Study Guide

Cry, the Beloved Country Chapter 6

By Alan Paton

Chapter 6

Msimangu leads Kumalo to the Claremont section of Johannesburg, where the crime is particularly dire.
Time to get some real work done, Shmoopers. Kumalo knocks on Gertrude's door, and his sister answers.
Ol' bro has got some questions for her. Plus he pretty much reads her the riot act for being a prostitute and booze peddler.
That's when things get really dramatic. She actually physically throws herself on the floor and sobs loudly in regret. (Clearly, Gertrude is not a woman who hides her feelings for the sake of dignity.)
Kumalo promises that he will take her and her child away from this awful place, but he wants to know just one thing: does she have any news about Absalom?
Not really. But she does have a lead: his brother John's son might know where Absalom is now. Hey, that's something.
That very day, Gertrude and her kid join Kumalo at Mrs. Lithebe's house.
Kumalo is starting to feel positive about things for the first time in years—a surefire sign that bad things are about to go down.

Ask questions, get answers, and discuss with others.

Join today and never see them again.

Get started