BOOK 2

CHAPTERS 18 and 19

Context

Chapter 18 is more or less a repetition of Chapter 1 in that it has little relation to the plot and describes the landscape around Kumalo’s home village of Ndotsheni. However, the perspective is different as it is taken from the home of James Jarvis, which occupies a high place overlooking the valley.

Jarvis is a simple man, but he is concerned by the conditions endured by the natives who live below him.  Like Stephen Kumalo, he has a deep-seated love of the land and is concerned at its slow degeneration. His home means everything to him. It has been in his family for generations and he has many happy memories of the area. 

It is only after the death of his son that he appreciates fully the work he did in trying to bring justice for all the people of Johannesburg.  He is amazed that his son was prepared to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of helping other less fortunate people.

This Chapter also gives a flashback to when Jarvis hears the news of the death of his son.  We learn that Mrs. Jarvis is not keeping in good health, but arrangements are made for the couple to be flown to Johannesburg.

In Chapter 19 the story of the flashback continues and deals with the coming to terms with the bad news by the Jarvis’s.  During this time, they are accompanied by the Harrison’s, father and son, the father, John, being Mrs. Jarvis’ brother.

They are an odd pairing and represent two differing views of the racial situation. The father has the traditional colonial view, regarding the black community as servants to the whites, whereas the son has a more liberal outlook and sees that South Africa’s future lies in the integration of blacks and whites.