Study Guide

Cry, the Beloved Country Chapter 32

By Alan Paton

Chapter 32

Kumalo gets a letter from his son's lawyer, Mr. Carmichael, saying that their appeal to stop Absalom's execution has failed. His son will definitely be hanged.
On the bright side, Kumalo sees the storm clouds gather: they are finally going to get rain.
Then, outside, he sees a totally weird sight: Jarvis, the magistrate, and the chief are all talking to each other while Jarvis puts a series of sticks in the ground with little flags attached to them.
When the storm breaks, Jarvis shelters in Kumalo's church, where Kumalo gives Jarvis the letter that sets Absalom's execution for the fifteenth of the month.
Jarvis seems genuinely sad to read the news that Absalom is going to be hanged for Arthur's death.
Meanwhile, the mystery of why Jarvis put all those sticks in the ground interests the whole village.

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