The descriptions of the social environment in Ndotsheni and in Johannesburg therefore repeat the emphasis on the poverty and suffering of black people. However, the love and care of the community in Ndotsheni contrasts with the fear and distrust of people living in Johannesburg. Black and white are corrupted by greed for more money and power.
Place: The simplicity of the hilly landscape of rural Natal, the farm High Place and the valley of Ndotsheni contrasts with the complex layout of gold mines and skyscrapers of the city, Johannesburg, and its surrounding townships.
Msimangu, who guides Reverend Kumalo in the city, explains the layout of the townships at the beginning of Chapter Six in Book One (p. 23 in your school edition). “It is not far to Claremont. They lie together: Sophiatown, where any man may own property, Western Native Township which belongs to the Municipality of Johannesburg, and Claremont, the garbage-heap of the proud city.”
Mood and atmosphere: The description of the mood and atmosphere in which the action of the novel takes place varies according to the specific context of the setting. For example, in Book One, Chapter Four, the description of Reverend Kumalo’s first glimpse of Johannesburg from the train creates a restless atmosphere. He is overwhelmed and confused by the high buildings and the never-ending changing of colours. “He sees great high buildings; there are red and green lights on them, almost as tall as the buildings. They go on and off. Water comes out of a bottle, till the glass is full. Then the lights go out. And when they come on again, lo the bottle is full and upright, and the glass is empty. And there goes the bottle over again. Black and white, it says, black and white, though it is red and green. It is too much to understand.” (pp. 13–14 in your school edition).
This description of the restless atmosphere in Johannesburg contrasts with descriptions of the tranquillity of a rural landscape in the first chapters of Books One and Two and in the last chapter of Book Three.
3.5 Characterisation
3.5.1 Setting influences character development
You don’t behave exactly the same at school and at home; you act and react differently when you are in a different environment. When you return to your home town from your trip to another town or holiday destination, you feel that you have learnt something. You are not the same person you were when you left. You have experienced different people in a different setting. Your view of the world has developed based on your new experiences.
Similarly, setting in Cry, the Beloved Country influences character development. The two main characters in the novel who changed most are Reverend Kumalo and James Jarvis. They leave Ndotsheni for Johannesburg. When they return to Ndotsheni, their experiences in Johannesburg have changed their worldviews because the borders of their world have expanded.
The structure of the novel contrasts the different views and worlds of Reverend Kumalo and James Jarvis by presenting Reverend Kumalo’s view in Book One and James Jarvis’ view in Book Two. However, they share the same landscape. The same description of the hilly rural landscape appears at the beginning of the first chapter in Book One and in Book Two. This repetition emphasises the fact that Reverend Kumalo and James Jarvis share a love for the same countryside where both have grown up and live. The structure of the novel is cyclic, that is, it forms a circle from beginning to end. Book Three describes their return and how they use their enriched worldviews to restore and develop the community of Ndotsheni.
The schematic presentation below illustrates how the structure of the novel supports Paton’s plea for land and social reform. Both main characters undergo change and growth in Johannesburg in order to restore the farmlands and the community of Ndotsheni so that they are better prepared to face the challenges of a developing country.
3.5.2 Applying the growth test to the characters in Cry, the Beloved Country
A novel has both round and flat characters. Round characters have undergone significant change and growth during the course of the novel. They are the main characters. Flat characters have stayed the same or they have not changed or grown much. They are the minor characters. Minor characters are also important in the novel. They support the development of the major characters. For example, John Kumalo’s moral corruption in Johannesburg contrasts with his brother’s sincere efforts to restore his family’s moral values.
To do: Read the list of characters in the following table. Look at the brief descriptions of who they are. Use your knowledge and understanding of them to decide whether they are round (main) characters or flat (minor) characters. Think of what the characters were like at the beginning of the story and whether, and how, they have changed towards its end. Consider whether they have grown in their ability to demonstrate compassion for those who are suffering. Have they used their compassion to ease suffering? Tick (P) your answer in the appropriate box (Round or Flat).
| Character | Who are they? | Round (major) | Flat(minor) |
| Reverend Stephen Kumalo | An old parson (Zulu priest) of St Mark’s Church in the valley of Ndotsheni. | ||
| Mrs. Kumalo | She is only known as Reverend Kumalo’s wife. | ||
| Theophilus Msimangu | A reverend at the Mission House in Sophiatown. He is the host and guide of Stephen Kumalo in Johannesburg. | ||
| Father Vincent | A priest from England who stays at the Sophiatown Mission. | ||
| Mrs. Lithebe | A woman from the church in Sophiatown. | ||
| Gertrude Kumalo | Reverend Kumalo’s sister. | ||
| John Kumalo | Reverend Kumalo’s brother who becomes a successfull businessman. | ||
| Absalom Kumalo | Reverend Kumalo’s son. | ||
| Absalom’s girlfriend | She is only known as Absalom’s girlfriend, and after the marriage, as his wife. | ||
| Matthew Kumalo | John Kumalo’s son. | ||
| Johannes Pafuri | A thief who leads the robbery at Arthur Jarvis’ house, where he used to work as a garden-boy. | ||
| Mr. Carmichael | Absalom’s lawyer. | ||
| The Judge | The judge who presides over the case of Arthur Jarvis’ murder. | ||
| Dubula | A committed political leader, who fights for the rights of black labourers. | ||
| Tomlinson | A clever political leader, who fights for the rights of black labourers. | ||
| James Jarvis | A white farmer of High Place, a farm above the valley of Ndotsheni. | ||
| Margaret Jarvis | James Jarvis’ wife. | ||
| Arthur Jarvis | James Jarvis’ son who has been shot dead by Absalom. | ||
| Mary Jarvis | Arthur Jarvis’ wife. | ||
| “The small boy” | Arthur Jarvis’ son. | ||
| Mr. Harrison | Mary Jarvis’ father. | ||
| John Harrison | Mary Jarvis’ brother. | ||
| Barbara Smith | One of Margaret Jarvis’ favourite nieces. | ||
| The chief | The chief of the Reserve in which the valley of Ndotsheni lies. | ||
| The headmaster | The headmaster of the school at Ndotsheni. | ||
| Napoleon Letsitsi | The young agricultural demonstrator in Ndotsheni. |
3.5.3 Creating characters
Authors use various techniques to bring their characters to life and to convince the reader that they are real. In Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton uses characters’ titles and names; descriptions of what the characters look like; what they say (dialogue); what they do (action); what they think to show and tell a convincing “story of comfort in desolation”.
Characters’ titles and names
Reverend Kumalo: He is introduced as “The Reverend Stephen Kumalo” (p. 3 in your school edition). He is called umfundisi in isiZulu. It is