How does cry, the beloved country, by alan paton, reflect the cultural experiences of south africans in the late 1940s? by focusing on a religious leader as its main character, the novel captures the increasingly important role of faith leaders in south africa. through its descriptions of kumalo’s rural village, the novel conveys the vibrant and healthy tribal culture that cities like johannesburg destroy. cry, the beloved country reveals the important role that foreign activists played in the lives of south africans through paton’s depiction of msimangu. by depicting the bus boycott, the novel reflects the unjust laws and racism that native south africans faced.