The Biblical Message of Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton's book, "Cry, the Beloved Country," is about the unrest and turmoil of both whites and blacks regarding the white segregation policy called apartheid. The book describes how understanding between whites and blacks can end mutual fear and aggression and bring reform and hope to a small community of Ndotcheni and South Africa as a whole. The language of the book reflects the Bible; furthermore, several characters and episodes recall stories from the New Testament and teachings of Christ. Thus Alan Paton, as a reformer and author of "Cry, the Beloved Country", gives the South African people a new and modern Bible, where he, like Christ, teaches to "love your brother as yourself" in order to help whites and blacks to overcome fear and mutual misunderstanding. The language of the book reveals its biblical nature from the beginning. "The great valley of Umzimkulu is still in darkness, but the light will come there. Ndotcheni is still in darkness, but the light will come there too." The style includes symbols such as light and dark, short clauses connected by "and" or "but," and repetition. This style is used to represent speech or thoughts "translated" from Zulu. Jesus Christ is symbolized by the figure of Arthur Jarvis. He is a white reformer who fights for black rights. Like Christ, he is very altruistic and wants to pursue his goals at all costs. His friend Harrison says, "Here [Arthur Jarvis] was, day by day, engaged in some sort of mission." (173) Arthur Jarvis and his wife Mary "agree that it is more important to tell the truth than to make money." (172) Arthur Jarvis is killed in his home by Absalom, a young black man who becomes entangled in a crime. Absalom only intends to rob Arthur Jarvis and the murder is unintentional. Absalom thinks Arthur Jarvis is out and enters the house with two friends. However, when Arthur Jarvis “heard a noise and went down to investigate” (186). Surprised and frightened, Absalom shoots blindly. Absalom later says in court: "Then a white man came into the hallway... I was afraid. I fired the gun." (194) Absalom's blind fear is symbolic of fear, blindness, and misunderstanding between blacks and whites; these are the reasons for racial hatred.