manage the problems and survive till the end of the story and see the restoration of his own land although he cannot meet with his son again.
B. Stephen Kumalo’s Conflicts and the Causes of the Conflicts
In the characterization of Kumalo, Paton describes Stephen Kumalo as a figure of an old village priest who has to struggle with himself because of the
condition he sees in Town not the same as the condition he has in Village. Especially when he deals with the member of his family which cause him some conflicts. In
other situation he has to struggle with his own land that is his own village. I will explain briefly about Stephen Kumalo’s conflicts and the causes of the conflicts in the
section below.
1. Stephen Kumalo’s Conflicts
This section will describe some conflicts that Stephen Kumalo has during his struggle to find the member of his family. As I stated before that conflicts is a
struggle between two desires inside the character, Conflicts can consist certain feelings that a character have. Stephen Kumalo conflicts during the searching of his
family are as follows.
a. Afraid of something uncertain
Kumalo feelt afraid when he had to go to Johannesburg, a great city not known to him. Fear when he thinks about Gertrude and Absalom. Fear about
something uncertain to him. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
“The journey had begun, and now the fear back again, the fear of the unknown, the fear of the great city where boys were killed crossing the street,
the fear of Gertrude’s sickness. Deep down the fear for his son. Deep down the fear of a man who lives in a world not made for him, whose own world is
slipping away, dying, being destroyed, beyond any recall. p. 15” “They walked to the gate of the little house of Mrs. Lithebe. Kumalo lifted to
his friend a face that was full of suffering. This thing, he said. Here in my heart there is nothing but fear. Fear, fear, fear. p. 67”
Afraid has become one of Stephen Kumalo’s conflicts because he has to decide between his own will and the situation he face. He feels fear because he does
not know what will going to happen next while he is still hoping the good side from the situation he faces. Kumalo’s afraid will brought him to another conflicts that he
is going to face later.
b. Sad of Gertrude’s Condition
Kumalo cries when he knows Gertrude has become a liquor seller and a prostitute with a child, he feels sad because he cannot do nothing to change the
condition. And he also sad when he knows that his son had been sent to reformatory. “His eyes fill with tears, his deep gentleness returns to him. He goes to her
and lifts her from the floor to the chair. Inarticulately he strokes her face, his heart filled with pity. p.30”
“He glanced at his friend, but Kumalo’s eyes were on the ground. Although Msimangu could not see his face, he could see the drop that fell on the
ground, and he tightened his grip on the arm. p. 59”
Kumalo sad because he feels pity to see what happen while in other situation he cries because he looses his hope. He feels sad and cries, he struggles in his heart
because he can not do anything to help his relatives. Kumalo’s sadness has become PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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