Paton describes Kumalo as a man of religion and courage. For him to go and look to save his son in a terrible city gives Kumalo that courage and love for his son. Kumalo's hometown, Ndotsheni, is out in the country with peace, but then in Johannesburg is a big city with many people and has crimes. That makes it difficult to go to Johannesburg and find Absalom and try to save him. In the book it says that once someone goes to Johannesburg, they never come back. That is why Kumalo's son and daughter are in Johannesburg and they both do not write and visit Kumalo. Stephen Kumalo is the preacher of the church in Ndotsheni, which is a part of him being a man of religion. Throught the book, there are scenes where Kumalo has to go to God for help with his son and also is told to stay with God on the trial for Absalom.
The experience of the journey to Johannesburg for Kumalo has changed his view of life in the country, that the crime is worse than he could imagine and the struggle for the blacks to live. To find out that his son killed a white man was extremely difficult to still love his son and stick with him through the trial to free Absalom. Passion is brought to Kumalo from this tragic event because he finds a way to overlook what his son has done and still have the same love for him.
Paton's theme in book 1 of Cry, The Beloved Country is to have hope at all times no matter how bad things get. Kumalo has to keep praying and believing in God to help him save Absalom. Father Vincent told Kumalo to stay with God always. Kumalo has to believe that God will get them through the trial, and he does so they will eventually free Absalom. Then he will be able to go back home.
With the use of describing the land of South Africa, Paton is symbolizing the greatness that the country could be once apartheid is over. He goes into deep detail about the land because it demonstrates how it has change and that the lives for the blacks are difficult. This is also why he says that the blacks need to rebuild their country, which is talking about taking control of South Africa and becoming a united country. It also comes into the story by relating to Absalom's arrest and that the land foreshadows freedom for him from jail.
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