READ THIS AND YOU WILL SLEEP, I'AM SURE.
Cry, the Beloved Country
Cry, the Beloved Country is a novel about an African reverend called Stephen Kumalo. He lives in the country with his wife and he wants to restore his family: his brother, his sister and his son have gone away to Johannesburg. At the beginning it is said that many of the natives are leaving the land because they have lost their basic contact with it. Only old men and women are left in the dry valley. The younger have left for the city, a place which will be developed as being something evil; therefore, one of the great needs is to restore the tribe but first the family has to be restored.
Kumalo goes to Johannesburg and there he finds a priest, called Msimangu. He affects Kumalo's life more than any other person in the novel by his examples of unselfishness and devotion to others, and his service to humanity. He helps Kumalo in any way he can and even gives him all his money because he says Kumalo has suffered enough. Kumalo finds his sister Gertrude and learns that she is a prostitute. Kumalo is very disappointed but when she wishes to come back and says that the large city made her sick, he forgives her and even sympathizes with her. In Gertrude's son Kumalo sees a hope for the future.
Then Kumalo sees his brother John. He is a kind of native who is rather glad that the tribal society is breaking down and he has broken with the church. John is a politician who is corrupt and wants the native to strike and he stirs up the blacks to be violent against the white people. The bus boycott shows that the situation of blacks is not hopeless and that many whites are on the side of the blacks because they fight against injustice. During the search for his son, Absalom, Kumalo visits Shanty Town. There only poor people live and they barely have the energy and money to keep themselves alive. The town was built overnight and they used grass, iron, sack and wood.
In Shanty Town Kumalo finds the girl who expects a baby from Absalom. She exists like a vegetable, without human dignity and happiness. She tells Kumalo that the police also searches for Absalom and later Kumalo gets to know that his son killed a white man. The victim was Arthur Jarvis and he fought for the black people. He is a man of good will and he was one of the men who are the bridges between the two races. Besides James Jarvis, Arthur's father, is the neighbour of Stephen Kumalo. Absalom says that he did not want to kill the man; he and his friends (among them the son of John) only wanted to rob the house. A lawyer who is a man of charity and goodness is organized for Absalom and he takes the case "pro deo" which means for God. John frees his son by laying all the blame on Absalom, this shows how bad his character is.
Finally Absalom is sentenced to death by hanging. Before he dies, he and the girl marry and she goes with Stephen Kumalo to his home. Kumalo, the girl and Gertrude's son travel home. Back at his home a small boy comes to visit Kumalo. The boy is the grandson of James Jarvis, he is on holidays here and wants to learn Zulu from Kumalo. He wants to know everything and so Kumalo tells him that there is so little milk that the babies have to die. Next day there are cans of milk at the church, James Jarvis brought them and so the babies can stay alive.
One day an agricultural demonstrator comes; he was sent and is paid by James Jarvis. He helps them to increase the crop yield by using modern techniques and with the money of James Jarvis he and other people build a dam to have plenty of water in dry periods. So James Jarvis learned a lot of his son's ideas and helped the black people a lot. Furthermore he does not feel any hatred against Kumalo.
At the end of the novel Kumalo's son is dead and he could not restore his family but he feels hope for the future: with the help of persons like James Jarvis the natives will stay in the country and in their tribe.
2006-11-25 19:51:42
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answer #1
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answered by ? 3
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Turn off the computer and tv, everything that will distract you, and just lay there and go to sleep. Sometimes eating something will make you become tired, try some leftover turkey. If your mom is up, have her play with your hair or rub your back until you fall asleep. Good luck!
2006-11-25 19:33:00
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answer #2
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answered by acehernandez2006 3
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Im 15, it's 12:30. Ima sleep at 4 am. Join the club
2006-11-25 19:31:54
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answer #3
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answered by sdchaldo27 3
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Hey, same here.
Umm, go lay down in your bed and think about random, boring things. That usually works for me. If not, try running around outside or something; you'll get tired really fast and will fall asleep right away.
Or you can use it to your advantage and do something productive =P.
EDIT: Who wants to start an insomniac club?!
2006-11-25 19:31:33
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answer #4
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answered by question mon 1
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Answer questions here like I do, or write a book.
I wrote 70 chapters soon after 9/11.
Now I'm going to write a letter...and I'm starting a new book about a co-worker who was injured in an accident.
I do it when I can't sleep.
2006-11-25 19:32:51
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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There are different things that maybe the problems are why u cant sleep...It maybe could be that you are TOO tired to sleep, or do u think a lot if u are in bed??
2006-11-25 19:36:01
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Take a hot bath for an hour, it should help you to relax and go to sleep. Otherwise, listen to soft music, or read a book.
2006-11-25 19:48:39
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answer #7
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answered by Nikki 7
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for one, don't go for a walk, or run around your place....that will wake up your body, get the blood pumping, not help you to relax. Lay in bed, and visualize your body starting at your toes, and slowly working your way up, relaxing each muscle as you go. It takes your mind off the things your thinking of, and relaxes you at the same time.
2006-11-25 19:35:06
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answer #8
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answered by twinkies2469 2
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Drink hot tea, or milk. Both are used to promote calmness. try to unwind and not think about stressful stuff. And ya might wanna get off the computer. The bright light keeps your senses awake and aware, you want to calm your senses.
2006-11-25 19:33:15
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answer #9
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answered by Tori H 2
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well i can't say try sleeping pills, i'm kidding. i'm guess counting sheep/horses isn't helping. Maybe watch a movie, something relaxing to put you to sleep. Try not to eat any sugary or caffeine filled foods because they keep you awake. maybe even try to do something productive, cuz then it just might worn u out to sleep. :D Good Luck!
2006-11-25 19:33:40
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answer #10
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answered by bltmek 2
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