Stephen Kumalo, a
prominent character in Cry, The Beloved Country, could be described as
a dynamic character. He endures many difficulties and faces many
fears throughout the novel. A preacher, a father, and a brother, Stephen Kumalo
is expected to be the epitome of a righteous man. Alan Paton shows through
Kumalo that everyone fails from time to time, despite what is expected of him
or her.
With Stephen Kumalo
being a preacher, readers expect him to constantly be praying, preaching, serving,
and studying. Kumalo does not fail at his profession, but rather he shows
readers how difficult some situations can be. Kumalo says to Msimangu when he is
invited to come pray, “There is no prayer left in me. I am dumb here inside. I
have no words at all” (page 67). This portion of the novel marks the point
where Kumalo is so exhausted and overcome with emotion that he no longer has a
desire to pray and grow in his faith. This is not outrageous because it happens
to people of every religion, race, and country. It is not out of the norm to
lose faith, but people rarely think of preachers struggling with their faith
because they are always viewed as righteous and holy.
Stephen Kumalo is
horrified at the news of his son's murdering a white man, as any father would be.
Despite the disappointment that comes about with this overwhelming news, when
Kumalo visits Absalom in the prison, he says, “My child, my child… At last I
have found you” (page 130). Any other father would be enraged with his son in
this first moment, but Kumalo shows compassion and care for his son despite his
mistakes. He has long awaited the reunion with his son and he is not going to
let his emotions get the best of him. John Kumalo, who acts as a foil to
Stephen Kumalo, encourages his son to lie in this situation and sets a bad
example for his son. If he cared for the well-being of his son like Stephen
Kumalo does, he would encourage his son to make the virtuous decision.
Stephen Kumalo would
have never traveled to Johannesburg if not for a letter from a fellow preacher
warning him that his sister, Gertrude, was sick. When Kumalo found his sister,
he realized that her "sickness" was actually prostitution. While
talking with her for the first time in what seems like an eternity, "His
eyes fill with tears, his deep gentleness returns to him. He goes to her and
lifts her from the floor to the chair. Inarticulately he strokes her face, his
heart filled with pity." (page 61). It is human nature to be angry or
upset when someone discovers something that displeases him or her. Though Kumalo
was probably disappointed in this moment, he showed love to his sister who had
not experienced real love and compassion since moving to Johannesburg. This action
shows a lot about Kumalo's self-control and character altogether.
If Stephen Kumalo had
never risked the journey to Johannesburg, he would still be the naive preacher
from the tribe. He never would have seen his brother, sister, or son again. His
faith would not have been tested so strongly. He would have never realized that
the tribe is broken for good. Though many of these realizations pained him,
they made him stronger as well. Alan Paton shows through Kumalo that
expectations and stereotypes do not define a person - actions do.
