Cry, the Beloved Country Suffering Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

[Kumalo] was too old for new and disturbing thoughts and they hurt him also, for they struck at many things. Yes, they struck at the grave silent man at High Place, who after such deep hurt, had shown such deep compassion. He was too old for new and disturbing thoughts. A white man's dog, that is what they called him and his kind. Well, that was the way his life had been lived, that was the way he would die. (3.35.55)

After Kumalo hears Mr. Letsitsi's view that he is helping Ndotsheni for the future of his people, rather than in thanks to Jarvis, Kumalo feels a bit distressed. Kumalo does feel a lot of personal loyalty to Jarvis, and he doesn't feel that Jarvis owes Ndotsheni the help he has given because he is a white man. Kumalo's lack of resentment towards Jarvis for the racial inequality of South Africa causes others to call "him and his kind" a "white man's dog."

Why do you think Paton throws in this detail about Kumalo's negative perception by some people in his community? Why wait until the second to last chapter of the novel to bring this up? How does this description affect your perception of Kumalo's character and relation to Jarvis?