How does Alan Paton convey his views of South African society in Cry, the Beloved Country

Through his use of flashbacks, Paton contrasts the idyllic and peaceful South Africa of the past with the monstrously violent country it has become.

By depicting the crime and poverty that exist in Johannesburg, Paton communicates the idea that the city is a dangerous and corrupt place.

With his vivid and detailed descriptions of the rural landscape around Kumalo’s village, Paton expresses his view that urban development is destroying the country’s natural beauty.

By documenting Kumalo’s journey to find his son, Paton communicates the uniquely strong familial bonds that distinguish South African society from others in the world.

Answer: By depicting the crime and poverty that exist in Johannesburg, Paton communicates the idea that the city is a dangerous and corrupt place.

In Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton describes the changes that South Africa was experiencing during the middle of the twentieth century. Although his book was released before the apartheid policies reached their prime, life in the city was already affected by many of the problems that were going to plague the country for years to come. These conflict affected its black population in particular. Paton illustrates these conflicts by depicting the crime and poverty in Johannesburg, and associating this with the corruption and injustice that is problematic in the whole country.