Stephen Kumalo And James Jarvis In Cry, The Beloved Country - Essay Example

Stephen Kumalo And James Jarvis In Cry, The Beloved Country Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis may be argued to be the leading characters in the novel by Alan, Wear and Durham. Their contribution assists in the shaping of the novel through the promotion of the respective themes. Their characters share a significant sense of similarity that is further coupled with a vivid touch of distinction. Offer a differing approach on the various challenges that face their communities. However, they remain committed towards the promotion of the considered sagacity of growth in the region. Seek to promote the growth of their region. The two characters epitomize a change of opinions and the promotion of efforts that are critical to the growth of their community. Comparison Both characters share a common angle of similarity. They are both parents of youthful sons. Their children live in a city away from their rural setting. Such perception allows them to remain out of touch with the respective children. Stephen Kumalo is the father of Absalom while James Jarvis is regarded as the parent of Arthur (Paton, Wear and Durham, 12). Apparently, their unification may be suggested to have been inspired by the crossing paths shared by their children. Their parental obligations allow them to embark on missions of locating their lost children. The eager upon which they undertake this agenda permits for the visualization of their parental interests. The prospective limiting capacity associated to their modes of livelihoods are presented as the elemental obstacles that obscure the interests of the characters. However, both parents are determined to reunite with their respective children. The second aspect of similarity relates to their parental descriptions. They both encounter tragic losses of their sons. James Jarvis is presented as the first victim after the murder of murder Arthur. However, the dispersion of the information remains not advised by the same sense of privileges. Stephen Kumalo receives the tragic news of the forthcoming loss of his son through a murder conviction. He later learns that James Jarvis is, indeed, the father of the murdered man (Paton, Wear and Durham, 46). Both parents express a sense of remorse on the losses. They tend to perceive the losses as a lack of parental responsibility. Such perceptions are further reflected in the interests they undertake in relation to their communities. The two characters are regarded as honourable in their communities. Stephen Kumalo is a native priest while James Jarvis is a wealthy property owner. However, the cementing of their interest is perceived alongside their efforts to reshape their communities. They share a common interest of harmonization, promoting to leadership positions in their society. James Jarvis presumes the lead in the promotion of a sense of integration with the locals, while Stephen Kumalo leads in the re-assembly of his crumbled society. Their interests may be described to be oriented on the harmonization of the interests of their respective communities. Stephen Kumalo represents the native members while James Jarvis captures the interests of the white settlers. The two parents, also, seem to be exhibiting a differing opinion in relation to that shared by their children. The impression is regarded with relation to the depth of opinions they express on the decisions made by their children. Stephen is a priest, a status that denounces him from embracing the radical opinions shared by his son Absalom. Conversely, James Jarvis seems not to relate with the impression of an oppressive white society that his shared by his son. He is, however, alienated from the ideology upon reading Arthur’s work. Contrasting The extensive descriptions of comparisons that are associated to the two characters is coupled further by a vast sense of distinction. There exist numerous entities of differences that define their respective qualities in the novel. They include the prominent perception of racial difference. James Jarvis is portrayed to be sourced from the white settler communities in the country, South Africa. Stephen Kumalo, on the other hand, captures the interests of the native population. The difference in the racial opinions shared by the two characters is exhibited when they are introduced to the city life. Stephen relates with the oppression that is channelled to his native community from the white settlers. He perceives the sense of racism as a prejudicial perceptions that seek to demean the rights of the native population. James Jarvis experiences a change in his racial opinion through the prospective encounter of his son’s publications (Paton, Wear and Durham, 171). The consideration on the separation period that is shared by the two parents with their children points on some sense of contrast. James Jarvis does not encounter much trouble in locating his son as compared to Stephen Kumalo. Stephen is forced to undertake extensive follow-ups prior to the meeting of his son. The considered discrete in connection may be accorded to the differing interactive capacities associated to the two parents. It may be further argued that their description is perceived as being critical in the description of the avenues upon which the demise of their children is considered (Paton, Wear and Durham, 101). Arthur perishes through a murderous attack that is perpetrated by Stephen’s son, Absalom. The demise is rather brief, and his father is not accorded an opportunity to have a moment with his son. The same may not be argued on Stephen since he is accorded an opportunity to share with his son prior to his execution. Their impression on the demands of their society is also distinctive by description. Stephen perceives his role as being pastoral to the community while James considers an entrepreneurial approach. Their differing interests are expressed further during the period that follows their sons. They support to the community via the consideration of approaches that expound on their interest. However, the respective interests tend to pair up in the quest to address the interests aspired by the targeted community (Paton, Wear and Durham, 190). Additionally, their differences in ideology and interests allow for the consideration of further measures upon which their leadership ambitions may be achieved. Such an observation allows for the quantification of their leadership edge as perceived by their community. Conclusion The two characters presume a defining role in the description of the plot. The roles are fetched from the distinctions in characters and preferences as expressed in the entire plot. Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis seem to be cut from a different racial background. However, such an observation does not refrain them from being jointly involved in the shaping of the interest of their community. They have been able to overcome their difference and harbour an encouraging set of similarities with respect to their character and personality. Their friendship may, also be anchored on the prospective description of these similarities as illustrated. It thus remains apparent that their character epitomizes the changes in interests shared by their respective communities. Such allows for the growth of the community as patronized by the two characters. Work cited Paton, Alan, G F. Wear, and R H. Durham. Cry, the Beloved Country. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd, 2006. Print. Read More