How does Paton make this passage so moving?
Paton makes the interaction between Stephen Kumalo and his lost son moving and
memorable in many ways by feeding us as readers with a new rising conflict, the fate
of Stephen and his son Absalom.
Paton uses Stephen to keep asking Absalom questions to make this passage
moving. He and his son grow further apart until both feel tortured. The serious lack
of understanding and communication brought about by the different ways the
father and son have gone over the last years creates vast distances between them.
Kumalo had looked forward to a great reconciliation with his son, but instead, he
finds his son a criminal accused of a horrendous crime.
Another way how Paton makes this passage so moving is by serving this passage as
a transitional point for Kumalo as a character. His character's focus shifts from the
mere search for his son to set the fate of his son and those involved with the murder.
Absalom states that he shot Jarvis with "a revolver", but explains that he fired only
because he was afraid, and declares that he still wants to marry his girlfriend. This is
best reflected in the shift in Kumalo's attitude from the specific concerns over
reuniting the tribe to alternatively more personal concerns, the fate of the Absalom's
pregnant girlfriend and more broad social concerns relating to the fate of South
Africa.
In addition to that, Paton uses the character of Absalom Kumalo as a symbol of the
problems of blacks in South Africa to make this passage moving. Absalom Kumalo
emerges in this passage not as a heartless murderer or an irresponsible immigrant,
as his actions have suggested, but instead as a scared and foolish young man acting
on instinct rather than forethought and planning. Paton suggests this through the
direct quality in which Kumalo expresses himself, as he seems barely capable of
dissembling, and honestly admits his guilt in the murder of Arthur Jarvis. Paton
portrays him as a pitiable and weak character caught in a situation that he barely
understands but deeply regrets. This naive Absalom will be his downfall, as he falls
victim to those who are smarter than he is and thus able to shift greater blame to the
repentant boy.
Paton makes the interaction between Stephen Kumalo and his lost son moving and
memorable in many ways by feeding us as readers with a new rising conflict, the fate
of Stephen and his son Absalom.
Paton uses Stephen to keep asking Absalom questions to make this passage
moving. He and his son grow further apart until both feel tortured. The serious lack
of understanding and communication brought about by the different ways the
father and son have gone over the last years creates vast distances between them.
Kumalo had looked forward to a great reconciliation with his son, but instead, he
finds his son a criminal accused of a horrendous crime.
Another way how Paton makes this passage so moving is by serving this passage as
a transitional point for Kumalo as a character. His character's focus shifts from the
mere search for his son to set the fate of his son and those involved with the murder.
Absalom states that he shot Jarvis with "a revolver", but explains that he fired only
because he was afraid, and declares that he still wants to marry his girlfriend. This is
best reflected in the shift in Kumalo's attitude from the specific concerns over
reuniting the tribe to alternatively more personal concerns, the fate of the Absalom's
pregnant girlfriend and more broad social concerns relating to the fate of South
Africa.
In addition to that, Paton uses the character of Absalom Kumalo as a symbol of the
problems of blacks in South Africa to make this passage moving. Absalom Kumalo
emerges in this passage not as a heartless murderer or an irresponsible immigrant,
as his actions have suggested, but instead as a scared and foolish young man acting
on instinct rather than forethought and planning. Paton suggests this through the
direct quality in which Kumalo expresses himself, as he seems barely capable of
dissembling, and honestly admits his guilt in the murder of Arthur Jarvis. Paton
portrays him as a pitiable and weak character caught in a situation that he barely
understands but deeply regrets. This naive Absalom will be his downfall, as he falls
victim to those who are smarter than he is and thus able to shift greater blame to the
repentant boy.
