Cry, the Beloved Country
Soohyun Son
Mr. Vogel (2A)
AP English IV Literature
18 September 2017
Cry, The Beloved Country Essay
The Korean War, the Forgotten War that the US fought in, caused a massive destruction. The Vietnam War also caused massive destructions for the government and the environment. However, these 2 wars were more painful than most wars because of its destruction of families. Families were split while evacuating, while fighting and while trying to save each other. Author Alan Paton of Cry, the Beloved Country uses Stephen Kumalo, a reverend in a small country out in South Africa, to symbolize that when one realizes that relatives are in trouble, one will propel oneself into any uncomfortable circumstances, unfamiliar territories and risk everything to help recover, proving that nothing can break the bonds within family.
Putting oneself out into uncomfortable situations is not easy for anyone. Stephen Kumalo is compelled to leave his “great red hills” back in Ndotsheni and more importantly, his wife, whom Stephen Kumalo dearly cares for (Paton 34). At first, when Stephen listens to the letter, he is deeply worried. However, as he realizes that he must give up the chance that their son has “to learn that knowledge without which no black man can live”, Kumalo’s voice “rose into loud and angry words” because he knew at heart that this money would not be able to be used for Absalom, but Stephen simply did not want to accept the fate (Paton 39) (Paton 39). He is really put into an uncomfortable circumstance as he finds out that his words have been hurting his dearly wife. This moment ruined the respectful nature that were displayed within this household and Stephen, for the first time in the book, is seen uncomfortable, not only because he became angry, but also because of his tirade out of bitterness of the situation that hurt his wife’s feelings. Stephen is also very much unfamiliar with Johannesburg and he lies as if he is familiar with the setting to keep his reputation as a respectable man. He says to his companion at the train station that “I shall be busy. I have many things to do in Johannesburg… It is always so” (Paton 43-44). This, however, is not true because this is his first time that he is going to Johannesburg. It becomes more of an uncomfortable situation when Stephen’s fellow passengers find out that Stephen has not been to Johannesburg because he asks, “is this Johannesburg” to passing landscape that have been modernized (Paton 46). Throughout the story, Stephen Kumalo is having to from house to house to find his precious son, which is not only an uncomfortable situation, but also because Stephen is in a city in which he is not familiar with anyone he meets, save Msimangu and the mission house people. However, Stephen is very uncomfortable when he finds out that his son, Absalom, had been stealing “many goods, white people’s goods” and bringing them into Mkize’s house as Absalom was residing in her house (Paton 97). Stephen Kumalo is fearful of what has happened in Johannesburg when he first listens to the letter and is put into many uncomfortable circumstances that he would have never had to be in had he not gotten the notice of his family’s whereabouts. At first, he is in a uncomfortable circumstance at home. His immediate nuclear family is about to break down as he gets angry for the first time in the story. He is also put into a train to Johannesburg which is uncomfortable enough for Stephen to find tranquility in “his sacred book… that was certain” (Paton 44). Not only that but he is having to go house to house in different cities that Absalom resided and having learned that his son had been stealing, he is very uncomfortable. However, even with all these uncomfortable circumstances that lead to one another, Stephen Kumalo does not stop his continues search for his son and the reconciliation of his family, including that cunning John Kumalo.
There is no one in the world who is comfortable with going to an unfamiliar place. People even research their vacation destinations so that they would not be too unfamiliar place. However, Stephen Kumalo is compelled to go to Johannesburg the very next morning since receiving the letter. In fact, he is to bring his entire assets of “twelve pounds, five shillings and seven pence… [and] ten pounds” that the Kumalo couple had been saving for a new stove, clothes and, most importantly, for Absalom’s education at St. Chads (Paton 40). By the tone, Stephen is very saddened by the fact that he is to go to the unfamiliar and notorious Johannesburg, the city that “when people go… they do not come back” (Paton 39). The author puts that Stephen Kumalo “rose heavily to his feet” and went to “pray in the church” to describe his ambivalence while being afraid (Paton 40). It is undeniable that going to an unfamiliar, except for its notorious culmination of no return, place is hard for Stephen Kumalo. He is deeply sorrowful and ambivalent towards his journey to Johannesburg because he does not know what he will encounter. However, as a tribal member, a reverend, a family member and a father, he does not hesitate after talking with his wife to go to the so-called land-of-no-return to keep together what he thinks is the most important thing: family.