Psychologists often battle on the idea of 'Nature vs. Nurture', or the idea that people's character
are decided by either genetic inheritance or their surroundings. In Cry, the Beloved Country, two b
rothers, John and Stephen Kumalo, are shown to have distinctly different values, although they are o
f the same family. Alan Paton, through his juxtaposition of John Kumalo and Stephen Kumalo, provide
s a correlation between a person's environment and a person's character. John Kumalo, a shopkeeper a
nd politician, shares few characteristics in common with his brother Stephen Kumalo. John Kumalo is
an inhabitant of Johannesburg and is a man accustomed to city-life. Here in Johannesburg, the city
develops in John a value for money and political power. John tells Stephen that, 'Down in Ndotsheni
I am nobody, .... Here in Johannesburg I am a man of some importance, of some influence. I have my
own business, and when it is good, I can make ten, twelve, pounds a week'(35), showing his concern f
or money and political influence over his own homeland. Msimangu describes John as having 'not enou
gh courage, for he would surely be sent to prison'(39), showing his view that while John may speak f
or a cause, he will not go as far as to be put in jail for it. Later, the narrator of the story says
:
There are some men who long for martyrdom, there are those who know that to go to prison would br
ing greatness to them, these are those who would go to prison not caring if it brought greatness to
them or not. But John Kumalo is not one of them. There is no applause in prison. (185-186)
This f
urther shows John Kumalo as a selfish man, acting for his own good rather than the good of the peopl
e which he claims to represent. John Kumalo, as a result of living in the city, becomes a self-cent
ered person more concerned about money and political power than the people and environment around hi
m.
Stephen Kumalo, a reverend, is quite different from his brother John. He is a humb
le man who has a great amount of love for his family and country. Stephen Kumalo, in contrast to hi
s brother's view that associate power with money and politics, believes that '...there is only one t
hing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and t
herefore has power'(39). Stephen then goes on to say, 'I see only one hope for our country, and tha
t is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring only the good of t
heir country, come together to work for it'(39-40), showing concern for his fellow man, both black a
nd white. However, Stephen Kumalo knows that the country is dying as people are moving into the cit
y, which attracts people with opportunities for advancement in social and economic status. As a per
son who does not live in the city, Stephen is able to see more valuable principles of life than mone
y and political power, like love and peace. Stephen Kumalo is a man who is dedicated to the people a
nd country around him.
Paton further shows the effects of an environment on a person's
character by putting both John and Stephen Kumalo in similar family situations: the sons of both J
ohn and Stephen are accused of murder. John, a power monger and product of city values, has given u
p on his son and moved on to more important matters which involve him more than his son. He cares ve
ry little of his son's well-being. Stephen, however, shows great concern for his son and gives his
son support while in court. Stephen demonstrates his love for his son even after his son's death by
his prayers. Stephen Kumalo displays moral and ethical values in his concern for his son, while Jo
hn Kumalo displays his own values in his lack of concern for his son.
John and Stephen
show contrasting values throughout Cry, the Beloved Country in their views on power, concerns of th
e people around them, and their actions in concerning their sons. Through John and Stephen Kumalo, A
lan Paton shows his view that a person's character is based on the environment around him and not on
the blood that runs through him.psychologists often battle idea nature nurture idea that people cha
racter decided either genetic inheritance their surroundings beloved country brothers john stephen k
umalo shown have distinctly different values although they same family alan paton through juxtaposit
ion john kumalo stephen kumalo provides correlation between person environment person character john
shopkeeper politician shares characteristics common with brother stephen inhabitant johannesburg ac
customed city life here johannesburg city develops value money political power tells that down ndots
heni nobody here johannesburg some importance some influence have business when good make twelve pou
nds week showing concern money political influence over homeland msimangu describes having enough co
urage would surely sent prison showing view that while speak cause will jail later narrator story sa
ys there some long martyrdom there those know prison would bring greatness them these those would pr
ison caring brought greatness them them there applause this further shows selfish acting good rather
than good people which claims represent result living city becomes self centered person more concer
ned about money political power than people environment around reverend quite different from brother
humble great amount love family country contrast brother view associate power with politics believe
s only thing completely love because when loves seeks therefore then goes only hope country when whi
te black desiring neither desiring only their come together work showing concern fellow both black w
hite however knows dying moving into which attracts with opportunities advancement social economic s
tatus does live able more valuable principles life than like love peace dedicated around paton furth
er shows effects environment character putting both similar family situations sons both accused murd
er monger product values given moved more important matters which involve cares very little well bei
ng however shows great concern gives support while court demonstrates even after death prayers displ
ays moral ethical values while displays lack show contrasting throughout beloved their views concern
s around actions concerning sons through alan paton view based blood runs throughEssay, essays, term
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