South Africa and America had many similarities when it came to the segregation of blacks and whites, and whites not wanting to lose the power over black people. In the novel Cry, The Beloved Country, there is an individual who wants a change in this oppression named Stephen Kumalo. Stephen's life consisted of traveling to Johannesburg to reunite with his children after living his entire life in a rural community, only to discover that his son has become a murderer and will be sentenced to death. Throughout his long and dismal spiritual journey, Stephen Kumalo meets characters who affect him positively, such as Msimangu who teaches him love, Father Vincent who influences him to pray and let Christ act through him , and James Jarvis who influences Stephen to be more forgiving and look at society in a different light, which encourages him to grow as a man. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the first example, Msimangu teaches Stephen the truth about love and its power. Msimangu explains to Stephen the truth about society, that if black men had power, they would only enjoy money and power and would be just as bad as white people because both are guilty races. In this discussion, Msimangu also shares what he thinks it will take for society to be fixed: "There is only one thing that has complete power, and that is love...I don't see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but only desiring the good of their country, come together to work for it.” Merriam Webster’s denotation of love states: “Unselfish, loyal, and benevolent concern for the good of others.” By sharing his thoughts about the country with the very docile Stephen, Stephen learns that to love means to help people. He also learns how powerful love is and that it is the only thing that can save their country. Stephen's transformation is prominent during his conversation with Napoleon Letsitsi about the restoration of Africa: “But hate no one and desire power over no one. Because I have a friend who taught me that power corrupts.” This friend Stephen is referring to is Msimangu. Stephen took his lessons and used them to teach Napoleon Letsitsi the truth of the world and how to love. This is exactly what Msimangu wants: to improve people like Stephen and get them to share their love with others. Overall, Msimangu positively changed Stephen by telling him how to address segregation and inequality, thereby giving hope for Africa's future. In the second example, Father Vincent inspires Stephen to trust God more and be more spiritual in life. After Stephen's son is punished, Father Vincent explains how to pray correctly: “Pray for your own rebuilding. Pray for all white people, those who do justice, and those who would do justice if they were not afraid…give thanks where you can give thanks. Because nothing is better.” The Father also said some things that you should not pray for, such as yourself, nor ask to understand the ways of God, because they are secret. Besides, Vincent talks about praying, it seems that he also believes in love by putting others before himself. Later in the conversation, Father Vincent shows Stephen how he coexists with Christ as a part of him: “We do what is in us, and why this is in us is also a secret. It is Christ in us.” The Father.