” But there is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power. I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring only the good of their country, come together to work for it.” in this quote he express that the only solution to conflicts between white and black people is love. Christian love is the only salvation because it would overcome the power of man. 

Also, Theophilus is shown as a generous person in several of its actions, for example, “Kumalo went with his friend to the gate, and Msimangu said, I am forsaking the world and all possessions, but I have saved a little money. I have no father or mother to depend on me, and I have the permission of the Church to give this to you, my friend, to help you with all the money you have spent in Johannesburg, and all the new duties you have taken up.” In this part of the story, Msimangu gives Stephen Kumalo all his savings because his friend needed the money, and to cover all the expenses he had had in Johanneburg.

Moreover, Msimangu from the beginning of the story is shown as a respectful and modest person. We can see this clearly when he sends a letter to Stephen Kumalo to inform him that his sister was sick. In that letter, he never mentioned that Gertrude was a prostitute, so we can assimilate that it was a very respectful attitude from his part.

The meaning of the character for the reader is the awareness that he takes as he reads the experience of another person who suffered discrimination throughout his life. When the novel begins, Jarvis is ignorant of or indifferent to the injustices of South Africa. To understand his son, Jarvis reads Arthur’s writings about the injustices he perceives in South Africa, and he is moved by his son’s language and ideas. Jarvis does not undergo a political conversion so much as a moral one because he is not interested. James Jarvis character development can also have similarities with today society because of the unknown injustices and lack of information that are made due to discrimination and racism. Thanks to movements such as “Black lives matter”, people are more concern and inform about what is happening nowadays. With this character, we want to achieve awareness about the importance of being open to change and to contemplate on the people who suffer racism and discrimination. We also want to emphasize that a person can be confused for a long time with his thoughts, and the important is to change that. James Jarvis said "I do not say we are free here. I do not say we are free as men should be. But at least I am free of the chief. At least I am free of an old and ignorant man, who is nothing but a white man’s dog”. In this quote, John explains to Kumalo that while he can never be truly free as a black man living in South Africa, he feels freer in Johannesburg because there is no chief to dictate his actions. Since black people are living in a world of institutionalized racism, they will take whatever freedoms they can get, even while knowing their freedom doesn’t compare to a white person’s freedom. We want to leave a little message for all of you, as Alan Paton said “The tragedy is not that things are broken. The tragedy is that things are not mended again”. With this quote we want to convey you that the world can be full of injustices, discrimination and violence, the important thing is that we do something about it.

Throughout the novel, Kumalo develops his thoughts, expectations and settles his beliefs. He is portrayed as an open minded and serviceable man, always ready to help others, this is clearly shown after he returns from Johannesburg with his sister’s son and son’s girlfriend, being ready to offer them a new beginning, "I shall care for your child, my son, even as if it were my own", and by the end of the novel when he returns to Ndotsheni with health and educative developments. Kumalo ‘s remarkable characteristic in the novel is his innocent attitude towards people, a good example being after arriving at the big city, he trusts a man who ends up stealing his money. 

Stephen Kumalo is a reverend so it may not be surprising to describe him as a deeply religious man, but his beliefs in the novel are not settled or static as we would expect from someone who preaches. In fact, he delves into a spiritual (and physical) journey in which his faith is questioned as his moral compass is constantly stirred with the events that take place.

Nevertheless as lost and desolate he may find himself, Kumalo is through and through a tribal man with Christian customs. Reason for which he is highly respected and even revered in and out of his community. This is beautifully and powerfully portrayed in book 3 when Kumalo and the people of Ndotsheni pray in the tribal manner as a means to redemption and restoration. “ they kneel on the bear red earth, and he raises his hand, and his voice also, and strength comes into the old and broken man coma for is he not a priest?”

By the end of the novel, Kumalo is able to see the world with a more wholesome perspective, and at the same time remain true to himself. 

    

Kumalo’s spirituality is depicted in the song “You Say” by contemporary christian singer Lauren Diagle:

“You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

                                  ...

In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity”

Mattheu Kumalo a secondary but important character in the novel cry the beloved country is the son of John Kumalo and cousin of Absalon. In the novel he is mainly know as a friend of Absalon how committed the robbery, but he did not say the same to the judge he denied being part of the robbery were Absalon murdered a white man. With the pass of the novel the reader discovers that he is one of the persons you couldn’t depend on. Because he will always do what is convenient for him, such us his father would up do.