Jeffrey Syang

P4

Fear, the Motivator behind Life

As people pass through life, from the time they are born to the time when they die, fear always shapes their decisions, personalities, and future. Money, power, and fame are also motivators that many people think about; however, fear is the one behind everything. The only reason people would work for money is because they have the fear of being penniless and homeless. People who want power have the fear of not being able to do anything, and people searching for fame fear dying unheard. In the novel, Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, fear compels James Jarvis to learn more about his son and change his beliefs about the native crimes happening in South Africa.

Firstly, in the beginning, James Jarvis lives on a large plantation in Ndotsheni. However, he learns that his son was murdered by natives during their burglary. One of the natives was Stephen Kumalo’s son, Absalom. After Jarvis’ son’s murder, he went to Johannesburg to file papers and get ready to go to the funeral. While Jarvis was looking around his son’s house, his friend invited him to explain what his son was doing in Johannesburg. As the friend told the account of his son, “Jarvis filled his pipe slowly, and listened to this tale of his son, to this tale of a stranger” (172). The word “stranger” may seem harsh, however, later on, in a manuscript, he learned that his son’s beliefs were the opposite of his and are unfamiliar between many whites. When he used the word “stranger”, it meant that Jarivs is alien to his son’s ideas and ideals. It also meant that he completely didn’t know what his son is thinking and what his son is doing. Later on, Jarvis went back into his son’s house and looked at a paper his son wrote. It said, “From them [parents] I learned all that a child should learn of honour and charity and generosity. But of South Africa I learned nothing at all” (207). In this place, it basically says that his parents taught him nothing about what is actually happening in South Africa. As Jarvis reads this line, the gap between his son and him widens and creates a fear in Jarvis of what else he doesn’t know about his son. In this part of the novel, Jarvis developed a fear of what he doesn’t know about his son after his unpredicted death.

Next, Jarvis starts learning about his son and his reasons for the things he was doing. He learned about the current things white people are doing in order to get more power in society. After reading the white injustices, “He lit his pipe, and pulling the papers, began to read them again” (179). He is still absorbing what his son takes as the truth. So at this moment, Jarvis is discovering answers to the doubts that he have. 

Finally, after Jarvis learns about his son’s reasons for his actions and papers, Jarvis starts picking up where his son left off. After the trial concerning Arthur Jarvis’ murder, Jarvis gave young Harrison a letter. It said,”For your club. Do all the things you and Arthur wanted to do. If you like to call it the “Arthur Jarvis Club” I’ll be pleased. But that is not a condition… cheque… one thousand pounds!” (247). This is where Jarvis learns that helping the natives financially would help improve South Africa. He donated one thousand pounds to the club so that they would be able to help other natives that live in Johannesburg with poor living conditions. He also wanted to give something to Stephen. So Jarvis asked Stephen, “And the church, umfundisi. Do you desire a new church?” (306). Jarvis also said to Stephen, “I have seen a man… who was in darkness till you found him. If that is what you do, I give it willingly” (307). This quote talks about how Jarvis was blind towards his son before Stephen’s son killed his. Then, Jarvis learned more about his son than he ever would have if his son were still alive. This was also to thank Stephen for helping him overcome his fear of the unknown facts about his son and understanding how South Africa should be.

In conclusion, fear compelled James Jarvis to learn more about his deceased son. In the beginning, Jarvis had fear of what he doesn’t know about his son’s personal life. Later on, his fear kept on nagging him, and in order to suppress his fear, he confronted the truth. In the end, fear helped him learn more about his son’s beliefs and how to help the natives.