Cry, the Beloved Country: Book II, Chapter 28 Summary & Analysis

The day of the court’s judgment of Absalom arrives. The judge begins with the issue of the other two men in question, Absalom’s cousin and the other accomplice. Despite the fact that Arthur’s struck-down servant identified one of them, the judge maintains that this evidence is not conclusive, nor the evidence that the three of them met afterwards at Baby Mkize’s house. He says that while these men clearly have criminal associations, there is no evidence that they participated in this crime, and so the charges against them are dismissed.

The judge continues on the issue of Absalom. He admits that Absalom has confessed to, in a very straightforward manner, the crime that he committed, and shows deep remorse. He talks about how Mr. Carmichael is trying to make an argument for a simple boy mislead by Johannesburg. But the judge argues, society has created laws, and if those laws are broken, then society must fix itself and fix the laws—but until then, such laws are just. In other words, judges cannot do anything but enforce the law, even if it’s is broken in a way that reflects society’s brokenness.

But, he continues, the issue at the heart of the case is whether or not Absalom intended to kill. Though he insists that he did not, the evidence of him bringing a loaded revolver to the crime scene suggests otherwise. While he may not have intended to murder, he brought along a means to hurt someone very badly. Thus, he must be found guilty of murder. On the issue of mercy, the judge claims that he finds no extenuating circumstances, and thus cannot recommend mercy. He sentences Absalom to death. Absalom falls to the ground, weeping. Msimangu and the young white man from the reformatory lead a weak Stephen from the courtroom, breaking the custom of whites and blacks leaving separately.