happens every year and causes many children die. At the end of the story, Kumalo prays for the restoration of Ndotsheni and the rain comes. It makes Kumalo relief and
the pain lift up, the children also receives milk from the Jarvis family p. 195-210.
C. Paton’s Social Criticism of South African Society as reflected in Kumalo’s Conflicts
. In this section, the conflicts and the causes of the conflicts faced by the main
character are very important subject to describe what the author wants to show through his novel Cry, the Beloved Country. The causes of the conflicts will give a
brief definition what Paton wants to show toward his novel Cry, the Beloved Country. Stephen Kumalo’s conflicts were the way of Paton describing the social
condition of South Africa in the early 20
th
century. Paton criticizes many things about social condition happen in society at that time, such as moral, law, politics and
economy which will answer problem formulation number three. First social criticism is what Kumalo’s experience dealing with his sister
Gertrude. Gertrude reported ill which makes Kumalo conflicts when he knew that Gertrude has become a prostitute. Through this conflicts Paton criticizing the moral
condition in South African society. Gertrude came to Johannesburg from Ndotsheni to look for her husband but after some years in Johannesburg she turns to be a
prostitute because of the condition in Johannesburg is different from Ndotsheni. The way of living in Johannesburg is different from the tribal culture in
Ndotsheni which can cause someone to put down moral that someone used to had PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
before. Gertrude struggles for her life in Johannesburg because she and her son had to survive in that city, so she becomes a prostitute and a liquor seller to earn some
money. “And that is her work, she makes and sells it. I shall hide nothing from you,
though it is painful for me. These women sleep with any man for their price. p. 23”
Second social criticism is about the law in South African society. The conflicts that Kumalo has with his own son, Absalom, expresses that law in South
African society still bases on white man’s law. It means that although the people in South Africa mostly are black, they did not have voice to decided their own law. It
can be seen from Absalom’s case, how the judge decided the law and the people reaction with the law p. 174.
Absalom was found guilty because the murder of Arthur Jarvis before he can argue his rights, he decided to be hangs because of the murder he had done.
“This court finds you guilty, Absalom Kumalo of the murder of Arthur Trevelyn Jarvis at his residence in Parkwold, on the afternoon of the eight day
of October, 1946. p. 173”
And Absalom decided by the judges to be returned to custody and hanged by the neck without he can defend his own rights in the court.
“I sentence you, Absalom Kumalo, to be returned to custody, and to be hanged by the neck until you are dead. And may the lord have mercy upon
your soul. p. 174”
The law in South Africa most of all made by white man which in some circumstances still sided on white man’s rights rather than black, racial discrimination
between black and white still occurred in South Africa. Although white people less than black people, they have authority to make law.
“The law in Johannesburg is still influenced by a great South African Judge. p. 172”
“The judge does not make law. It is people that make the law. Therefore if a law is unjust, and if the judge judges according to the law, that is justice, even
if it is not just”. p. 163 ”
It is the duty of a judge to do justice, but it is only the people that can be just. Therefore if justice can not be just, that is not to be laid at the door of the judge, but at
the door of the people, which means at the door of the people will be more equal but the fact shows the other side.
Third social criticism is on politics. Paton describing his criticism through Kumalo’s conflicts with his brother John. John was a carpenter in Ndotsheni but
when he came to Johannesburg he became a politician p. 24. John’s positions as politicians makes him proud and feels that he did not need
God anymore, it can be seen from his statement below. It criticizes the value that John usually obeys but he did not obey it anymore.
“John has become a great politician for South Africa but he has no use for church anymore because he says that what God has not done for South Africa,
man must do. p. 25”
It seems that he does not believe in God anymore because he does not believe the values that teach by the church.
“He paused for a moment, then he said, I do not wish to offend you gentleman, but the church too is like the chief. You must do so and so and so.
