How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
There were so many [people walking to boycott the buses] that they overflowed into the streets, and the cars had to move carefully. And some were old, and some tired, and some even crippled as they had been told, but most of them walked resolutely, as indeed they had been doing now these past few weeks. Many of the white people stopped their cars, and took in the black people, to help them on their journey to Alexandra. Indeed, at one robot where they stopped, a traffic officer was talking to one of these white men, and they heard the officer asking whether the white man had a license to carry the black people. I am asking no money, said the white man. But you are carrying passengers on a bus route, said the officer. Then take me to court, said the white man. (1.8.119)
Once again, as with the center for the blind at Ezenzeleni, Paton takes care to emphasize when it's white people who are helping black people achieve something. Here, a white driver has been stopped by the cops for driving some black people to help them keep up the bus boycott.
We've mentioned before that we think Paton gives all of these examples of white people helping black people to emphasize the good will of liberal members of the white population. He doesn't want black people to hate white South Africans, because such hatred might lead to violence. However, we also want to add that we think he includes these liberal, helpful white figures because he wants to encourage white readers to follow these positive models of decent behavior towards the black South Africans around them.
Quote #5
— Will [Absalom] ever return? [the reform school employee] asked, indifferently, carelessly. — I do not know, she said. She said it tonelessly, hopelessly, as one who is used to waiting, to desertion. She said it as one who expects nothing from her seventy years upon the earth. No rebellion will come out of her, no demands, no fierceness. Nothing will come out of her at all save the children of men who will use her, leave her, forget her. And so slight was her body, and so few her years, that Kumalo for all his suffering was moved to compassion. (1.10.83)
Kumalo is drawn to Absalom's girl precisely because she is so pathetic. He sees that she has "no fierceness" to demand anything for herself, not even from Absalom, who has gotten her pregnant and then abandoned her. Are there any woman characters in this book who do offer "rebellion" or "fierceness"? What does Kumalo's attitude towards Absalom's girl reveal about his ideals of womanhood?
Quote #6
There was a system whereby a native could live at Ndotsheni, and go to work at his will on the adjoining farms. And there was another system whereby a native could get land from the farmer, and set up his kraal, and have his family there, and be given his own piece of land and work it, provided that he and his family gave so much labour each year to the white farmer. But even that was not perfect, for some of them had sons and daughters that left for the towns, and never came back to fulfill their portion of the contract; and some of them abused the land that they had; and some of them stole cattle and sheep for meat; and some of them were idle and worthless, till one had to clear them off the farm, and not be certain if their successors would be any better. (2.18.10)
Jarvis's main concern about race relations in South Africa at this point in the novel—before he hears of his son's murder—is about labor. After all, Jarvis is a wealthy farm owner in rural South Africa. Most of the workers on his farm are probably black. By pointing out the ways in which the lack of opportunity for black people in rural areas is also affecting the ability of white farmers to find good, committed workers, the novel seems to be saying, "Look! The economic impact of these racist laws is hitting the oppressed black population the worst, but white employers are losing profits, too." Paton is appealing to the wallets of more conservative readers.