As well as accomplishing this element through his use of restrained, Biblical language, Paton uses it also to strike another response in his readers. The Bible is regarded by many as the word of God, or at least a book worthy of respect. By using its style, Paton lifts his novel's theme and characters out of their South African setting and puts them into the mainstream of Westem religion and history.
Finally, the style suggests a relationship between Stephen Kumalo's story and the Bible, particularly a link with the story of Job, the Biblical character who was beset with every kind of loss yet who maintained his faith. Job lost his wealth, his children, his health, everything except his life, in an attempt by Satan to win him away from God, but Job maintained his faith and it brought his salvation. Stephen Kumalo, losing his son, his brother and sister, his money, his belief in the goodness of his society, and for one moment even his religion, is finally sustained by his faith in man and God and sees salvation around him in the acts of James Jarvis. Job's story is the archetypal story of human suffering; linking Stephen with Job makes Paton's story even more powerful.
