Sons for the Return Home

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel and will seek to find more Pacific literature, specifically by Albert Wendt. This is the first novel I’ve read that was written by a Samoan, in fact this is the first novel I’ve read written by a ‘P.I’. On the cover of the novel it states ‘Samoan-born Albert Wendt was working as a teacher in Samoa when he wrote the autobiographical Sons for the Return Home,’ which leads me to believe that although the novel is fiction, he has most likely dawn on his own circumstances and experiences in life and he has integrated them into the plot. Although the majority of the story is a creation of his imagination, I like to think the characters are based on real people, although this is probably not the case.

Sons for the Return Home addresses numerous issues that ‘struck a chord’ with me, and I’m sure they have caught the attention of all those who read it, such as the relationship of a cross-racial couple, racism and stereotyping, abortion, religion, migration and his portrayal of the ‘boys’ Samoan family and his description of Samoa and Samoans living there.

The novel was first published in 1973 which would have created mixed reactions to the issues presented in the novel. By ‘mixed reactions’ I’m inferring the differences of the mindset of readers who read it in the 70’s and those who read it today simply because as the years pass by society changes and so do peoples ideologies. There are people who hold on to the ‘old’ way of life and their ‘old traditions’ but in my opinion ‘evolution’ is a natural way of life and impinges on everyone as it does with P.I’s that still live in the islands and those who migrate. Migrants naturally adapt to the country they live in, of course I can’t assume that all migrants have adapted to the ways of the new society they live in, but I can justify this claim by relating migration and the effects it has on migrants to comparing this to focusing on its effects on my own family. My father was born in NZ and went back to Samoa when he was young and was brought up there. My mother was born in Niue and was also raised in her mother land, yet they have both adapted to the NZ way of life.

A cross-racial couple would have most likely been frowned upon in the 70’s, yet it isn't as big of an issue today because it is more common. It leaves me wondering how a Samoan family in Samoa or migrants living in other countries would react to their children potentially marrying a ‘Palagi’ today. I can only answer this by relating this to my personal experiences. I’m engaged to a ‘Palagi’ or European and we have a daughter (who is obviously ‘half-cast’). My parents didn't detest our relationship at all. Yet they were both brought up in the ‘Islands’ and strive to live their lives in accordance to the teachings they were taught ‘at home’ (the Islands). Their reactions towards my relationship represent a ‘modern islander’ as I like to put it meaning their beliefs have changed and adapted to a ‘NZ way of life’ or a ‘modern way of life.’ I have no fear of my daughter being scrutinized throughout her life, which is another issue Wendt highlighted in the novel by the ‘boys mums’ negative predictions of her half-cast grandchild’s future. I believe racism that was addressed in the novel is not as present in today’s society which makes me comfortable and excited when I envisage the future of my family.