Stephen Kumalo

Kumalo has come to Johannesburg in an effort to reunite his family and bring his family back to how they were before they parted ways by moving to the big city. As a reverend, he also tries to extend his faith onto those that he meets. Because of his strong religious faith, he is a very forgiving, selfless, and humble man.

“‘ God forgives us, he says. Who am I not to forgive? Let us pray ’” (31).

This quote reveals his trust in God which leads him to be a very forgiving man. Because he can trust in God, he think he can trust in others as well.

“She cried out at him, You are hurting me also. He came to himself and said to her humbly, that I may not do” (9).

After yelling and arguing with his wife, Kumalo stops immediately after her wife says that he is hurting her. He maturely cherishes his personal relationships over his irrational emotions, allowing himself to love and care about others.

“Why did Sibeko not come to me himself, [Kumalo] asked.

He was afraid, umfundisi. He is not of our church.

Is he not of our people? Can a man in trouble go only to those of his church?” (13).

Kumalo can be represented by the Holy Cross. The cross embodies forgiveness because it is the symbol most associated with religion.. He is a very forgiving, gentle man because of the faith that is deeply instilled in his values. He has a strong trust in God, a higher power, so he extends that trust and forgiveness to dismiss others of their sins. As the second quote also shows, he is very willing to forgive himself because he is again a very faithful man and assumes that others share the same belief and trust in God to “forgive us our trespasses.” The cross is also very humble as it is only a simple cross, but it represents so much more about the nature and edicts of Christianity.