CR # 1 Archetypal Theory: The Return - Cody's Portfolio

NGUGI WA THIONG’O’S THE RETURN: A MANIPULATION OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

As a river flows, it never ceases to stop, just as time goes forth no matter what anyone tries to do. If someone were to try and keep a hold of the past even if good or bad, forgiveness will allow one to let go and ponder ideas about the present and or future. In Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s “The Return” a young man by the name of Kamau is captured by the Colonial Forces of the Kenyan British government and sent to a detention camp where he spends five years in confinement. After returning home he realizes that the life he once had is now no longer alive, and he must cope with the confusion and utter bitterness sinking into his very heart and soul. Thiong’o purposely manipulates the Hero’s Journey archetype to suggest one’s journey in life never stops.

… Because the author decides to alter Hero’s Journey steps and put them in reverse it is almost impossible to see what Kamau’s steps exactly are. Traditionally the Hero’s Journey begins with the characters call to adventure and leaving their known world. During this phase the character refuses the call, however there is a supernatural force, which propels them to commit to the proposal. Once crossing the threshold an travelling into the unknown world, the character will now experience a road of trials that tests one self to master and conquer the new world. The most important step of this phase is the near death encounter. It helps them realize to them what is most important to them in the world they once knew. Next the character will come across a woman or goddess that hardens their realization that the world they once lived in is not as corrupt as they thought. As the phase is nearing its end, the character will cross paths with an apparition of his/or hers father. And the last step the character goes through is crossing over the threshold that separates the two worlds.

Kamau’s version of the Hero’s Journey is quite different from the traditional form. He has been away from his home because he was arrested and sent to a Kenyan Concentration Camp. Here he spent five years in confinement and knew that one day he would be released from this horrid place. Until that day came all he could do was think about his wife and family. As Kamau slowly makes his way down the long unbearable road at the beginning of the story, he begins to think about his wife and if she has stayed and await his return. This is the return phase, which is at the end of the archetype. Kamau enters the village expecting a “hero’s welcome”, but is bitter to discover the villagers show little recognition—or work to shun him. Looking down the road, Kamau could see vegetation and only one thought came across his mind the Honia River still flowed. While Kamau hopes to accomplish his precious goal and go back to his normal life to start from where he left off five years ago, he is bereft to learn his wife has left him for Karanja, a man from another clan. Thiong’o presents a powerful irony: that the return phase of Kamau’s journey is actually the separation phase and that he is still somehow separated from his family and his old life which he greatly wishes he still had.

…

Thiong’o has manipulated the original phases of the Hero’s Journey to accommodate for the emotions and actions that push Kamau to still have a sense of separation from everyone. In a traditional story the separation phase including the call to adventure always is at the beginning of the story. By altering the steps it creates a sense of confusion, however if you know the archetypes step for the Hero’s Journey it helps to understand the method Thiong’o was trying to accomplish. For Kamau the journey seems to be over due to the fact that his wife has left him and no one seems to have any recognition that he was ever gone. This causes Kamau to walk down to the edge of the Honia River and consider the method of suicide to rid himself of these awful feelings of bitterness and hate. However, by accident he drops his bag and watches it flow away with the current. Suddenly he has an epiphany and decides not to pursue in the thoughts of suicide. He realizes that he cannot stop time itself and even though he may think that his life and journey are over, while in reality it is starting over again.

Thiong’o does a marvelous job of manipulating the Hero’s Journey steps to increase the intensity and to accommodate for his thoughts and ideas. As you read the story, you realize that it relates to many ancient archetypes from the beginning of time.

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