Character Analysis-Cry The Beloved Country

1. REV.KUMALO
Private life:
· A loving and caring family man-e.g. the way he responds to Gertrude and Absolem

Public life:
· He is seen as a god fearing man
People’s perception:
· H is seen as a patient man e.g. the way he responds to the bus strike

2. JAMES JARVIS
Private life:
· Good person, he didn’t get involved in apartheid issues
· Family man, he doesn’t stay in the city but prefers living the farm life with his family

Public life:
· Careless of politics I the country
· He later helps people of Indotsheni
People’s perception:
· Kept to himself
· Was a respected man by those in Indotsheni

3. ABSOLEM KUMALO
Private life:
· Inconsiderate, he leaves the girl who is pregnant with his child
· Foolishness due to social dislocation

Public life:
· Criminal
· Steels due to the bad company
People’s perception:
· Murderer
· Good person within him, does great at the reformatory and gets released soon

4. THEOPHILUS MSIMAGU
Private life:
· Caring person
· Helpful to Rev. Kumalo
· priest of Mission House

Public life:
· Well known priest
· Spiritual person
People’s perception:
· Good man
· Religious person with noble qualities

5. JOHN KUMALO
Private life:
· Socially dislocated
· He is corrupt and supports his sons lies

Public life:
· Political activist and public speaker
People’s perception:
· The church dislikes him, he is power hungry
· He is looked at as a good and strong man because he stands up for injustice

6. GERTRUDE KUMALO
Private life:
· Socially dislocated
· Good person-Wants to become nun later
· Fear, she wants to find her husband and therefore come to JHB where she lost her morals

Public life:
· Prostitute, becomes one because of social dislocation and a loss of morals
People’s perception:
· A person with bad morals because she comes from a good home but resorts to prostitution

7. ARTHUR JAVIS
Private life:
· President of African boy’s club
· Interactive person, speaks Zulu

Public life:
· A staunch opponent of South Africa’s racial injustices
· Interested in black people
People’s perception:
· Wealthy man
· Strong beliefs, did not give into apartheid