Analysis of Themes in Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country

The family in Cry, the Beloved Country involves themes emphasizing the home and family. From the James Earl Jones seeking for his son to the other priest searching and wanting a place of her own, this movie shows how one reacts to the attraction of home and family. The home symbolizes a place of refuge and belonging which are exhibited throughout the movie as James Earl Jones searches for his lost son. It gives the …

…son's legacy. Jarvis' aid to Kumalo's village restores the natives' hope in the whites that run their country. The division of Cry, the Beloved Country into different parts of the movie creates three stages representing grief, confrontation, and hope. Grief as the two find the news of their sons, confrontation of what they both hope to accomplish, and hope, in hopes of combating the injustices that they see around them in their country and village.