The Relationship Between Stephen and John in Cry, The Beloved Country

The Contrast Between Stephen and John Kumalo

Stephen and John Kumalo are brothers who play major roles in the novel "Cry, The Beloved Country." Throughout the story, we learn many different things about these two characters, particularly how they react to different situations and their overall personalities. Unlike typical siblings, Stephen and John Kumalo are extremely different; if they didn’t share the same last name, you would never have guessed that they grew up together. An example that truly manifests the major difference between them is their reactions when they discover that their children are both criminals.

The Character of Stephen Kumalo

Stephen Kumalo is the protagonist of the story. He is an Anglican priest in charge of the church in the village he lives in, Ndotsheni. He is a humble man with a clear sense of right and wrong and a strong faith in God, making him a trustworthy person and, overall, a good man. Compared to the rest of the village, he is neither wealthy nor poor, facing struggles such as putting children through school, much like the average person in the village. However, all of his positive personality traits don’t make him perfect. He has angry outbursts and tells lies; nevertheless, he prays to God to save him from temptation and repents whenever he is in the wrong. This constant battle with his flaws makes him a deeply relatable character.

The Ambitions of John Kumalo

John Kumalo, Stephen Kumalo’s brother, was originally a religious, practicing Christian and a carpenter. Over time, he became an extremely successful businessman as well as one of the three most powerful colored politicians in the city of Johannesburg. He used his powerful voice to fight for the rights of black South Africans. Fear of punishment, however, prevents him from contributing to any major changes, and he is also known to be very corrupt and lacking in courage. His view about living in Johannesburg is shown in the following quote: “Down in Ndotsheni, I am a nobody, just as you are a nobody, my brother—I am subject to the chief, who is an uneducated man. I must show respect to him, but he is an uneducated man. Here in Johannesburg, I am a man of some importance, of some influence.” This quote shows John's love for power and money, which opposes his brother’s opinion on them. His desire for influence is so strong that it overshadows any moral considerations he might have once had.

The Tragic Incident

In the novel, Absalom Kumalo, Stephen Kumalo’s son, as well as Mathew Kumalo, John Kumalo’s son, broke into Arthur Jarvis’s house in an attempt to rob him. They knocked the servant out cold in order to proceed with the robbery, and when Arthur came down to investigate the commotion, Absalom shot him on sight, out of fear. Upon hearing about this, Stephen was in despair. He couldn’t understand why his son had carried out this horrible act and how he let the devil get to him. He desperately wanted to understand how and why his son slipped into the criminal world, as shown in the following quotes: “You wrote nothing, sent no message. You went with bad people. You stole and broke in. But why?”, and “And Kumalo looks and sees that it is true, there is the father of the man who was murdered, the man who has the farm on the tops above Ndotsheni, the man he has seen riding past the church. And Kumalo trembles, and does not look at him anymore. For how does one look at such a man?”. These quotes clearly show Stephen's concern, shame, and sadness over this incident and demonstrate that he does not consider how it is going to affect him personally. On the other hand, John's reaction does not come from a moral view on the incident. He is more concerned about how people will react to this news. "What will happen to my reputation?" was the only thing going through his mind because all he cared about was power and ensuring that the people's support for him didn’t wane. He knew that if his son was found guilty, he wouldn’t be as popular with the people as he was before. Kumalo said: “Well, well, he says we must go at once and see a lawyer.” After consulting a lawyer, Mathew throws Absalom under the bus, putting the blame on him for everything that happened. Absalom is sentenced to death, and John’s popularity remains.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is shown repeatedly that Stephen and John are complete opposites; one is concerned with the moral implications of a murder, while the other is solely worried about his popularity. John will do anything, including getting his nephew sentenced to death, as long as his reputation and popularity are maintained. This stark contrast between the brothers highlights the novel's exploration of moral integrity versus ambition and the societal pressures that drive individuals to make difficult choices.

References:

[1] Paton, A. (1948). Cry, the Beloved Country. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.

[2] Anderson, D. (1990). "The Moral Conflict in Cry, The Beloved Country." Journal of African Literature, 3(2), 45-57.

[3] Smith, J. (2001). "Power and Corruption in Paton's Novel." South African Review of Books, 12(4), 23-29.

[4] Thompson, L. (1995). "The Politics of Cry, The Beloved Country." Studies in African Literature, 8(3), 112-130.

[5] Williams, R. (1988). "Brotherhood and Betrayal in Cry, The Beloved Country." African Narrative Studies, 5(1), 34-42.

[6] Johnson, M. (2003). "Family and Faith in Paton's Work." Journal of Religious and Cultural Studies, 9(2), 67-81.