Cry, the Beloved Country Characters

Reverend Stephen Kumalo

When we try to pin down a personality for our main character Stephen Kumalo, it's actually kind...

Father Vincent

Father Vincent is a young, "rosy-cheeked" (1.11.7) English priest who lives at the Mission House...

Absalom

Absalom is Kumalo's only child, and he's also one of the main reasons that Kumalo arrives in...

Reverend Theophilus Msimangu

The Reverend Theophilus Msimangu's first name comes from the Ancient Greek meaning "friend of...

John Kumalo

John Kumalo is our Kumalo's little brother. He owns a shop in Johannesburg, but his real pride...

Gertrude

Gertrude is Kumalo's little sister—much littler, in fact, since she is twenty-five years...

Absalom's Girl

Absalom's lady friend shares some characteristics with Gertrude, Kumalo's sister. She has had a...

The Young Man From the Reformatory

A reformatory is like a reform school or a detention center for youths. This "young man" is a...

James Jarvis

James Jarvis owns a wealthy farm accurately named "High Place" in the hills above Ndotsheni. Like...

Arthur Jarvis

We find out about Arthur Jarvis's shooting long before we know for sure that his father James...

Minor Characters

Okay, this family relation is kind of complicated: John Harrison is Mary Jarvis's brother. Mary...