South Africa and America had many similarities regarding the segregation of blacks and whites, and whites did not want to lose power over blacks. In the novel Cry, The Beloved Country there is an individual who wants a change to this oppression named Stephen Kumalo. Stephen's life consisted of going to Johannesburg to find his children after living his whole life in a rural community, and finding out that his son has become a murderer and will be sentenced to death. Throughout his long, painful spiritual journey, Stephen Kumalo encounters characters who influence him positively such as Msimangu who teaches him love, Father Vincent who influences him to pray and let Christ work through him, and James Jarvis who influences Stephen to be more forgiving and look at society in a different light, all of which encourage him to grow as a man. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the first example, Msimangu teaches Stephen the truth about love and its power. Msimangu is explaining to Stephen the truth about society, about how if black men had power they would only enjoy money and power and would be as bad as white men because both are guilty races. In this discussion, Msimangu also shares what he thinks will be needed to fix society: “There is only one thing that has complete power, and that is love… I only see one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring only the good of their country, unite to work for it." Merriam Webster's denotation of love states: "Unselfish, loyal, and benevolent concern for the good of another." Msimangu sharing his thoughts about the country with the docile Stephen, Stephen learns that love means helping people. He also learns how powerful love is and that it is the only thing that can save their country. The Stephen's transformation is prevalent during his conversation with Napoleon Letsitsi about the restoration of Africa: “But don't hate anyone and don't desire power over anyone. For I have a friend who taught me that power corrupts.” reports Stephen 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 change people like Stephen for the better and get them to share their love with others. Overall, Msimangu positively changed Stephen in conveying how to solve segregation and inequality, giving hope for the future of Africa. In the second example, Father Vincent influences 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 reconstruction. Pray for all white people, for those who do justice and for those who would do justice if they were not afraid... give thanks if you can give thanks. Because nothing is better." The Father also said some things not to pray for, such as for yourself, or ask to understand the ways of God, for they are secret. From the way Vincent talks about prayer, it seems like he also believes in love by putting others before oneself. Later in the conversation, Father Vincent shows Stephen how he coexists with Christ as part of him: “We do what is in us, and why it is in us, that is also a secret. It is Christ in us." Father Vincent serves as a model for Stephen by showing him how to pray and let Christ work through him. As of now, Vincent tells Stephen that he is too shocked to see God's path, but his time will come.