Cry, the Beloved Country Character List
Stephen Kumalo—An elderly Zulu priest who has spent all of his life in the village of Ndotsheni. He sets out on a journey to bring his sister, son, and nephew back from Johannesburg.
James Jarvis—A white landowner who farm overlooks Ndotsheni. His son is murdered in Johannesburg.
Theophilus Msimangu—Stephen Kumalo’s host and guide in Johannesburg; he is a tall, young minister at the Mission House in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.
Absalom Kumalo—Stephen Kumalo’s son
John Kumalo—Stephen Kumalo’s brother; a successful businessman and a powerful politician in Johannesburg
Arthur Jarvis—son of James Jarvis; he is murdered by thieves who break into his house
Mrs. Kumalo—Stephen Kumalo’s strong-minded, supportive, and loving wife
Gertrude Kumalo—Stephen Kumalo’s sisters and the original reason for his trip to Johannesburg
Gertrude’s son—Kumalo’s nephew
Mrs. Lithebe—The woman with whom Kumalo stays in Johannesburg.
The Young Man—A young, white man who works at the reformatory and attempts to reform Absalom
Father Vincent—An Anglican priest from England who stays at the Sophiatown Mission and offers to help Kumalo with his troubles.
Absalom’s Girlfriend—kindhearted and quite sixteen-year-old girl whom Absalom has impregnated
Margaret Jarvis—James Jarvis’ wife
John Harrison—the brother of Mary Jarvis, Arthur Jarvis’ wife
Arthur’s son—son of Arthur Jarvis who learns Zulu from Stephen Kumalo
Napoleon Letsitsi—the agricultural expert hired by James Jarvis to teach better farming techniques to the people of Ndotsheni
Matthew Kumalo—John Kumalo’s son who denies having been at the murder scene
Johannes Pafuri—the third young man present at the murder scene
Mr. Carmichael—an acquaintance of Father Vincent’s who becomes Absalom’s lawyer
The Judge—a fair-minded man ruled by unjust laws
Dubula—the second in a trio of black politicians in Johannesburg who works with John Kumalo
Tomlinson—the third colleague of Dubula and John Kumalo
Mary Jarvis—Arthur Jarvis’ wife
“Cry, the Beloved Country Character List.” Internet. 7 November 2007.