Concepts of PacifismThematic underpinnings in Alan Paton’s

Cry, the Beloved Country, a novel of social protest

Definition of Pacifism

Peaceful rather than violent relations should govern human interaction

Peace is intrinsically good and should be upheld as more conducive to human welfare than violence or use of force

Related Ideas

The destructiveness of modern warfare fails to resolve conflicts

Avoidance of war best serves the interests of humanity and the human race

Only peace can preserve peace and break the chain of violence

Concept 1: Killing

In general, pacifists cannot condone killing

Their beliefs emphasize the sanctity of human life

Question: should all forms of killing be prohibited?

Concept 2: Violence and the Use of ForceThe ability to reason is humankind’s

most important facultyReason should triumph over emotionForce should not be used to restrict the

individual’s movement in societyQuestion: Is the use of force ever

justifiable?

Concept 3: Innocents

War, violence, force, or restraint should not harm the innocent

Should innocents be subjected to violence to preserve the overall peace?

Models of Pacifism

Nonviolent techniques can prevent the outbreak of violence and move society toward pure justice

Examples: Mohandas Gandhi influenced the British withdrawal from India; Martin Luther King, Jr. acquired civil rights for African-Americans

Alan Paton and Pacifism

As a pacifist, Alan Paton sought to portray the tragedy of apartheid

In Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton creates the characters of Msimangu and Arthur Jarvis, who become the author’s mouthpieces for peaceful reform

Cry, the Beloved Country was banned in South Africa, and Paton’s passport was confiscated for ten years