Saturday, April 13, 2013

What is the relationship between Arthur Jarvis and Absalom Kumalo in Cry, the Beloved Country?

Absalom, a black South African, is the son of Reverend Stephen Kumalo. When he moves to the city, he gets entangled in all the vices it has to offer. Refusing to see the value of helping others and maintaining an apolitical attitude, Absalom attacks a social activist and kills him. That man is Arthur Jarvis. Before he hangs for the crime, Absalom marries the mother of their unborn child. Arthur Jarvis is the man Absalom kills. A white man, he is dedicated to improving conditions for the black African people. After his death, his father becomes deeply involved in the same kinds of social projects. One of the novel’s greatest ironies is that after losing their sons, the two fathers become friends.

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