example, blacks are forced to leave their tribal villages, where there is no work, and go to the city. In cities like Johannesburg, white businesses
depend heavily on black labor, for which they pay little. There is an ironical thing about Kumalo’s position in his society.
He is a kind, wise, humble, and generous man in his village, but his sister is a prostitute and his son is a troublemaker and murderer. He is also
called Reverend by people in Ndotsheni. Failure in educating family members is also a problem for some parents. It is experienced by Kumalo
himself. It is related to the role of parents to teach all good things for their children.
There are some interesting things for the writer from this novel. Topic about family problem of Stephen Kumalos son and sister is chosen
by the writer in the research. Based on the Kumalo’s family problem, the writer is going to research about what problem that is in Kumalo’s family
and what Kumalo’s struggles to solve his family problems are.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the explanation in background of the study, the problems are formulated as follows:
1. What are the problems in Stephen Kumalo’s family, as described in Cry, the Beloved Country?
2. What are Stephen Kumalo’s struggles to solve his family problems as described in Cry, the Beloved Country?
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C. Objectives of the Study
There is also some interesting learning that is found in this novel by completely reading it. The writer will state the aims of the study based
on both questions in problem formulation. The first objective of this study is to find out Stephen Kumalo’s family problems in his family. The writer
is going to explain about what problems that Stephen Kumalo, as a protagonist character, must face and solve in his family relationship.
While the second objective is to find out Stephen Kumalo’s struggles to solve his family problems. The writer will find out how
Kumalo struggles to solve his family problem although it is very difficult for him.
D. Benefits of the Study
1. It has benefit for the readers who are interested in family problems. Family is an interesting topic to study.
2. The reader can learn many subjects like justice, racial problems, discrimination, and economic divisions in South Africa, based on
social classes or backgrounds. 3. There are also some subjects like kindness, Christianity, and
reconciliation between two fathers and their son. 4. It has benefit for the next researcher to research other side of the
problem on this novel. 5. For the readers in general, it is expected that they will get some
knowledge about literary work especially in Alan Paton’s Cry, the
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Beloved Country.
E. Definition of Terms
1. Family In his book of Structure, Sound, and Sense, Justin Pikuna
states that family is an enduring social group based on marriage and blood relationship. As a primary group, the family with children is
bound together by kinship and intimate relations marked by care, affection, and support, as well as mutual sharing in various activities
and concerns 1974: 58. 2. Family problem
In this story, Stephen Kumalo, as a main protagonist character, is told to have a problem in his family about separating
with some of his family members. They are a part together as an influence of the situation in South Africa.
3. Racism It is experienced by black people in South Africa. They get
some discrimination in many aspects of life. There is a big difference with black and white people in this novel. Stratification and
inequality in social life of the characters in the novel show how racism happens in the novel and it is experienced by the characters.
4. Corruption It is also stated in this story. It appears in how some people
influence the judge in court, and Absalom Kumalo becomes the
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victim. Stephen’s brother, John Kumalo, is involved in the corruption. Corruption is one the crimes that are told in the novel of Cry, the
Beloved Country. 5. Christianity
Much of Stephen Kumalo’s time is spent in prayer. Symbol of church and the use of word reverend show it. He is also called
reverend from people in Ndotsheni. Amiram Gonen, in The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World 1993, stated that:
The Afrikaners are Christians, the majority of whom are members of one of the three Dutch Reformed Churches in
South Africa; the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk c.70 percent of Afrikaners; the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk
c.16 percent; and the Gereformeerde Kerk c.6 percent. The last is the most conservative of the three, and is also called the
Dopper Church in analogy with the inverted cup dopper used to extinguish candles 1993: 22.
In the same book, it is also stated the Zulu are predominately Christian: about three-quarters of them have specific church
affiliations 1993: 673 6.
Kindness In this novel, kindness is shown by Stephen Kumalo, James
Jarvis, Teophilus Msimangu, and Mrs. Lithebe. Stephen Kumalo is humble and generous man. Although James Jarvis’ son is murdered by
Stephen Kumalo’s son, he is not angry about it; Msimangu helps Stephen Kumalo in looking for Kumalo’s son and sister. While Mrs.
Lithebe provides accommodation to Stephen Kumalo in his struggle to look for his lost family.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
