Examples Of Biblical Allusions In Cry The Beloved Country

Laura Olander

14 August 2014

AP Literature & Composition

Cry, the Beloved Country and HTRLLP

1. “…Or the Bible”

Two major biblical references in Cry, the Beloved Country are the use of the names Absalom and Peter. In the Bible, Absalom is the son of King David. He kills his brother, takes the throne from his father, and is ultimately destroyed by his egotistical and disloyal nature. This biblical Absalom shares many traits with the fictional Absalom from the novel. For instance, Absalom was supposed to attend St. Chad’s, but he went against his father and moved to Johannesburg in his own selfish pursuit. It is in the city that he kills Arthur Jarvis and is sentenced to death. Absalom paid the price for his wrongdoing, similar to the fate of

biblical Absalom. Both were disloyal to their fathers and died as a result. Another biblical allusion is employed when Absalom asks that if his child is a boy, he be named Peter. In the bible, Peter sins by denying Jesus three times; however, he eventually repents and is forgiven for his offense. This reference to Peter in the novel shows that Absalom is truly sorry for his actions and is asking for forgiveness.
2. “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow”
For many years, Kumalo watched Ndotsheni struggle as a village.

There was a seemingly endless drought, the land was destroyed by poor farming techniques, and many left the broken tribe for opportunity in Johannesburg. The absence of rain left the people in despair. Without rain, the streams ran dry, they could not raise cows, and crops failed. No rain translated into no hope. When Kumalo returned to Ndotsheni following his journey to Johannesburg, he prayed for rain. He knew that rain would restore their land. After Kumalo learns that his son would not receive mercy and Jarvis put the sticks in the ground for the dam, the drought finally breaks when a storm passes over Ndotsheni. These two important events, along with the rain, bring about great change for both Kumalo and his village. On one hand, Absalom is going to die, but on the other hand, the village will come back to life. This juxtaposition reveals Kumalo’s conflicting feelings of grief and joy during his return to his people. Overall, the rain, paired with Jarvis’ help, breathes life into the people of Ndotsheni, giving them new hope for a prosperous

future.
3. “Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too”
When comparing the characters of the novel to Jesus, two of them have striking similarities: Arthur Jarvis and James Jarvis.

This son and father duo embodies the ideas of sacrifice and salvation. Starting with Arthur, he is a political martyr. He works towards compassion between blacks and whites and dies a sacrificial death. Much like Jesus, he is last seen with thieves and is only portrayed to readers through his writings. Another major indication of Arthur’s Christ-like qualities is the portrait of the crucifixion in his home. It draws a comparison between Christ’s sacrificial death and his own. His death is what makes his father adopt more accepting ways. Prior to his son’s death, James was ignorant toward the race relations in South Africa. It was not until he read Arthur’s writings that his eyes were opened and he changed his ways. Much like a Christ-figure, James then becomes the savior of Ndotsheni. He saves the dying children by delivering them milk, constructs a dam to bring the people water, hires an agricultural expert to teach them new farming techniques, and promises to build Kumalo a new church. James sacrifices his money and time to help the people of Ndotsheni, acting as an extension of Arthur’s work towards peace between blacks and

whites.
4. “Is He Serious? And Other Ironies”
There are many examples of irony in Cry, the Beloved Country. For example, while Kumalo is a devoutly religious priest, his family is plagued by corruption: his son is a thief and murderer, his sister is a prostitute, and his brother is a crooked politician. This contrast between religion and godlessness highlights the need for reform in South Africa throughout the course of the novel. It shows how the strained relationship between blacks and whites affects society, especially in the city of Johannesburg. Another use of irony is evident in the death of Arthur Jarvis. The fact that Arthur, a white man, fights for the rights of blacks and is murdered by those he is trying to save is highly ironic. Again, this portrays the theme of race relations. Paton is making a clear point that something needs to be done to halt the cycle of violence and lack of compassion among the races. Rather than overtly stating this, by using irony, he forms a deeper meaning for the readers to connect with emotionally. Overall, irony forces the reader to uncover the central idea of a piece of literature, which in this case is the tension between blacks and whites. Overall, Paton successfully employs irony in Cry, the Beloved Country, developing a story with depth and lasting effect.