There are many themes that can be pulled out at this point of the book. The one theme that stood out the most is the conflict between father and son. Steven Kumalo spent days in Johannesburg searching for Absalom. While Kumalo is searching for Absalom, Kumalo begins to know who Absalom has become. Kumalo knocks on numerous doors of Johannesburg slums, with each slum there is a different story about Absalom whereabouts. Steven Kumalo first hears that his son has changed from a factory worker to a burglar, and after that, he hears Absalom has changed from a trusting reformatory pupil to a killer.
Before Kumalo finds Absalom, they are virtually strangers. The only thing that brings them closer together is Absalom's trial. Kumalo does not understands Absalom fully until after the verdict. Kumalo finds the repentance from Absalom through Absalom's' letters from prison. Through Absalom's letters from prison, Kumalo also finds flashbacks of the boy Absalom once was and who he remembers.
