Cry, The Beloved Country

In the beginning of Cry, The Beloved Country, we are introduced to Stephen Kumalo, the main protagonist. Over the course of the book, Kumalo’s character changes and develops immensely. He is suddenly thrown into an entirely new world that he knows little about. He is forced to see the results of this new culture and how it has affected the people he loves.

Stephen Kumalo, as a character, proves to be remarkable realistic in a multitude of ways. Paton allows the reader to see Kumalo in many different situations and how he handles those situations. We see him lose his temper, stay calm, break down, and express many other reactions that we as humans experience all the time. By allowing Kumalo’s character to be flawed, it enables us to be able to relate to him, thus creating a realistic character.

One of Stephen Kumalo’s most distinctive negative attributes is his inability to control his tongue when he gets angry or overwhelmed. While Stephen Kumalo is at his brothers home he ends up getting angry and saying cruel words that end up getting Kumalo thrown out of his own brother’s home. The fact that he can’t control his temper is going to hurt many of his relationships, such as the one with his brother, which is why it is Kumalo’s biggest negative character trait.

Stephen Kumalo also has many positive attributes that make up his personality. His most prominent positive attribute would be his compassion for everyone around him. Kumalo really lets his compassion shine through when he takes in his sister, Gertrude, and her son, and promised to bring them back home to Ndotsheni. His compassionate side also comes through when he takes in his son’s girlfriend and her unborn child. Kumalo did not have to take these people under his wing and make sure they were cared for, but he did it. This shows that he is truly compassionate and cares about the well being of others besides himself.

Overall, Stephen Kumalo’s whole experience in Johannesburg has changed him considerably. Before going to Johannesburg, Kumalo was naïve and only knew about his native way of life. He had heard stories about the people that go to Johannesburg and never come back, but he couldn’t truly understand it until he went there. When he finally visited Johannesburg, he realized the way of life there was totally different than the way of life in Ndotsheni. In Johannesburg, the natives work hard day in and day out for a meager salary. Most natives found themselves turning to crime to stay alive and fight off starvation. Stephen Kumalo couldn’t understand this lifestyle since his life at home was so much different. In Ndotsheni life was less complex. Everyone knew everyone, and Stephen Kumalo, as a priest, was highly respected there. After Kumalo experiences Johannesburg, he is a changed person. He is no longer naïve. He gains an understanding of the world around him, and realizes his broken country can never be fully mended.