Cry, the Beloved Country

by Alan Paton

Cry, the Beloved Country: Mood 1 key example

Definition of Mood

The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:

The mood of Cry, the Beloved Country is often quite sad, as Stephen Kumalo stumbles into one misfortune after another. Part of the novel’s melancholy is personal: the parson leaves his village only to find his sister trapped in the Claremont slums and his brother newly estranged. He must grapple with his son’s murder and, worst of all, the subsequent death sentence. Kumalo loses those he loves most in quick succession. The grief is raw and piercing.