Alan Patton uses fear as a recurring theme in his novel, Cry the Beloved Country. Throughout its course, specific examples of fear are brought about to define the life of black and white people in South Africa. John Kumalo fears losing his family and tribe to the sinful margins of the city of Johannesburg. In Johannesburg whites fear violent acts brought against them, from the blacks that seek reprisal from the prejudicial acts and hatred that are notorious in segregated South Africa. And for one black man, the fear of having the power to incite, and pilot the blacks into violent riots. Throughout the novel, just as Alan Patton reiterates the theme of fear, so does he give solutions to finally put and end to them all.

Because of the immense drought and harsh conditions in Ndotsheni, many Zulu youth have left the tribe and traveled to Johannesburg...