Set in apartheid South Africa, Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country portrays realistic characters by making them have human qualities, both negative and positive. The novel depicts both Msimangu and James Jarvis as compassionate because they help Stephen Kumalo in different ways. For instance, Msimangu, the main reverend at the Mission House, is compassionate because he aids Stephen in the search for Absalom, Stephen’s son. Msimangu goes everywhere, from Doornfontein to the reformatory school to the girl’s house with Stephen, trying to find Absalom and shielding Kumalo from the whole truth. Additionally, Msimangu gives Kumalo his Post Office book as a farewell present because he knows that Stephen needs the money more than him. Moreover, Msimangu always replies, “my hands are yours” (24) when Stephen inquires what he should do next, for Msimangu is always read

y to help his fellow umfundisi due to his awareness of Stephen’s suffering. James Jarvis, a wealthy landowner, assists Stephen by improving the village of Ndotsheni and the lives of Stephen’s people, even though Stephen’s son, Absalom, killed his son, Arthur. For example, when Stephen comes back to Ndotsheni and the children are dying from lack of milk, Jarvis sends it. Furthermore, Jarvis hires a planting demonstrator, Napoleon Letsitsi, to help teach the people of the village how to grow better crops and take care of the soil. Despite the fact that Stephen’s son killed his son, James Jarvis still finds it in his heart to be compassionate and kind to Stephen, as a kind of memorial to Arthur- “I have seen a man…who was in darkness till you found him”(272). Even though neither Msimangu nor Jarvis are somehow related to Stephen Kumalo, they demonstrate how really compassionate they are by succoring Stephen du

Some topics in this essay:
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