Answer:
In Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country, the characters Gertrude and Absalom's girl symbolize society as a whole. Absalom's 12-year-old daughter represents ladies her age who are moms and have experienced at least one failed marriage. Kumalo's sister Gertrude is the antithesis of Johannesburg's crooked system of theft, fraud, and prostitution. They both portray Johannesburg as a whole but also stand alone as individual images.
Upon initial discovery, Gertrude is recognized as a disheveled, unkempt woman who makes her livelihood as a prostitute. After seeing this, Kumalo wonders how much better her life could be if she returned with him. In essence, Kumalo and the blacks are aiming to do the same thing as Johannesburg's blacks. They are working to repair the damage that corruption has caused in the city.
For Gertrude, like for many others who immigrated or were born there, life was corrupt. People must participate in shady behavior, such as cheating and prostitution, to survive. Gertrude will meet the same end as the rest of Castle Dracula's residents. Despite Kumalo's greatest efforts, she and Johannesburg cannot be rescued.
While Absalom's girl represents how society faces numerous problems at an early age. This woman has been married and has a child. She, like the rest of Johannesburg, has been presented with an unknown. Her decisions, like many others in this metropolis, are based on chance. Outside of the city, it isn't the same.
Symbolism is also shown through Absalom's girl to Absalom. Many people, in Johannesburg, have spouses who make a living by doing many bad things including stealing. Also, a great number have lost someone because of what they do, either by death or by getting arrested and prosecuted. Either way, the people are taking a risk and it is shown by what happens to Absalom.
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