Meaningful Journeys in Cry, The Beloved Country Essay

Cry, the Beloved Country

In any journey, a person learns and changes. Change, wether it be good or bad, comes in many different forms, spiritual, mental and physical. Every important, life journey shares a common pattern. The journey begins with a question, a challenge to the meaning of ones life, a question that cant be answered by the journeyers current life situation. Therefore the questioner leaves his comfort zone, and journeys into the unknown to seek an answer. There, in the new world, his old beliefs are proven wrong as he wrestles with calamities that confront him. This process transforms the journeyer, and in the end, the journeyer always come out of the journey different than he was before. Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis both undertake many journeys in Cry, the Beloved Country, and they develop and change. Kumalo and Jarviss journey start from opposite beginnings, but brings them to a common understanding. Every journey starts off with a question, it so happens that Kumalo and Jarvis have the similar questions. Who is my son and what is the meaning of his death and how do I understand my country, South Africa? Kumalo lived in the small, poor, waterless town of Ndotsheni. Jarvis lives above Ndotsheni, on a large estate with wealth and a water supply. Ndotsheni is a place where the earth is dry and cracked, a place of old men and women, but still home. Jarviss estate, known as the High Place, is a place where The grass is rich and matted; it holds the rain and mist, and they seep into the ground, feeding the streams in every kloof. Nonetheless, Jarvis and Kumolo lead very similar lives. Their sheltered surroundings is their comfort zone, the only place they know. Their current lifestyles could not answer their questions because they know nothing of the outside world. Jarvis never truly agreed with his son, for he was so hidden from places like Ndotsheni. Even being right above them, Jarvis knew nothing of the black life. Kumalo never understood why Johannesburg had taken his family, and completely isolated them from him. Johannesburg is another country for Kumalo. Even being so close to him, Kumalo knew nothing of life there.Their separate journeys took both of them to Johannesburg, and they each returned home with a fuller understanding of a world bigger than home.

Kumalos first calamity in Johannesburg is finding his sister in a brothel. Initially there is shock, fear and pity, but then his deep gentleness returns to him, and he rescues her, but she knows nothing about his son Absalom. One day in Johannesburg, and already, the tribe was being rebuilt. Kumalo continues his search for Absalom. Each step of the way, people seem more and more frightened to speak of him, and he does not understand why they are so fearful. Eventually, he finds his sons fiance. As he comes to know her, he becomes enraged by her sexual promiscuity. A wild and cruel mood rose in Kumalo, until shame welled up in him, and with a priestly touch he accepted her into the tribe. Finally, he tracks his son to prison, an accused murderer. Hopelessly, he asks Absalom why he did these things. There is of course no adequate answer beyond fear. Kumalo feels forsaken, until his faith is renewed in witnessing Msimangus sermon in Ezenzelini. After Absaloms trial and the guilty verdict, at their final meeting, father and son make their peace. For a boy is afraid of death. The old man moved to it, by that deep compassion that was their within him, knelt by his son, and ran his hand over his head. Finally, Kumalo returns home, a changed man. Kumalo is now an old man, whos personal journey is also the journey of his people, all black South Africans. Reconnecting his tribe, he has had to face the anger, the fear and the shame of apartheid. On top of his mountain of solitude, he awaits the dawn of his sons death. He gave himself over to deep and ernest prayer, and after each petition he raised his eyes and looked to the east. And the east lightened and lightened, till he knew that the time was not far off... Ndotsheni is still in darkness, but the light will come there also.

James Jarviss journey begins upon learning of his sons murder. He travels to Johannesburg to his sons empty home. Murdered by a native, Jarvis acknowledges that he and his son did not see eye to eye on the native question.. Jarviss journey is an internal one, as he reads his sons writings to learn about the man he never fully knew. Alone, grieving with his wife, Jarvis whispered I never knew it would be so important to understand it... Theres one thing I dont understand, why it should have happened to him. Their son was a freedom fighter who fought for the rights of the natives. At his sons funeral, Jarvis ignored the talk of revenge and white contempt. But he returned to his sons home to read his final words and the re-education of James Jarvis is complete. He could not protect his sons life, nor shield his son from the crueltys of apartheid that hadnt touched his sons childhood on top of the hill. Jarviss transformation is completed when the two fathers meet, and Jarvis finds it in his heart to forgive Kumalos family.

Both mens journeys took them out of their sheltered lives, and into the pain and suffering, the fear and guilt of the apartheid South Africa. Through their sons, each man payed the ultimate price of apartheid. From opposite directions, they came to the same place. Kumalo writes a letter of apology to Jarvis. Along with his forgiving letter, Jarvis sends water to the children of Ndotsheni. Out of each fathers tragedy, faith and hope is restored. But when that dawn will come, of our emancipation, from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear, why, that is a secret. Every journey comes to an end, but in the end it is the journey itself that really matters.