Cry Journal 1

"Keep it, guard it, care for it, for it keeps men, guards men, cares for men. Destroy it and man is destroyed"(33). I chose this quote because I like the way it sounds, I like the repetition of the words, especially men. I think it enhances the meaning that Alan Paton is trying to convey. I think its significant because of all the meanings it can have. In the book its taking about the valley and how it is no more because of the problems it went through. But I also think it could be taking about family. And how if you take a man's family away it can hurt or destroy him. The second passage I liked was "And even if it did leave you, it would not much matter: unless you are a cripple, or very you could tun after it and catch it for yourself"(40). I think this passage showed how old everything is, and how warn down the train is just like the people there. I think this passage is also saying that when you are young you have a lot of places to go because one, you can and two because you want to explore and experience new things. When you are old it becomes hard for you too move let along travel. I also found it very interesting how the say "Go well, umfundisi"(44). I think its interesting because its almost like God bless you or God be with you. I think its significant because it doesn't say God. It just says kind of be well, or do good. The last quote I picked out was about the traffic lights, "He sees great high buildings, there are red and green lights on them, almost as tall as the buildings. They go on and off"(47). I like this quote because when he goes on to describe the traffic lights he is confused by them. Traffic lights usually help people with telling them whether to go or to not. But for Rev. it made him more scared and did not help at all. With the giant city he is already confused and scared then you add flashing lights on a dangerous street, well it doe not help.