In my family my parents are very involved in my life, inside and outside of the home. They know my classes and what my grades are. They know my friends and make it a point to make sure I get to spend time with them. The point that I am trying to make is that family is a central part of my life. Everything that I have learned in my life comes from them.

One of the things that Arthur Jarvis discovers after his son is killed is that he knew so little about his son’s beliefs. Based on my personal experiences with lose in my family I know that no matter how much you have done for the person, when they are gone it easy to see all that you could have done more to help. I think that this is what Jarvis felt when his son died.

            Jarvis feared for his son before he was killed. We see evidence of this when a man comes to tell him about his on. Before the news is told to him Jarvis knew it was his son. The first thought was for his son’s safety. Although we know that Jarvis knew very little about the life that his son led, he must have known that what his son was doing brought many enemies.

In Cry the Beloved Country we see many example of how people overcome their fears. In Jarvis’s case, we see that he seeks to learn more about the future that he fears may come to pass. He learns about why his son felt so strongly about the freeing of the people that had so long been misused, mistreated, and abused. Jarvis does not let his fear of change, blind him from trying to understand the hope that is clearly shown in his son’s final words.

            This is not the only fear that Jarvis must face in his journey to more fully understand his son. In some of James’ writings Arthur finds a passage that tells the reader that he thinks that his parents taught him his whole life had been wrong. He turns to blaming his elders for the problems that South Africa was facing with the natives of the land.

            I was interested in finding out more about how sever the problem was. I came across a chart that I will post below. ("The History of Apartheid in ("The History of Apartheid in

 

  ("The History of Apartheid in South Africa")

            As you can see, before the rights of all people in South Africa were allowed, the quality of life between the two races was extreme. It was not only land that was being taken from them, at the time that this book is placed. Health care, education, and basic needs, were not balanced in the supply that was needed for the overall population.

            Taking these facts into account, it is not difficult to see why James felt that a change must take place in the land that he loved so much. He saw the people for who they were, not the color of the skin, not for what the owned or had in their pocket. James Jarvis saw the natives as equal to himself, and it was his death that opened Arthur’s eyes to that realization.