Oprah's Cry, the Beloved Country Discussion Questions for Part 1
Oprah Winfrey has selected Cry,
the Beloved Country as one
of her book club selections. She has come up with 16 different discussion
questions based on part one of the book. Here are five of them:
1. What in your view is the significance of the visit to Ezenzeleni, the mission to the blind, in Chapter 13?
Response: There is a metaphor in this chapter between the blind people at Ezenzeleni and Stephen Kumalo. Stephen was blind in a way. When Kumalo comes to Ezenzelini, he is blind. He cannot see past his sorrow. When Kumalo meditates outside in the sun, he only thinks about sad things and cannot move past them. If he did get over them, he could have been able to "see" and think about the happy and positive things in his life. However, Kumalo continued to think only about negative things and he was unable to "see". Eventually, Kumalo was able to "see" because he listened to Msimango read. When Msimango read, Kumalo moved past his sorrows and was able to "see". Kumalo was refreshed and was able to continue on his journey.
2. The great journey from the country, with its problems, to the great city, Johannesburg, with its problems. John Kumalo, Gertrude and Absalom have made the journey. We see Stephen Kumalo making it. In his own way Alan Paton made it when he moved from being a schoolteacher in Natal to becoming a principal of a reformatory for young African offenders in 1935. Comment on whatever aspects of the journey, the transition, seem to you most significant—geographical, social, political, economic, and psychological.
Response: The psychological aspect of the journey and transition seen to be the most significant to a person. This aspect seems to have the most affect on a person. In Cry, the Beloved Country, the reader sees how the psychological aspect takes a toll on characters such as Gertrude or Absalom. Gertrude was raised as great child in the country, but when she went to the big city, Johannesburg, to find her husband, turned into a prostitute and sold liquor for money as her job. Johanesburg turned a great woman who cared about her husband and child into psychologically a mess. Gertrude let her child play wherever he wanted to and she became a prostitute. Similarly, Absalom, a son of a priest, went to the big city of Johannesburg and became a criminal. Absalom was a great kid, but when he entered the city, he lost his mind and hung out with many bad people, became a killer and robber, and he is having a child with another girl even though they are not married. Overall, the psychological aspect of the journey has the worst affect on a person.
3. In Chapter 15 Stephen complains to Father Vincent about Absalom: "He is a stranger," he said. "I cannot touch him, I cannot reach him." Give your interpretation of Absalom's state of mind and feeling.
Response: Absalom does not know what to do in his position. He probably feels lost. Absalom is not the person his father remembers him being. Absalom changed into a criminal. He knows that he killed the man, but he cannot explain why he killed the white man. All Absalom can say is that he did it in fear of the white man hurting him. Absalom is confused about what he should do now since he was caught and is in jail. Absalom confessed to killing the man and may not think that there is not any chance he will leave prison. He wants to repent, but no one will forgive him. Absalom just wants to know what he should do.
4. What in your view are the chief similarities and differences between Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend.
Response: Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend are similar and different in many ways. Both led bad lives. They both entered these bad lives by leaving their homes and disappearing into Johannesburg. Additionally, They both chose to live with many different men even though they were not married to these men. They were both careless with who they stay with. Also, these two women were saved from their bad lives by Kumalo. Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend also behave in a similar way. For example, the author says that they laugh in a similar way. However, these two women are different in a few ways, too. For example, Gertrude is older and more mature than the girlfriend is. Additionally, Absalom's girlfriend in has more hope than Gertrude does. Finally, Gertrude left a great life to enter her poor life, whereas Absalom's girlfriend left a bad life to enter another bad lifestyle. Overall, Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend have many similarities and differences.
5. What in your view is the significance in the novel of (a) Father Vincent and (b) Mrs. Lithebe?
Response: Father Vincent and Mrs. Lithebe have very important roles in the book. These two people are both involved in the sadness and corruption of Johannesburg, but they show light in the world. In the bad world where Kumalo has already been swindled, Kumalo found these two people that he could trust. They both care about the others that are around them. Through the sadness that Kumalo has been in, he found these people that made him happy. Father Vincent and Mrs. Lithebe overall are both light in the dark world for all of the other characters around them.
Link: Here is a link to a timeline about South African history during the time this book takes place. http://www.dipity.com/lilrabil/South-African-History-Timeline/
1. What in your view is the significance of the visit to Ezenzeleni, the mission to the blind, in Chapter 13?
Response: There is a metaphor in this chapter between the blind people at Ezenzeleni and Stephen Kumalo. Stephen was blind in a way. When Kumalo comes to Ezenzelini, he is blind. He cannot see past his sorrow. When Kumalo meditates outside in the sun, he only thinks about sad things and cannot move past them. If he did get over them, he could have been able to "see" and think about the happy and positive things in his life. However, Kumalo continued to think only about negative things and he was unable to "see". Eventually, Kumalo was able to "see" because he listened to Msimango read. When Msimango read, Kumalo moved past his sorrows and was able to "see". Kumalo was refreshed and was able to continue on his journey.
2. The great journey from the country, with its problems, to the great city, Johannesburg, with its problems. John Kumalo, Gertrude and Absalom have made the journey. We see Stephen Kumalo making it. In his own way Alan Paton made it when he moved from being a schoolteacher in Natal to becoming a principal of a reformatory for young African offenders in 1935. Comment on whatever aspects of the journey, the transition, seem to you most significant—geographical, social, political, economic, and psychological.
Response: The psychological aspect of the journey and transition seen to be the most significant to a person. This aspect seems to have the most affect on a person. In Cry, the Beloved Country, the reader sees how the psychological aspect takes a toll on characters such as Gertrude or Absalom. Gertrude was raised as great child in the country, but when she went to the big city, Johannesburg, to find her husband, turned into a prostitute and sold liquor for money as her job. Johanesburg turned a great woman who cared about her husband and child into psychologically a mess. Gertrude let her child play wherever he wanted to and she became a prostitute. Similarly, Absalom, a son of a priest, went to the big city of Johannesburg and became a criminal. Absalom was a great kid, but when he entered the city, he lost his mind and hung out with many bad people, became a killer and robber, and he is having a child with another girl even though they are not married. Overall, the psychological aspect of the journey has the worst affect on a person.
3. In Chapter 15 Stephen complains to Father Vincent about Absalom: "He is a stranger," he said. "I cannot touch him, I cannot reach him." Give your interpretation of Absalom's state of mind and feeling.
Response: Absalom does not know what to do in his position. He probably feels lost. Absalom is not the person his father remembers him being. Absalom changed into a criminal. He knows that he killed the man, but he cannot explain why he killed the white man. All Absalom can say is that he did it in fear of the white man hurting him. Absalom is confused about what he should do now since he was caught and is in jail. Absalom confessed to killing the man and may not think that there is not any chance he will leave prison. He wants to repent, but no one will forgive him. Absalom just wants to know what he should do.
4. What in your view are the chief similarities and differences between Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend.
Response: Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend are similar and different in many ways. Both led bad lives. They both entered these bad lives by leaving their homes and disappearing into Johannesburg. Additionally, They both chose to live with many different men even though they were not married to these men. They were both careless with who they stay with. Also, these two women were saved from their bad lives by Kumalo. Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend also behave in a similar way. For example, the author says that they laugh in a similar way. However, these two women are different in a few ways, too. For example, Gertrude is older and more mature than the girlfriend is. Additionally, Absalom's girlfriend in has more hope than Gertrude does. Finally, Gertrude left a great life to enter her poor life, whereas Absalom's girlfriend left a bad life to enter another bad lifestyle. Overall, Gertrude and Absalom's girlfriend have many similarities and differences.
5. What in your view is the significance in the novel of (a) Father Vincent and (b) Mrs. Lithebe?
Response: Father Vincent and Mrs. Lithebe have very important roles in the book. These two people are both involved in the sadness and corruption of Johannesburg, but they show light in the world. In the bad world where Kumalo has already been swindled, Kumalo found these two people that he could trust. They both care about the others that are around them. Through the sadness that Kumalo has been in, he found these people that made him happy. Father Vincent and Mrs. Lithebe overall are both light in the dark world for all of the other characters around them.
Link: Here is a link to a timeline about South African history during the time this book takes place. http://www.dipity.com/lilrabil/South-African-History-Timeline/