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This is a story about a man, called Kamau, returning home after 5 years. Kamau's family all thinks Kamau is dead, when he suddenly appears in front of his family. Five years ago, Kamau was taken away by colonial forces two weeks after he had married his beautiful wife Muthoni (Thiong'o 338).

Kamau has been thinking about his wife for all those years, and finally it is the time for his return. He hopes everything would be the same as before, and he would start everything again with his wife, then "life would start anew" (Thiong'o 338).

However, his wife Muthoni left his family with his rival Karanja. Kamau feels betrayed and he can hardly speak. He cannot believe his wife has left him.

The Honia River in the story symbolized the Kamau's past. At the beginning of the story, when Kamau comes back to the village, he sees the Honia River still flowing. The Honia River brings back a lot of childhood memories to Kamau. At the end of the story, when Kamau finds out about his the story of his wife, it is the Honia River that takes away the small bundle, the small bundle that reminded Kamau of his wife for all those years (Thiong'o 340).
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HeikeLangrock
Member since Apr-1-04
18 posts
Apr-17-04, 08:40 AM (PST)
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"The Return"
 
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   While preparing for my essay, I found interesting parallels between the story and the Mau-Mau uprising in Kenya in 1952-1961. For instance, the main character shares the same name as the leader of the uprising Johnstone Kamau (later Jomo Kenyatta). I also think that there is a connection between the five-year-detention camp sentence and the end of the Mau-Mau uprising in 1956 and the Independence declaration of Kenya in 1961 (exactly five years). I think the author is using the main character Kamau as a tool to teach us about the historical event in Kenya between 1952 and 1961.


ÙL

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chunwaihung
Member since Apr-6-04
9 posts
Apr-21-04, 08:09 PM (PST)
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1. "RE: The Return"
In response to message #0
 
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   Ha, it seems like Heike did quite some research on the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. I am interested in Mau Mau Uprising because my ex-girlfriend was named Mau.

I have seen the word "Mau Mau" appears in the dictionary before, but I never really know what is it all about. Now when I look at the world map in my room and see the Kenya in Africa, I would remember the Mau Mau Uprising and this story.

This story means something to people like me, who left home long time ago, and everything will be different when I go back.


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