Gertrude

Gertrude: A submissive woman, Kumalo’s younger sister who fled to Johannesburg with her little son in search of her lost husband lost in the mines.”

She is the reason that Stephen comes into Johannesburg and is exposed to this new modern way of life. She is also the first introduction of conflict. She also shows that religion has caused her to be ashamed of her life and lose touch with her family, giving the reader an idea of how religion will contribute to the story. She is one of the few women in the story, and her character is presented as a very submissive person, which correlates to the time period in which this book is written. Her character represents the sexism happening at the time along with the segregation between the blacks and whites of South Africa

• “There is laughter in the house, the kind of laughter of which one is afraid. Perhaps because one is afraid already, perhaps because it is in truth bad laughter” (29).

• “She gets up and goes to the yard. She calls, but the voice that was once so sweet has a new quality in it, the quality of laughter that he heard in the house” (31).
• “I do not like Johannesburg”... she looks at him with eyes of distress… “I am a bad woman, my brother. I am no woman to go back” (31).

John Character Analysis

1. Character’s role: John wants positive change for South Africa, but is corrupted in the process by his newfound love for power.

2. Quotes:

“Your brother has no use for the church any more. He says that what God does  not do for South Africa, man must do, that’s what he says” (25)

“He seeks power and money to put right what is wrong, and when he gets them, why, he enjoys the power and money” (39).

“He began to sway to and fro, he was not speaking to them, he was speaking to people who were not there” (35).

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We chose this image because while tangentially John may seem corrupted by the power (not knowing what fidelity means), John deep down inside is still doing it for the goodness of his heart and wants to improve racial tensions.

image citation

Argumentative Statement: John is an example of what the search for power can do to a man, since his desire for power has led John to turn into a somewhat corrupt human being.

Msimangu: Cry Character

Msimangu is a kind-hearted man who concerns himself with the needs and troubles of others. He is a priest in Johannesburg, and is finding that more people are leaving the church out of impatience, looking to solve their problems themselves rather than through God. Msimangu is not afraid to voice his opinions on the problems of South Africa and the new generation. He serves as an example of the old tribe of Priests, in contrast to the adapted generation of politicians like John Kumalo who believe that only by taking power themselves can they end the segregation of South Africa.

"I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring only the good of their country, come together to work for it” (Paton 40).

“Sometimes it quietens one to smoke. But there should be another kind of quiet in a man, and then let him smoke to enjoy it. But in Johannesburg it is hard sometimes to find that kind of quiet” (24).

“Because the white man has power, we too want power, he said. But when a black man gets power, when he gets money, he is a great man if he is not corrupted”(39).

John Kumalo is a rather naive man and his predisposition to kindness can have its faults. Though Kumalo knows of the evils of Johannesburg, he still does not hesitate to give a large portion of his savings to a stranger. He believes the stranger has good intentions, but he ends up stealing the money. Similarly, Kumalo is quick to forgive his sister for her sins.

18- quickly, eagerly, as though he must show this young man that he appreciated his kindness, he put down his bag and took out his purse.

31- His eyes filled with tears, his deep gentleness returns to him. He goes to her and lifts her from the floor to the chair. Inarticulately, his strokes her face, his heart filled with pity.

37- “Our customs are different here”

This picture shows a city that is representative of johannesburg. The people are drinking and smoking and there are monsters and other odd characters. This is also naive art, which reflects how naive steven is when he takes his trip to the city.

Cry Character Analysis - John Kumalo

Argumentative statement:

Fugard conveys through the character John Kumalo the idea that many villagers in South Africa are becoming unhappy with the traditional idea of their tribes. He is a representation of the other South African indigenous people who are going to Johannesburg and never coming back. It is clear that he has become corrupted by the greater sway he holds in the city and the power he has. Because he has power in Johannesburg, he does not want to write to or come home to his family and friends in the tribe and he will not embrace any aspect of the tribe, including the language of Zulu. He asks to speak in English when talking about his experience in Johannesburg to further emphasize that there is a huge disparity between the way of life in the tribe and his new way of life. When asked again to speak in Zulu he becomes enraged and only the peaceful efforts of Stephen calm him. His power and money in the city have changed him into a man who thinks he has it all but in reality has no family or friends to share his joy with besides a mistress who he is not even married to.

Quotes:

1. ¨You people in Ndotsheni do not understand the way life is in Johannesburg. I thought it better not to write¨ (35).
2. “Down in Ndotsheni I am nobody, even as you are nobody, my brother. I am subject to the chief, who is an ignorant man. I must salute him and bow to him, but he is an uneducated man” (35).
3. “‘Perhaps we should speak Zulu again,’ [Msimangu] said. The angry veins stood out on the great bull neck [of John], and who knows what angry words might have been spoken (37).

We chose this picture to represent John Kumalo’s state in life. The beautiful view from the high peak of a mountain represents his wealth and success, but like the man in the picture, he is alone and has no one to share it with. His wife left him, and he abandoned his family in order to earn more money and become more successful.

Msimangu: A Humble Man

Msimangu’s actions are driven by his pure, humble, intentions as he acts as a guide to the inexperienced Kumalo.

“I shall do it gladly. My brother, I have of course my work to do, but so long as you are here, my hands are yours” (24).

“I am not kind. I am a selfish and sinful man, but God has put his hands on me, that is all” (25).

“My friend, I am a Christian. It is not in my heart to hate a white man...But you will pardon me if I talk frankly to you...The white man has broken the tribe. And it is my belief- and again I ask your pardon- that it cannot be mended again” (25).

This represents purity and shows that he is willing to help anything, no matter how small the cause or benefit is.

Well, Gertrude...

Statement:

Alan Paton is using Gertrude to represent the widely perpetrated sexism in South Africa, as well as the negative effects of Westernization on native people. Gertrude suffers from both the consequences of sexism and racism in South Africa’s whites dominated society.

Quotes:

“Johannesburg is not a place for a woman alone” (38).

“There is laughter in the house, the kind of laughter of which one is afraid. Perhaps one is afraid already, perhaps because it is in truth bad laughter”(29).

“You have shamed us” he says, not wishing to make it known to the world. “A liquor seller, a prostitute, with a child… Your brother is a priest. How could you do this to us...” (30).

In South African society, black women are the lowest on the social hierarchy. This well represents Gertrude’s perspective as she is cast down by society. She is stranded in the dank bottom of the well, reaching for the bright lives that the whites have the potential to live. The treatment Gertrude has received makes feel as if she is stuck at the bottom of a well. She can see the light of the toleration towards men in society, but it is impossible for her to escape to the the top of the well.

Msimangu: 

The character Msimangu is very authentic and observant of the world around him; he is not afraid to express his option even if it differs from the beliefs of the church and those around him. Alan Paton uses Msimangu to illustrate the conflict between how the complacent church feels and what the forward- moving younger generation craves and how these two viewpoints can connect and together to create what is the best solution in a ideal world. But, because Msimangu accepts the flaws of the world it forces the reader to think about solution in a practical way and with the characters come to the realization that often solving such a integral social issue is not simple or easy. Msimangu's character is also deeply empathetic and makes striking remarks about the tragic consquesses of the apartheid. 

pH 55 "I am not kind. I am selfish and sinful man, but god put his hands on me"

pg 56 "But the house that is broken, and the man that falls apart when the house is broken, these are the tragic things."

pg 70 "Because the white man has power, we too want power he said but one a black man gets power,  when he gets money, he is a great man if he is not corrupted....and because our desire is corrupt ,we are corrupted, and the power has no heart in it"

John Kumalo

John Kumalo (A Blogged Analysis)

John Kumalo, in contrast to Stephen's innocence and loyalty, shows an acute sense of anger and also his loss of faith, two characteristics that he has gained through his experiences with racism in Johannesburg.

"I do not say we are free here. I do not say we are free as men should be. But at least I am free of the chief. At least I am free of an old and ignorant man, who is nothing but a white man's dog"(35).

"His voice grew louder, and he was again addressing people who were not there"(36).

"'That is my experience,' he said. 'That is why I no longer go to the church.' 'And that is why you did not right anymore.' 'Well, well, it could be the reason.' 'That, and your wife Esther?' 'Yes, yes, both perhaps. It is hard to explain in a letter. Our customs are different here'"(37).

Gertrude's Shame

Gertrude is the original reason that Stephen Kumalo was forced to travel to Johannesburg. Her activities and appearance are a source of shame for Stephen and for herself. Mr. Paton uses the character of Gertrude to represent the desire to survive through any means necessary.

"You have shamed us, he says in a low voice, not wishing to make it known to the world… She looks at him sullenly, like an animal that has been tormented" (30).  

"I do not like Johannesburg… I am a bad woman, my brother. I am no woman to go back” (31).  

"Gertrude's dress, for all that she might once have been rich, was dirty, and the black greasy knitted cap that she wore on her head made him ashamed” (33).

Gertrude feels that she is obligated to take any means necessary, in this case becoming a liquor seller and a prostitute, in order to survive in the society that she lives in.

In order to survive in Johannesburg, Gertrude feels as if she must take any means necessary, but once she falls into a cycle of shameful, desperate behavior, she feels like it is impossible to ever come out of it.

Gertrude

Booker Martin

Josef Orner

Hannah Wendelken

Gertrude

Gertrude regrets her past actions that have buried her in a life of poverty and faults, and she fears nothing is capable of pulling her from corruption.

“Have no doubt it is fear in her eyes. She draws back a step and makes no move towards him. She turns and says something that he cannot hear. Chairs are moved, and other things are taken. She turns to him” (29).

“She nods her head again. She sobs too. I do not like Johannesburg, she says. She looks at him with eyes of distress, and his heart quickens with hope. I am a bad woman, my brother. I am no woman to go back” (31).

“They knelt down, and he prayed… And when he had finished, she burst into a torrent of prayer, of self-denunciation, and urgent petition. And thus reconciled, they sat hand in hand” (31).

Image Citation

Steven Kumalo

Alan Paton uses the character Steven Kumalo to demonstrate how traditional values are very different than the new ways of life in the city.

• "Deep down the fear for his son. Deep down the fear of a man who lives in a world not made for him, whose own world is slipping away, dying, being destroyed, beyond any recall" (14).
• "I gave a pound to a young man, he said, and he told me he would get my ticket at the ticket office." Mr. Mafolo responds, "You have been cheated, umfundisi"(19).
• "And the love of must have been in his voice, for they were all silent and listened to him. He told them too of the sickness of the land, and how the grass had disappeared... how when they went away [to Johannesburg], many never came back, many never wrote any more" (21-22).

Cry Character Analysis: Msimangu

Through Msimangu, the author Paton exemplifies optimism found during hard times. Msimangu is one of the few bright spots in Johannesburg for Kumalo who finds himself living through hard times when he is thrust into the unknown and confusing world of the big city.

"I shall do it gladly. My brother, I have of course my own work to do, but so long as you are here, my hands are yours" (24).

"Something in the humble voice must have touched Msimangu, for he said, 'I am not kind. I am a selfish and sinful man, but God put his hands on me, that is all'" (25).

"... I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving, they will find we are turned to hating" (40).



The humble devotion and and optimism that Msimangu gives to Kumalo demonstrates how Msimangu is a bright spot in an otherwise dark place for Kumalo. This image of sun coming through dark clouds represents that optimistic presence Msimangu has in Kumalo's life.

John's Analysis

Thesis- Alan Paton uses this scene to show how John's lust for power has taken such a strong hold of him that he's willing to ignore and insult his culture, past, and family's beliefs.
"I do not say we are free here...But at least I am free of the chief.  At least I am free of an old and ignorant man, who is nothing but a white man's dog.  He is a trick"(35).
"Every factory, every theatre, every beautiful house, they are all built by us.  And what does a chief know about that?  But us here in Johannesburg know"(37).
"'And you wife?  Why did she leave?' 'Well, well', said John Kumalo with his knowing smile. 'She did not understand my experience.'  'You mean', said Msimangu said coldly, 'that she believed in fidelity?'"(37).

This house represents the fact that John is consciously destroying his previous beliefs and past, thereby destroying all remnants of his culture in order to have more power and fit in with the white men.

Stephen Kumalo Analysis

The character of Kumalo has resentment towards Western culture and abandonment of tribal life. Johannesburg represents the corruption and anguish of losing his family.

"Zulus have many children, but we had only one son. He went to Johannesburg, and as you said- when people go to Johannesburg, they do not come back. They do not even write anymore. They do not go to St. Chad's to learn that knowledge without which no black man can live" (9).

"All roads lead to Johannesburg" (10).

"You have shamed us, he says in a low voice, not wishing to make it known to the world. A liquor seller, prostitute, with a child and you do not know where it is? Your brother a priest. How could you do this to us?" (30).

Cry Character Analysis (Chapters 1-7)

You will each be assigned a character.

Please complete the following steps:

•Task:

–1. Discuss your character’s role in the novel

–2. Identify (at least) 3 well-chosen quotes revealing that character (consider his/her effects of others, actions, motives, etc.)

–3. Craft an argumentative statement about this character connected to your quotes.

–4. Create a post with statement, quotes, and an image that represents the character.

• Be sure to briefly explain the image
• Be sure to find the image on Creative Commons

*Please post and label using each of your names and the label "CRYcharacters"

**Keep in mind, these are initial ideas for your characters! Your thoughts on them will very likely change in the future.  
***For your argumentative statements, consider the following: What do we learn about the character's voice? Actions? What do others say about him or her?

MODEL:

Fugard uses the character of Hally to communicate the human desire and need for power; whenever he feels powerless, Hally ultimately uses any means necessary to attain status. In this play, he uses his race to climb the social hierarchy.

• “You’re only a servant here, and don’t forget it” (53).
• “He’s a white man and that’s good enough for you” (53).
• “Why don’t you start calling me Master Harold” (54).

The rusty ladder rings represent the true danger in which Hally is placing himself when he uses his racial privilege to gain power over Sam and Willie. In his efforts to gain control when he feels powerless, we see Hally ultimately hurt himself by degrading those who most care for him.