In the book Cry, The Beloved Country, there are many ideas and themes that develop over the course of the novel. Some of the most prominent ideas that Alan Paton shapes throughout this work are those of loss, forgiveness and tolerance. These three ideas are intrinsically intertwined in this book, and one cannot be discussed without mentioning the other two. During the course of this tale, the ideas of loss, forgiveness, and tolerance are introduced again and again, and the reader's perception of these values gradually changes. .
The book begins with Stephen Kumalo receiving a letter that tells of his sister's illness. Already, there is a sense of loss as he cleans out his coffers and leaves his wife to visit a sister and a family that he lost touch with long ago. He finds his sister, Gertrude, in the slums of Johannesburg. She has resorted to prostitution, gambling, and making alcohol. She has a child, but when asked to produce his whereabouts, she knows not where he is. This shocks Stephen Kumalo. "You have shamed us," he says (61). Yet, Kumalo finds the heart and the faith to forgive Gertrude. He offers to take her and her child back to Ndotsheni, and she gratefully accepts. He shows no tolerance for these immoral ways, even though they were Gertrude's only way to obtain money and take care of her son. This is one of the first instances in which these themes appear. Kumalo experiences loss, gives forgiveness, and shows tolerance, albeit in a very small amount.
As the tale moves on, Kumalo and Msimangu seek out Kumalo's missing son Absalom. They follow a treacherous and winding trail, and at every point, Kumalo loses more and more hope for his son. He is heartened by his friend Msimangu, who tells him not to lose faith. As they search for Absalom, they encounter many things that shape their, and the reader's, view of tolerance. As Msimangu and Kumalo agree not to take the buses as part of a boycott, a white man comes along and offers them a ride.
