The Effect of Fear

“An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” Fear is something that all of us feel from the beginning of our existence. Fear only increases as we begin to learn and grow, and our knowledge of the world grows. Fear is something that we know from the start, but only know more about with time. This innate emotion is a strong one. It will drive us to move mountains, or to stand idle, and do nothing at all. Fear is an almost tangible monster that can hit us with a gut wrenching force, and throw us down hard.

Fear is something that is very well known, but is almost always unwelcome. There is never a time when fear, at its core, is enjoyed. Although there are those who, at times, wish to feel that exciting rush of fear, and to thrust themselves in that situation, they are not looking for the fear that sickens. They are not looking for the fear that will drive you off the edge, and make you succumb to the power that it wields. This fear is paralyzing, and will make the strongest weep before it. When this fear paralyzes, it does not allow for action.

Alan Paton was able to show fear, and to describe it very well in the novel Cry, the Beloved Country. He is able to captivate the reader, and to make them understand what the people of South Africa are feeling, and experiencing. In many of the poetic paragraphs in the book, he is able to talk to the reader, and to tell them how the people of South Africa fear the world they live in. In the book he talks about how Christians call themselves Christian, or at least how the whites do. Paton does give this message vicariously through one of the characters, Arthur Jarvis’, notes that had been written down after his death. But the whites discriminate and hate. The whites do not show equality to the blacks, and even FEAR them. This fear is one of the effects it has, as it will lead to inequality and injustice. Another instance fear is portrayed in the book is when Paton, as himself, the author, sadly says not to be too happy, or too hopeful. He says not to love the things of the land too much, for it will only lead to sadness, and disappointment. This is because of the fear that is passed on from generation to generation. This is the circle of fear that so few are able to escape from. Because fear is something innate, something universal, it works with Paton when he tries to make the reader understand. The readers ARE able to understand, for fear is something that is well known. It is, however, up to the reader to decide how this will affect them, or how much they choose to understand, to empathize. That is something that Alan Paton cannot do, but can influence. The people of South Africa clearly suffered from the sickness that we call fear, and it is a sad, sad thing. Again, it was portrayed well by Alan Paton, the Author of Cry, the Beloved Country.