The Theme Of Assimilation In Silko's Ceremony

Thesis: one’s personal culture and sense of tradition will always be a strong part of the self, regardless of external factors which can have a profound influence on one’s life.

In the point of view of actual affect, this ceremony constructs a solid peace between the individuals or tribes joined it. In the ceremony held between Sioux and Ree, they exchanged foods and lots of other goods. After the ceremony, Ree get corns which is what they need as food and a symbol of sacredness. Sioux get tobacco. They also exchanged other important and sacred goods like buffalo meat, bladder and skull. Life was rough in North America back then; people could survive only when they learn to help each other. They form bigger communities to keep the stability of their nation. The representative of Sioux, Matohoshila, said that is should be their responsibility to extend the relationship to different people, and this could be an example of other nations.

The Ceremony - the use of a proper noun used for this act connotes a sense of importance and status, with the meaning of the noun ‘Ceremony’ giving the reader the impression of it being a positive, meaningful and joyous occasion. This in turn along with the information previously provided to the reader within the first 15 chapters greatly ensures we are more shocked when we are provided with a graphic account of what actually happens during “The Ceremony“.

Silko starts the essay with a description of her family inheritance, so the story starts with the non-recent past. She explains that her great grandfather is from Ohio and he had followed his brother to New Mexico, specifically the Laguna Pueblo reservation. This is where her great-grandmother or Grandma A’mooh is introduced. The theme of beauty is introduced

Likewise, Silko uses examples to further her explanation of the culture of the Pueblo Indians. Unlike those who are in the audience, the Pueblo

The inherent personal expression found when one includes culture to a wedding ceremony provides a timeless experience for a bride or groom who see their marriage as a transitional rite of passage. Engaging in heritage can be a personal, frequent pursuit for some, thereby suggesting deeper importance when it is included in a wedding ceremony through venues, specific events, a symbolic activity, and so forth. Our society actively promotes this theory, from media resources meant specifically to appeal to the everyday American to smaller communal hubs like religious circles or family members who instill couples with the distinct values they subsequently carry into marital lives.

In order for assimilation to occur a minority group becomes an integrated part of the majority group; this assimilation results in non-distinguishing of one group from another by cultural characteristics. In order for this process to be complete, it must entail, not only an active effort by the minority group to shed all distinguishing actions and beliefs, and also complete unqualified acceptance of that individual by the dominant society.

The novel, Ceremony, weaves a message through the eyes and mind of Tayo, Laguna Pueblo half-breed who just returned from World War II in the Philippines. Leslie Marmon Silko, the author, uses strongly developed characters, their interactions with Tayo, and Tayo’s reactions to those interactions to emphasize and illustrate the many themes of this story. Like large stones at the bottom of a river, these characters help these themes resurface again and again throughout the novel. A recurring theme throughout the entire book is this thought of witchery and deception. And the white man in all his inglorious brutality, is both the creation and the embodiment of the witchery and deception. Two characters that Silko uses to emphasize this idea to

Growing up I was always told “be a leader, not a follower” and “treat others how you want to be treated”.As a child i thought these were just words i would recite to me dad every morning not knowing that he was teaching me to stand out, in others words, marginality. assimilation on the other hand is something most of us try to avoid nobody wants to be “just another one” and playing by someone else’s rules. In the three works “The Fire Next Time”, A james Baldwin photograph, and “Para Teresa” i found evidence of marginality and assimilation for all different kinds of worldwide issues toda. I’ll explain.

Native Americans make up less than .9% of the United States population. With this trivial number, it is difficult to keep its culture and traditions alive as generations progress. In the short story “War Dances,” author Sherman Alexie morns the loss of Native American identity through a deprecating tone which illustrate a divide between generations.

Throughout the novel, Ceremony, has made an imprint that there is a significance in ceremonies when it comes to the Native Americans and how it ties in with their culture. There is a decrease in seeing that there is a significance in Ceremonies and that is what Leslie Silko does throughout the novel. Noticing that any type of ceremony should not be negative only because Ceremonies is what keeps the natives going in their culture and what they believe in. One of the themes that I have seen through the novel is the use of ceremonies and how they weigh heavily in the novel and on the main character. Within the novel, Tayo, the main character goes through difficulty as he is sent off to

     Throughout Ceremony, the author, Leslie Silko, displays the internal struggle that the American Indians faced at that time in history. She displays this struggle between good and evil in several parts of the book. One is the myth explaining the origin of the white man.

Throughout the poem there are many times when assimilation is talked about, such as with the figurative language that is used. The immigrants describe how they: “wrap their babies in the American flag, feed them mashed hot dogs and apple pie, name them Bill and Daisy, buy them blonde dolls that blink blue eyes or a football and tiny cleats before they can even walk” (760). They feel that in order for their children to succeed in the United States they must be as Americanized as possible. The symbolism of wrapping their babies in the American flag is that the immigrants wanted to surround their children with as much American influence as possible. The immigrants feed them as much “American” food or have them play with as many “Amercian” toys as possible so that they are just like any other “American” child. The immigrants do whatever is necessary to make their children have a better life than they ever had.

    Leslie Marmon Silko is a Native American from New Mexico and is part of the Laguna tribe.  She received a MacArthur "genius" award and was considered one of the 135 most significant women writers ever.  Her home state has named her a living cultural treasure.  (Jaskoski, 1)  Her well-known novel Ceremony follows a half-breed named Tayo through his realization and healing process that he desperately needs when he returns from the horrors of World War II.  This is a process that takes him back to the history of his culture.

The roots and customs of Native American tribes run deep. A feeling of respect and tradition is in the air. Every little detail has meaning and a certain level of pride and of importance to each individual taking part in the ceremony. According to Access