Discussion Topic
Stephen Khumalo's Journey to Johannesburg: Motivations and Lessons
Summary:
Stephen Kumalo's journey to Johannesburg in Cry, the Beloved Country is prompted by a letter about his sister Gertrude's illness and his desire to find his son, Absalom, and see his brother, John. Through this journey, Stephen learns about the harsh realities and corruption in the city, including the challenges faced by young people drawn to urban areas. He realizes the importance of caring for the land to keep people in their rural homes and avoid the city's pitfalls.
What does Stephen learn from his Johannesburg journey in Cry, the Beloved Country?
From his journey to Johannesburg, Stephen Kumalo learns that there are great changes taking place in South Africa, and that they are represented, for better or for worse, in the city of Johannesburg. The author says about Stephen,
"The great city had opened his eyes to something that had begun and must now be continued. For there in Johannesburg things were happening that had nothing to do with any chief".
Stephen sees the corruption and despair his people experience in the city. The young people of the rural areas are drawn to the urban areas in hopes of making a better living there, but for the most part, they cannot find work, and live in squalor and desperation. The temptations found in the city are great, especially when a person has nothing; indeed, Stephen's own son is a victim, falling among bad acquaintances and committing crimes which eventually lead to his capture...
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and execution.
Through his experiences in Johannesburg, Stephen knows that the change that has begun cannot be stopped. The land in the country is poor and cannot support all who depend on it, so people, notably the young, have little recourse other than to seek something better in the city. Having seen what his people are up against in Johannesburg, however, Stephen has come to believe that every effort should be made to "try to keep some of them in (the) valley", in their rural homes. Stephen thinks that the only way this can be done is "by caring for (the) land before it is too late...by teaching (the young) in the school how to care for the land. Then some at least would stay in Ndotsheni", instead of fleeing to the dangerous environment of the city (Chapter 31).
What prompts Stephen Khumalo's journey to Johannesburg in Cry, the Beloved Country?
Stephen Kumalo heads from his home in Ndotsheni to Johannesburg because he receives a letter from a minister. The letter explains that Stephen's sister, Gertrude, is unwell. As a minister himself, Stephen does not hesitate to go and help her when he learns that help is needed.
Despite the trip being both arduous and expensive, Stephen also hopes to find his son, Absalom, who had left for Johannesburg and never returned home. Visiting Johannesburg also gives Stephen the opportunity to see his brother, John, who is a politician and businessman.
I would argue that the factor which prompted Stephen to go to Johannesburg is to help various members of his family in any way that he can. This proves far more difficult than he could ever have imagined. He will have to come to terms with the fact that his sister has resorted to prostitution and selling alcohol to make a living. Over and above convincing Gertrude to come home, he endures the pain of learning that his son has spent time in reform school and is now a murderer.
Stephen takes further action to help his family, making arrangements for Absalom's pregnant girlfriend to become his daughter-in-law and return to Ndotsheni as part of the family. Everything he does is prompted by love and compassion for various members of his family.