Final answer:
Kamau looks straight ahead as a representation of his determination to reunite with his family, signaling focus and possibly a means to cope with fear and anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
As Kamau walks down the road in “The Return,” he likely looks straight ahead due to his determination and focus on reaching his destination. This behavior is commonly found in literature to symbolize a character's resolve and to project the character's internal feelings of hope and anticipation of reunion, as mentioned in the passage — the thought of his wife and children urged him on. Additionally, this can also suggest Kamau is avoiding distractions or perhaps trying to cope with anxiety or fear about what he will encounter, a theme present in works like Hawthorne's “Young Goodman Brown” or McCarthy's “The Road.”