Analysis of a phrase in Cry, the beloved Country, kindness and love can pay for pain and suffering.

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Cry, The Beloved Country

By Alan Paton

Pg. 261 – line 4

June 12, 2009

ENG1DW

Mrs. Crockett

“…kindness and love can pay for pain and suffering.”

        Stephen Kumalo mentions the words “pain and suffering”, which develop his character. Earlier in the novel, Kumalo suffers the pain of his sister’s condition in which she is a prostitute and an alcohol maker. Although experiencing this grief was not easy for Kumalo, he learned to stay calm and handle the situation as serenely as possible.  After experiencing an emotional attack, Kumalo finds out his son commits a murder while stealing some money and therefore he is sentenced to death. Since Kumalo suffers the pain, he reflects on his son’s actions and realises money has turned humans into animals, for they kill others to feed themselves. From the pain because of his sister till his son’s death, Kumalo becomes more mature and thinks critically about everything. He recognizes cities like Johannesburg can lead anyone to dreadful paths as they did to his sister and his son. Kumalo experiences heaps of “pain and suffering” which develop his character.

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        Despite all the pain that occurs in the novel, “kindness and love” develop the plot. As Kumalo enters Johannesburg, Msimangu benignly guides him throughout the novel in search of his sister and his son. Msimangu’s kindness helps progress the plot because if it were not for him, Kumalo might have never found his sister and his son. As the plot progresses, Lithebe’s kindness for Kumalo and his family is incredible as she gives them a place to live. Lithebe loves Kumalo’s ambitions and therefore helps him. Because of this, search of Gertrude begins and the plot advances. Then, we see ...

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