Cry, The Beloved Country

Suffering Brings Understanding and Compassion In, Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton sought to show the disorder and the deep racial segregation of South African nations after World War II. To do this he centers his story around the happenings in a large industrial city. As a result of the break-up of South American tribes by greedy white men and the desolate land left for the natives, one man’s son is shot by another. …

…these men gain through their sufferings give them a feeling of compassion for others. Through these men and their experiences, Paton is able to show that personal struggles can create understanding and compassion. The private experiences of Kumalo leads him to understand life and the troubles associated with it. Throughout Jarvis experiences, he learns to understand the experiences of others including Kumalo and other native Africans. This leads them both to show compassion towards others.