An Analysis of Cry, the Beloved LandIn Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Land, two characters, Absalom's daughter and Gertrude, show what Johannesburg society as a whole is like. Absalom's daughter symbolizes the fact that girls her age are mothers and have even been divorced several times before. On the other hand, Kumalo's sister Gertrude exemplifies the qualities of a young woman corrupted by Johannesburg's filthy system of theft, lies and prostitution. Both show the habits of Johannesburg as a whole. When Gertrude is first found by Kumalo, she is seen as a ragged and dirty person who makes her living as a prostitute. When Kumalo sees this, he thinks about how she could have a much better life if she came back with him. This is, in essence, the same thing that Kumalo and the blacks are trying to do in Johannesburg. These people are trying to remedy the corruption plaguing the city. Gertrude, like many others who came to Johannseburg, or were even born there, were brought into a world where corruption is the key to life. This is the only way to live a decent life and that is why they stoop to the lowest level possible, cheating and prostitution. And just like the others, Gertrude cannot be saved from what she has become. Even though Kumalo tries to save her and the city of Johannesburg from what it has become, we know that once they become what they have, it is impossible to change them. Absalom's daughter, on the other hand, symbolizes how society enters into many difficulties from a young age. This girl has already had several husbands and has one child. Like the rest of the population of Johannesburg, she has been faced with a situation that she is not prepared to face. Due to the way of life in this city, his choices, like many others, are nothing more than chance. Even though it seems like the right thing, it's not the same outside of the city. Symbolism is also shown through Absalom's daughter to Absalom. Many people in Johannesburg have spouses who earn their living by doing many bad things, including stealing. Additionally, many of them have lost someone to their actions, either through death or arrest and prosecution. Either way, people take a risk and what happens to Absalom shows that...