Now though, "Old men and old women live here and mothers and young children; all the young men and the girls have gone." (Paton 17) The land has become arid and uncultivable and symbolizes the paramount theme through the novel of South Africa's actual concern of racial injustice which is the cause of the decadent society. .
Comparable to Alan Paton, Nelson Mandela also became aware of the history of South Africa and the quandary that was continuously evolving into a more complex, dangerous situation. Nelson was born in 1918 in the village near Umtata. It was not long after hearing stories of his valiant heritage during the war of resistance to protect their homeland that he had developed a vigilant aspiration to be part of the cause for the freedom of discrimination of his people. To make his desire a reality, Mandela went into the fraudulent war of politics in hope to encourage and give confidence the citizens to stand up for what they earnestly believe in their souls, what they deem to be true and honorable (Mandela) . The history of South Africa was unpleasant and distressing but Alan Paton and Nelson Mandela understood that, contrary to popular belief, ignorance is not always bliss. They both mutually acknowledged the past and became impelled to partake in the excursion to a solution.
Jackson 3 .
It can be difficult being in the middle of the situation because it limits one's perspective; nonetheless, Alan Paton took action in the presence though he was living in a continent that was buried in a deep abyss. In his latter famous novel, Cry the Beloved Country, Paton derived at a plan that his intricate characters would act out that would shine a light on a possible resolution to the lethal conflict between the two races and uses several people in his plot to offer advice and wisdom. Characters such as Father Vincent consolidated as well as taught Kumalo a life lesson when as he spoke to him saying, "Fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.
