Paton, who grew up in Pietermartizburg, Natal, South Africa; always enjoyed the beauty around him. At the age of 22, he began a teaching career, first at a native school in the village of Ixopo, then at Pietermartizburg College. Years later he abandoned teaching to begin a career as a reformatory worker. He was appointed principal to the diepkloof reformatory, where he attempted to loosen the restrictions placed on the boys and emphasizes preparation for life outside the reformatory walls. He traveled extensively to study reformatories throughout the world. It was on one of these trips that he was inspired to write cry the beloved country, the novel that made him famous.

In the 1930's and 40's South Africa was a nation torn apart by racial segregation, enforced inequality, and prejudice. A wave of crime, mostly by

Paton closes the novel as Absalom Kumalo is being put to death. The novel closes at dawn, a dawn that means the death for Absalom Kumalo. But this "dawn" also means the dawn of a new era. It means hope for South Africa. This new dawn will show the goodness possible for all mankind. It will show the possibility that all men can overcome fear, hate, and racism.

black natives and largely upon wealthy white citizens, was leading to a kind of national panic among the white minority. Paton's novel finds its setting in this fragile society, where fear and hatred diminish the beauty and good of the nation.

Paton created a major conflict in the novel, Cry the Beloved Country. He moves the readers to believe that there is an inner uncertainty within the main characters. He chooses to romanticize and put into perspective the conflict between the Europeans, and the native south Africans. This conflict is one of morality and an undeniable change from old tradition to new ways. As in any society, "change" in general promotes fear. The changing of customs and values created apprehension and fear for both the natives and the Europeans. Out of this conflict, the word and idea of "Apartheid" develops, making life for the native black people full of segregation and racial injustices. Apartheid is forced segregation; it is a form of keeping different racial groups as separate as possible. In this novel, Paton follows the protagonist, Steven Kumalo on a sort of mission to bring back his family from the corrupt influences of the major South African city of Johannesburg. Though afraid of the city, he overcomes his fears and makes a valiant attempt to bring his family back to their native homeland. The story follows the Reverend

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Approximate Word count = 1161
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)