3.3.1 Examples of motifs in the novel
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika; “Cry, the beloved country”; descriptions of the landscape; “sickness of the land”; “according to the custom”; “such a thing is not lightly done”.
To do: Study the following description of how the motif Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika supports the themes of caring, suffering, fear and restoration in the novel. Then turn to Annexure B to study the descriptions of the remaining five motifs quoted above. After you have studied these descriptions, think about your first reading of the novel. Can you remember a phrase, a description or an image that caught your eye because it continued to crop up? Find the motif in the novel and describe how this motif supports the theme(s) in the specific context where it appears. Write your example in the space provided.
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
| Motif | Text reference | Theme(s) supported |
| “Outside there is singing, singing round a fire. It is Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika that they sing, God Save Africa. God save this piece of Africa that is my own, …” | 1 & 9: 50(Book One, Chapter Nine, p. 50 in your school edition) | CaringSufferingFear |
| Description: Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika. This sentence is the first sentence in a hymn. It means “God bless Africa”. It has become the first sentence of the South African national anthem. Paton explains that although the sentence means “God bless Africa”, in the novel it means “God save Africa”. This motif develops the idea of God’s saving grace and love to support the theme of caring. It contrasts with the themes of fear and suffering. The mother fears that her daughter, who is suffering from tuberculosis, will die in Shanty Town. She prays to God to save her child. | ||
| Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika, “Yes, God save Africa, the beloved country. God save us from the depth of our sins. God save us from the fear that is afraid of justice. God save us from the fear that is afraid of men. God save us all.” | 3 & 1: 193 | CaringFearRestoration |
| Description: The meaning of “God save Africa” is explained in this paragraph. The phrase repeats four times. It is a reflective paragraph. The repetition of the word “us” includes the reader. The plea for God’s saving grace becomes universal. The first sentence is a prayer for God’s caring love to save Africa; it develops the theme of caring. The second sentence is a plea for God’s mercy and compassion to forgive the sins committed by mankind. It develops the idea of God’s infinite compassion. The third and fourth sentences ask God’s protection from fear to do what is right and from fear of the power of men. This motif links the theme of caring with the theme of fear to illustrate the need for God’s powerful love in order to overrule the power of fear. The last sentence appeals to the restorative power of God’s love. It develops the theme of restoration. | ||
| “Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika, God save Africa. But he would not see that salvation. It lay afar off, because men were afraid of it.” | 3, 7: 236 | FearRestoration |
| Description: Reverend Kumalo prays for God’s love to save Africa. The restoration of racial relations is a process that will take a long time. It is still far off and he will not live to see it happening.He prays for the power of love to conquer the fear caused by racial tensions so that everybody can work together to build free and meaningful lives in South Africa. This motif combines the themes of fear and restoration in a powerful message of faith in God’s love to restore moral decency, self-worth and social equity. | ||
Your example:
| Motif | Text reference | Theme(s) supported |
| Description: |
3.3.2 Symbols
Definition: Symbols are objects, colours, images, concepts and figures that represent the meaning of other abstract ideas or concepts in the novel. They function as motifs because they repeat and gain meaning as the novel unfolds. They are used to develop and enrich the themes in the novel.
Examples of symbols:
The colour red; the church; the concept of brightness; dawn.
To do:
Study the following description of how the colour red supports the themes of erosion and suffering, as well as caring and restoration. Think about a symbol that you have noticed during your first reading. Add the symbol and a brief description of how this symbol supports the theme(s) in the novel in the space provided.
The colour red
| Symbol | Text reference | Theme(s) supported |
| “The great red hills stand desolate, and the earth has torn away like flesh. The lightning flashes over them, the clouds pour down upon them, the dead streams come to life, full of the red blood of the earth.” | 1, 1: 23, 3: 2103, 5: 221 | ErosionSuffering |
| Description: Red is mostly used to describe the destructive effect of erosion on the hills and the farmlands in the Reserves. Red is the colour of blood. The image of red, bleeding hills symbolise the suffering of the land and its people. | ||
| “Although his money was little, he bought her a red dress and a white thing that they called a turban for her head.”“The little boy was there, the red dress and the white turban were there. But Gertrude was gone.” | 1, 7: 282, 12: 186 | CaringRestorationMoral decay |
| Description: Reverend Kumalo buys his sister a new dress. In this context Gertrude’s red dress symbolises the colour of life and hope, which is brought about by her brother’s act of kindness. He gives Gertrude a chance to start a new life in Ndotsheni. Here, the symbol develops the themes of caring and restoration.Gertrude has disappeared. She has chosen to return to her old life that leads to sickness and death. The colour red is used to symbolise the sickness of moral decay. It develops the theme of moral decay. | ||
| “He sat down, and took out a large underline handkerchief to wipe his face.” | 1, 7: 31 | Moral decay |
| Description: After John Kumalo has made a speech about the liberating experience of his new life in Johannesburg, he wipes his face with a red handkerchief. In this context, the colour red symbolises the corruption of his moral values. He uses the power of his voice to justify why he has left his church and his wife. Although he is a successful businessman and politician, he is sick because he is corrupted. The theme of moral decay is supported. | ||
| “Does she not look well in her red and white, and her cap upon her head?” | 1, 10: 54 | CaringRestoration |
| Description: The life-giving aspect of red blood is symbolised in the description of the nurse who works in Shanty Town. | ||
| “He too used to ride past Ndotsheni. On a red horse with a white face.”“And for a moment he caught his breath in astonishment, for it was a small white boy on a red horse, …” | 2, 8: 156–1573, 2: 200 | Restoration |
| Description: The descriptions of Arthur Jarvis and his son riding on red horses symbolise the arrival of new life and hope for restoration. These support the theme of restoration. | ||
Your example:
| Symbol | Text reference | Theme(s) supported |
| Description: |
3.4 Setting
The setting of a novel describes the place, time, social environment, mood and atmosphere of the action in a story.
Time: Cry, the Beloved Country is a historical novel. It was written in 1946. The only indication of time in the novel is the first letter from Msimangu to Reverend Kumalo dated 25 September 1946 (p. 5 in your school edition). We know that Absalom will be hanged on the 15th of the month, although we don’t know which month.
The principles of contrast and repetition operate in the description of social environment, place, mood and atmosphere in Cry, the Beloved Country.
Social environment: The story includes references to historical events that took