An Analysis of Cry, the Beloved Country In Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country two characters, Absalom's girlfriend and Gertrude, show what Johannesburg society is like as a whole. Absalom's girl symbolizes the fact that girls her age are mothers and have even been divorced several times before. On the other hand, Gertrude, Kumalo's sister, illustrates the qualities of a young woman who is corrupted by Johannesburg's dirty system of theft, lying and prostitution. Both show the streets of Johannesburg as a whole. When Gertrude is first found by Kumalo, she is seen as a dirty, ragged person who makes her living as a prostitute. When Kumalo sees this, she thinks about how she could have a much better life if she got back with him. This is, in essence, the same thing that Kumalo and the blacks are trying to do in Johannesburg. These people are trying to remedy the corruption that has taken place in the city. Gertrude, like many others who came to Johannseburg, or who were even born there, were brought into a world where corruption is the key to life. Only in this way can one have a dignified life and thus one descends to the lowest possible levels, to cheating and prostitution. And just like the others Gertrude cannot be saved from what she has become. Even as Kumalo tries to save her and the city of Johannesburg from what it has become, it is known that once they become what they are, it is impossible to change them again. Absalom's girl, on the other hand, symbolizes how society turns into many hardships at an early age. This girl has already had several husbands and has a son. Like the rest of the population of Johannesburg, she has found herself facing something she is not ready to face. Because of the lifestyle in this city, his choices, along with those of many others, are only half a possibility. Even if it seems to be the right thing, it is not the same outside the city. Symbolism is also shown through Absalom's girlfriend to Absalom. Many people in Johannesburg have spouses who make a living doing many bad things, including theft. Furthermore, a large number of people have lost someone because of what they did, either because they died or because they were arrested and tried. In any case, people run a risk and what happens to Absalom proves it.