The Consequences of Taking a Stand: The Unconventional Approach to Themes of Justice in "Cry, the Beloved Country" Puja Harikumar 10th Grade

In Cry the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, the theme and motifs of justice is one that is heavily discussed. However, in the world we live in, justice is not written in black and white and sometimes balancing out the unfairness of the world can take a toll on oneself as well. That is not to say, however, that there are no benefits in a quest for justice. On the contrary, there are many more than simply doing nothing. However, in order to unlock them, one must have patience, a pure heart, and a broad mind.

Firstly, the pursuit of justice can have many drawbacks, especially when doing so has been deemed illegal by an unfair system. It is difficult to try to make a voice heard when it will be quickly suppressed by the oppressors and turned into an example for others to not do the same. An example of this happening in CTBC would be when the workers of the mines try to lead a strike. This is because the putting down of the strike is described as “...fighting and three of the miners were killed. But all is quiet...” (Paton, 223) This shows how easy it is to put down a rebellion; nothing has changed for the workers and all the heavy losses have landed on their side (the rebels against the system) However, at the end of the day, none...