Dubala and John

There is nothing like listening to a well prepared oratory. While several people can write powerful speeches, not everyone has the charisma and oratory skills to move and influence the audience. In “Cry, the Beloved Country”,  there is no better orator than Dubala and John Kumalo. Both give inspiring speeches, though driven by different motives; one seeks fame and power, while the other works for the welfare of his race.

John Kumalo has broken with the church and with the tribe; he has  shed all the old tribal values and has adopted the more impersonal ways of the city. John is glad to be away from the domination of the chief because now he can assert his own importance. He tells his brother, “Here in Johannesburg, I am a man of some importance, of some influence.”

He is the archetype of the successful businessman known for his stirring oratory. Msimangu explains to Stephen how powerful John's speeches are and how strong his impact is on his listeners. Msimangy says that, "they say he speaks like a bull and makes noises in his thorat like a lion." He talks to his brother and Msimangu as if addressing an invisible audience summing up the Blacks’ suffering, “ But it is not built on the mines, it is built on our backs, on our hard work.” In Brief, he is a voice without heart and morals.

Although John speaks out for justice for the natives who are overwhelmingly poor, he is afraid. He loves his money and power, he loves that people will listen to him, but he knows that if he says anything to push the people to revolt, he will be put in prison. He never lets his speeches get too intense because his desire for self-preservation is too high and it makes him afraid to endanger himself even for a good cause. His fear of punishment prevents him from pushing people to seek radical change. Msimangu informs Kumalo that, “ he could make men mad if he wanted, but they say he has not enough courage, for he would surely be sent to prison.”

While John sits like a chief and talks of vague ideas, Dubala , another black political activist, shows great care and dedication to the Blacks’ cause. He is quiet, humble and extremely effective, for he works with one small but practical area, an area of immediate concern to his people.  John operates from corrupt motivations, but his friend and colleague Dubala works tirelessly and selflessly for his people. Dubala leads the bus boycott, hoping to fight the economic prejudice against his race. He convinces Kumalo and Msimangu of his case using his “silver tongue”. He tells them, “We are here to stop you. Not by force, but by persuading you.” Readers can see how Dubala is concerned about his people who are treated unjustly every day and are treated as an inferior race deprived of all basic humn rights. To convince Kumalo of his case, he talks to him about the tough life conditions that the Blacks have to endure in this new world; he says, "Men as old as you are doing it every day, sometimes to start off again with nothing but hot water in their stomachs. This is a cause to fight for. "

While John is afraid of the government, the government is obviously more afraid of Dubala because he wants nothing personal out of his dedication and therefore cannot be easily corrupted. He wants “to make trouble. They say he has given up his own work to do this.” Clearly Dubala’s work involves a lot of sacrifice and sincere devotion to the Blacks’ case. He has dedicated all his life, energy and power to fight injustice and help his race regain their rights and identity. He simply does not care about what life has to offer and he wants nothing for himself. The major difference between the two great orators is expressed in Msimangu’s words, “They say your brother has the voice, but this man has the heart.”

Through Paton’s portrayal of the characters of John and Dubala, he supports the idea that it is difficult to avoid being corrupted by power unless you are full of love. Paton believes that love and selflessness are the only way to save South Africa from its racial struggles. Selfless people like Dubala can really effect a change, while John fails to have a constructive role in the society due to the fact that he works mainly for self- interest.