Cry, The Beloved Country: Response

I have to say at the outset that I thoroughly enjoyed Cry, The Beloved Country. Alan Paton does a marvelous job of capturing the desperate feelings of the characters as well as the times in which the lived. Yet, there is an ever present hope that resurfaces throughout the book as well. Paton masterfully interweaves these elements of human experience in a very real way.

Life is full of both mountaintop and valley experiences. Stephen Kumalo experiences them both in vivid ways. Cry, The Beloved Country begins with a description of the landscape that sets the tone for most of the book: from up on the mountains, from a distance, the land is lovely, the grasses flourishing, and the cattle grazing in the well-watered fields. Yet, up close it looks bleak; there is drought; the soil is depleted; crop yield is decreasing. There seems to be a parallel drawn through the book from this point on between the state of the land and the heart of Kumalo. He is wearing out and has been overworked, just as the land is, and the land can sustain the young people any more, and they move on into the great city of Johannesburg.

The one thing that I really love about the main characters of this book, that is Kumalo, Msimangu, and also Mrs. Lithebe, is that they are real. They themselves are open books. They hold nothing back, and are not sorry for the expression of their reactions to life’s situations, unless the response in an ungodly one. Each of these three characters exudes a humble attitude. Kumalo is expressly described as a humble man, and his demeanor, at most times, as well as his posture reflect this. Msimangu says of himself that he is a “weak and sinful man, but God has put His hands on [him], that is all” (248-9). Mrs. Lithebe feels that her only purpose in life is to serve others, and she does so lovingly, willingly, and wisely. And yet, each has their shortcomings. Each of them give in to their frustrations and speak in anger. However, they are also quick to repent of their misdeeds and seek forgiveness where possible.

These come in stark contrast to others such as John Kumalo and his son, as well as Gertrude, who live behind masks of fear and self-righteousness. They have succumbed to the subversive and subtle ways of the evil one. The contrast between these characters compared to the three previously mentioned, is shown most deeply in how they deal with fear. They hide behind lies, illicit lifestyles, and vociferous people-pleasing instead on dealing with their fears openly and head on.

According to Kumalo’s descriptions of Johannesburg, the city is ripe with fear. He himself is also fearful, but he is also demonstrably hopeful. He sets out for the city to find his son, and continues the quest until he has found him. Even during Absalom’s trial, he is hopeful. He is hopeful in regard to his sister and her reformation and desire to return with him to Ndotsheni. And in remarkable ways, God rewards his faith and hope. Although he loses his son and his sister, he is blessed with a new son as well as a daughter and grandchild.

At the end of the book, He finds relief in prayer before God on the top of a mountain overlooking the valley. The final description of the valley, waiting in hopeful expectation of the dawning of a new day, is a picture of the resurrection hope that Christians have. Kumalo’s heart is lifted up and he gives thanks and worships God. I am reminded of Elijah who was given water and cakes set out on a stone by the Angel of the Lord; the Angel said to him, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you” (1 Kings 19:7). Elijah is strengthened by the Lord’s goodness and provision, as is Kumalo. In a final look over the valley, Kumalo revels in the fact that the light will come to pierce the darkness, dispel the mist, and reveal the radiance of God’s work; he knows this will come to pass because of the faithfulness of the Creator. But even more so, he knows that although the timing is uncertain, the emancipation from the hardships of this life will also come, and for that he will continue to look forward to.

There are so many lessons that can readily be drawn from this book, more than I have outlined here. Paton does a wonderful job uncovering the human condition as it is, not as it appears. In the end, we are left looking forward in hope and expectation to the light of a new day shining in the darkness that we live in- God’s mercies are new every morning!