Cry The Beloved Country Essay

In the opening chapters of Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, Reverend Stephen
Kumalo, an older South African-native parson, must make an immediate two-day journey to his nation’s capital, the large and mysterious Johannesburg. The year is 1946; Kumalo’s home village is called Ndotsheni, and is located in Natal. He has lived his whole life here, in the “slow tribal rhythm;” he fears Johannesburg, for some of his family have left Ndotsheni for it and nothing more is heard of them. But on a quiet day in September, a letter arrives, bringing tidings of the lost. An Anglican priest in Johannesburg, Msimangu, writes Kumalo, speaking of Kumalo’s younger sister, Gertrude. Gertrude had went to Johannesburg to look for her husband, but never came back. Msimangu informs the parson that Gertrude is morally sick, and that the old man should come to the city. Kumalo stays in Johannesburg for many months, and while is there learns about the world and the root causes of many problems, and understands why in his village the crops are dying, why the culture is dying. He is no longer naïve.
One obvious reason to think that Kumalo is humble is because the author says many times that he is so; Kumalo also often says things in a humble way. But Kumalo’s actions also show this fact. For example, when Kumalo travels to Johannesburg, he shares a train car with sweaty, smelly villagers. But he does not consider himself too fine to sit in a car with them; the text says he did not mind. And when Kumalo finally arrives at the “Mission House,” Msimangu’s residence, and Msimangu asks him if this is his first time in Johannesburg, Stephen Kumalo does not hesitate to give credit to a man who guided him to the House; “I am much confused, he said.” (He is referring to his guide, who is present with them.) “I owe much to our friend.” In these instances, as well as on the word of the author, one can be sure of Kumalo’s