Embarking on a journey, a person learns and changes. You can change emotionally, psychologically, as well as spiritually. At first the traveler is scared, then he usually goes through some pain and suffering. In the end, however, this traveler emerges different than he was at the beginning, with some understanding. Stephan Kumalo, James Jarvis and Absalom Kumalo undertake just this in Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country. Stephan Kumalo, a priest from the small hometown of Ndotsheni, embarks on a journey to the big city of Johannesburg. He wants to find his sick sister and his son Absalom, who is gone. At first, Stephan has "fear of the unknown, fear of the big city" (44) where his loved ones had gone and has not written to him in months. Not long after starting, he realizes that "this is a bitter journey" (55) after hearing about his sister's pursuits and practices. He goes through pain and suffering, more and more when he learns of his brother's loss of faith in the church and the murder committed by his son. But he soon comes to understand this world in Johannesburg. Learn why there is so much crime and poverty. So he hopes for the success of his daughter-in-law and grandson in Ndotsheni. He gains hope for the reconstruction of the tribe. Stephan Kumalo emerges from his journey spiritually changed and knowing that there is “comfort in a world of desolation” (94). Change emotionally and become stronger. Furthermore, he changes psychologically and learns about the problems of Johannesburg and apartheid and their various causes. JamesJarvis undergoes great changes during his journey. He is told that his son has been killed and immediately leaves for Johannesburg. His son, Arthur, was a social activist who helped the natives of South Africa, trying to provide them with better hospitals and schools. These are topics that James Jarvis never gave much thought to. When he arrives at his son's house, the site of Arthur's death, he reads some of his manuscripts and books. First, James suffers greatly thinking about his son's death. However, as she reads some of his books and documents, she comes to understand how great her son was and what he represented. “He sat smoking his pipe and was lost in thought” (180) after reading a manuscript about what is permissible and what is not permissible