“Groom Service” by Michael Anthony Dorris and “The Return” by Ngugi wa Thiongo are two short story which have the common theme of “love” and the common situation of “ the marriage”. Although the two stories have common themes and situation related to acceptance, acknowledgement, and recognition, the difference between the two story influence the meaning a lot.
The common theme of story is “love”. The protagonist in “Groom Service”, Bernard, had the ability to survive with his hunting skill, but did not dare to seek his own love. He seeks acceptance from Marie and her family. On the contrary, Kamau in the story “The Return” seeks acceptance from a village, but finds acceptances in the change that had taken place. Due to the difference between the internal and the external forces created by their family and personalities、protagonist. Bernard and Kamau, did not end up with their desired partner. Love theme plays an important role in the story. The love theme arouses the reader deep thinking, bringing the thorough liberation of ideology and the courage to cherish life and enjoy life.
Look at the difference of the theme, the “Groom Service” focus on materialism, family disharmony, and greed which is dust. From the narrative, the dialogue, the expression, the movement of Blance , Marie’s mother and Martha , Bernard ’s mother , the story discuss the theme of marriage which will affect the life of a women. Complicated life and identity in the “Groom Service” , shows the colonialism, feminism, ecologism, which was created by the dual background of traditional culture and the colonial culture under the European whites. On the other hand,“The Return”is about a man named Kamau who returns home after being held in a detention prison for 5 years. The village is almost unrecognizable. His wife Muthoni has remarried someone else, thinking that he is dead. “The Return” show cases Ngugi’s attempt to expose the trauma suffered by