With Absalom sentenced to death and with Gertrude's disappearance, we see that Kumalo has totally failed to reunite his family, which was his original aim in coming to Johannesburg. Instead, he has formed a new family and has new hope that the young girl and Gertrude's boy can become symbols of a new type of African. Gertrude's disappearance from Mrs. Lithebe's is not too surprising since we have had intimations that she cannot overcome her old way of life.
Peter, the name Absalom wishes to give his son, is the name of the founder of the Christian church and means rock; this stresses again the fact that Kumalo might be able to establish or build a new type of life with these younger people.
The beginning of the change in John Jarvis occurs when he gives a large donation to the African Boys' Club, an organization that Arthur Jarvis had helped sponsor. We will see this change continue as he helps rebuild the valley where Kumalo lives. Thus Jarvis' son had more influence on his father after his death than during his life. Arthur Jarvis' life and death were not in vain.
