isn't the same outside of the city.
Symbolism is also shown through Absalom's girl to Absalom. Many people, in Johannesburg, have spouses who make a living by doing many bad things including stealing. Also, a great number have lost someone because of what they do, either by death or by getting arrested and prosecuted. Either way the people are taking a risk and it is shown by what happens to Absalom.
Cry, the Beloved Country is a moving story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom. They live in an Africa torn apart by racial tensions and hate. It is based on a work of love and hope, courage, and endurance, and deals with the dignity of man. The author lived and died (1992) in South Africa and was one of the greatest writers of that country. His other works include Too Late the Phalarope, Ah, but Your Land Is Beautiful, and Tales from a Troubled Land.
Alexander was born in Pella, the capital of Macedon, on July 20, 356 B.C. He was the son of King Philip II and his fourth wife Olympias, an Epirote princess. Alexander was bred to be a warrior; his father was a great commander and king, and his mom’s second cousin, Pyrrhus of Epirus, was a celebrated general. So there were noteworthy examples of military genius on both sides of his family. As a child, Alexander’s mother would tell him stories of how he was a descendant to Achilles and Hercules. Achilles was his favorite hero growing up, as he read of his adventures in Homer’s Iliad. From an early age Alexander was practically raised by everyone but his parents. He was originally educated by a strict teacher named Leonidas. Alexander’s father wanted Alexander to become a great man, so he acquired the famous philosopher Aristotle to become his tutor. Aristotle trained him in rhetoric and literature, and stimulated his interest in medicine, science, and philosophy. Aristotle is credited for Alexander’s fasci...
Analysis: Gertrude is playing the common role of a caring mother. She wants her boy to win and do well so she comes out
Hamilton does a very good and descriptive job of how Alexander soon showed his power when the large city of Thebes revolted in 335. Alexander stormed the city with mighty force and took 30,000 people as slaves. An important point the book discussesnext is when Alexander begins...
The characterization of Gertrude makes it hard to sympathize with her. From the beginning, Gertrude is portrayed as a feeble minded character that has no say with the cards that are given to her. She acts as though she does not have a thought in her head and her submissiveness is what makes her a very unlikable character. (Scene from bedroom with hamlet) There are only two female characters in Shakespeare’s play, and neither Gertrude nor Ophelia are assertive in their roles. The source of Gertrude’s submissiveness is her inability to stand up to men and her dependency on them at the same time. While this may be a hard strike against her I feel that it is the right one. Gertrude does not have the will to stand up to Claudius and defend Hamlet, she simply sits by and watches her new husband call her son mad, while she might also believe this to be true she does nothing to help Ha...
Plutarch’s Life of Alexander speaks of Alexander’s father telling him “my son, seek thee out a kingdom equal to thyself; Macedonia has not room for thee” (Plutarch, 6.1). Aristotle tutored Alexander where he encouraged his ambition, and taught him that bravery in a man was an admirable quality. Alexander’s birth was associated with great signs; Plutarch writes “Alexander was born the sixth of Hecatombeon … the same day that the temple of Diana was burnt while its mistress was absent, assisting at the birth of Alexander” (Plutarch, Lives).
Olympia’s told Alexander that Philip wasn't his real father although he was. He made sure the boy was well educated, even the great philosopher Aristotle was one of Alexander's tutors. Even thought he though him well Philip wasn’t a very good father. He always discouraged Alexander and made him feel worthless. When Alexander the great was 3 his father’s son King Perdiccas died. His young son Amyntas was supposed to take his place as ruler. Philip was supposed to help him but he made his way above him making himself King Philip II. He proved to be a strong ruler, and in a few decades he conquered most of Greece. As a teenager Alexander became friends wit a boy around his age named Hephaestion. It was rumored that they were lovers. At this time Homosexuality was accepted in Greece. Even Alexander's father had many male lovers. Till this day no one really knows the relationship between the two but it is said that throughout their lives they stood by each other. When Alexander turned his father went away to war, leaving Alexander to serve as leader of Macedon. During t...
commit murder for her sake”. This shows Gertrude as a vixen and suggests that she is
Gertrude was Hamlet’s mother. She was a selfish and evil woman. She cheated on Hamlet’s father with Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. She married Claudius a month after her husband’s death. Gertrude wanted Hamlet to stop his grieving. She told Hamlet, “thou know’st ‘tis common, all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity” (I.2.72-73). When Hamlet was depressed and grieving, it reminded Gertrude of the terrible sin she had committed. She wanted Hamlet to be happy just so she could feel better about herself. Throughout the play Gertrude’s motives do not waiver; she looks out for her own well being.
Hamlet goes to his mother’s closet room when she requests to see him. This is the one scene where we get to see Gertrude’s character, yet uninfluenced by Claudius’s presence. Hamlet at this point in the play is very strongly influenced by his Superego, while Gertrude is still in a flux that her ego has not sorted out yet. She is seemingly blind to the negatives of her actions influenced by her id.
Cry, the Beloved Country is such a controversial novel that people tend to forget the true meaning and message being presented. Paton’s aim in writing the novel was to present and create awareness of the ongoing conflict within South Africa through his unbiased and objective view. The importance of the story lies within the title, which sheds light on South Africa’s slowly crumbling society and land, for it is the citizens and the land itself which are “crying” for their beloved country as it collapses under the pressures of racism, broken tribes and native exploitation.
Alexander III the Great, the king of Macedonia and the conqueror of the Persian Empire is one of the most known personalities from the ancient civilization. According to the primary source “The Parallel Lives” the Greek writer Plutarch 46-119 A.D., "Alexander was born early in the month Hecatombaeon, the Macedonian name for which is Loüs, on the sixth day of the month, and on this day the temple of Ephesian Artemis was burnt"(Plutarch, “The Parallel Lives” ~ 100 A.D). He was the son of the Macedonian king Fillip the second and his wife Olympia the princess of Epirus. He spent his childhood watching his father turning Macedonia into a great military nation. He attended most of the political meetings with his father, “he entertained the ambassadors from the king of Persia, in the absence of his father, and entering much into conversation with them, gained so much upon them by his affability, and the questions he asked them, which were far from being childish or trifling...“ (Plutarch, “The Parallel Lives” ~ 100 A.D). When Alexander was 13 years his father hired the great Greece philosopher Aristotle to be his tutor. Alexander said to him, “At my parents I own my life; at my teacher i own my wellfare" (Plutarch, “The Parallel Lives” ~ 100 A.D). Aristotle taught him rhetoric, literature, science and medicine which was very important to his future life.
Hope is the strong feeling of desire for something good to happen. Hope is a driving force in the progression of life. The idea of hope is powerful because it can lead to patience, courage, and happiness. Hope is an important concept in Cry, the Beloved Country. Hope is what the main character Stephen Kumalo must use to keep fighting for his beliefs, for his son, and for his tribe. The power of hope is one of the only things that people had to overcome apartheid in South Africa. If hope were not present, Stephen Kumalo may have gave up on restoring himself, his son, and his tribe. Hope is the concept that helps Stephen Kumalo and other characters develop during the span of the novel. Hope is found in the characters, the tribe, and the land.
During the course of history, there have been many tales of conquest. Men such as Napoleon often stick out in the minds of many, and who could forget Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants? But where did such men draw their inspiration? It can be said that there has been no other conqueror such as Alexander the Great, a military genius that holds the respect of many despite his short life. He dedicated his life to conquering the world, leaving in his wake a legacy that many have come to know.
Firstly, Gertrude is introduced as a queen that clearly lacks independency. In the beginning of the play, she is as a character that always in need of a male existence next to her. Just “within a month” (I.II.149) after the late King Hamlet deceased, she already hurried herself to get another husband. This attitude of hers sickens Hamlet terribly; he cannot come to comprehend how his mother could behave less than a beast, for a beast “would have mourned longer” (I.II.150). Shakespeare sets the play with this idea that women are corrupted with sexual drive—and always in lust for it. Because Gertrude obediently follows her lustful inner soul, she goes on ahead with the marriage with Claudius—which Hamlet refers to as “incestuous” and “rotten”. The moment the marriage is royally held, Gertrude loses her credibility as a mother in Hamlet’s eyes. Adding to this, Shakespeare uses the character Gertrude to show indecisiveness and hollowness of women. The character ...