The Theme of Silko's Ceremony Essay

During the first half of the 20th century numerous changes went on in the native community. Life on the reservations was bleak and economic opportunities were almost non-existence. Many natives remained on the reservations where they were able to maintain their language and culture (Otten, Dutton). However, some others left the reservations for economic opportunities that the growing U.S economy promised and offered. Native Americans who didn’t live on the reservations chose to make as little reference as possible to their indigenous roots, much like other ethnic groups that migrated into the U.S. That is because though most Native Americans knew that the dominant culture would enjoy the indigenous dances and native jewelry and pottery, etc, it was almost impossible to live a traditional native lifestyle. Several natives

Tayo’s choices are influenced by his mixed ancestry, which reveal a sense of insecurity. When asked to deliver a note from Uncle Josiah to his girlfriend, Tayo agrees and unexpectedly has sexual relations with the woman. Her name is Night Swan, and her Mexican ancestry encourages Tayo to confess something personal after the encounter: “‘I always wished I had dark eyes like other people. When they look at me they remember things that happened. My mother.’ His throat felt tight. He had not talked about this before with anyone” (92). Tayo chooses to reveal how he feels othered by the Laguna society because of his light-colored eyes. His revelation is made possible

Native Americans have existed in the different regions-the plains, mountains, marshes- of the North American continent- long before the United States existed. Yet, most were not treated with the respect and dignity that the white American settlers were given. Viewed as outlandish and savage by white settlers, series of negotiations to “correct” the Indian way of life were implemented- through forced relocation, war, and assimilation into white culture. Those who stood up against the American government were viewed as beacons of hope by their fellow Native Americans. Many Native American traditions still exist today, but unfortunately most of them have been lost along with their people.

The long history between Native American and Europeans are a strained and bloody one. For the time of Columbus’s subsequent visits to the new world, native culture has

Oral tradition is important because it molds Native American culture and offers listeners a chance to go back in time. First, oral tradition is the foundation of Native American tribes’ culture and values. For example, “No Moccasins” teaches the value of courage and humility. As discussed in the introduction to this tale, some modern Native Americans do not have access to common means of communication such as radios or televisions. This means that lessons had to be learned from within the community. Since Native Americans did not develop their own written language, the retelling of old stories is a great way to achieve this. Next, oral tradition presents people with an opportunity to experience a different time period. This is particularly true of origin myths. In origin myths listeners can travel to a timer before anyone existed. Stories told orally give this opportunity to anyone who can listen. It is necessary for people, especially for those in a tribe, to understand their own

When the first colonists landed in the territories of the new world, they encountered a people and a culture that no European before them had ever seen. As the first of the settlers attempted to survive in a truly foreign part of the world, their written accounts would soon become popular with those curious of this “new” world, and those who already lived and survived in this seemingly inhospitable environment, Native American Indian. Through these personal accounts, the Native Indian soon became cemented in the American narrative, playing an important role in much of the literature of the era. As one would expect though, the representation of the Native Americans and their relationship with European Americans varies in the written works of the people of the time, with the defining difference in these works being the motives behind the writing. These differences and similarities can be seen in two similar works from two rather different authors, John Smith, and Mary Rowlandson.

As the story progresses and Tayo becomes healthier the story becomes clearer and much easier to understand. This is showing the progression of Tayo finding himself and recovering from his struggles with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Tayo’s journey to find Josiah’s cattle is more than just a journey to find the cattle. His journey is to rediscover and heal himself after learning from the old medicine man Betonie who teaches Tayo what he needs to do to complete the ceremony and heal himself from his mental struggles from the war. In Ceremony Betonie tells Tayo “‘One night or nine nights won't do it anymore,’...’the ceremony isn't finished yet’...’this has been going on for a long long time now. It's up to you. Don't let them stop you. Don't let them finish off this world’”(152). In other words your healing and the health of this world is up to you. Do not give up on yourself in your quest, and do not let others change your journey. If you do your ceremony will never be complete and you might never be healed. Betonie is warning him that he must not lose himself. This warning becomes extremely important when Tayo is faced with discovering Emo and Pinkie conducting the purging ceremony of Harley because he is of mixed blood. Tayo is faced with the decision to help Harley and endanger himself or to stay behind in the rocks and watch as his friend is tortured and

Soon after, Victor becomes irritated with Thomas telling more of his stories and asks him if he even knows how to be a real Indian. An unsure “I guess not,” is Thomas’ response, to which Victor states that he will just have to teach Thomas how to be one. Victor then explains that an Indian must remain stoic and mean like a warrior to receive any respect from others. Victor’s beliefs on what an Indian should act like probably originate from the knowledge and stories of Indians from the nineteenth century passed down over the years through both written and oral records. Victor sternly deciding to actively follow the example of the tribe’s ancestors was probably made in response to his treatment from and the behavior of his father. Choosing to abide by the beliefs and traditions of his tribes allows Victor to cope with or simply avoid his past by both renewing and strengthening his identity as a member of his tribe’s society. However, soon after telling Thomas of his beliefs, Victor’s “warrior act” fails to elicit any respect from two rude gentlemen who take the two Indians’ bus seats during a

When examining early American history it is commonplace, besides in higher academia, to avoid the nuances of native and colonizer relations. The narrative becomes one of defeat wherein the only interaction to occur is one of native American’s constant loss to white colonizers. It is not to say that the European colonizers didn’t commit genocide, destroy the land and fabric of countless cultures, but rather when looking at history it is important to take a bottom’s up approach to storytelling. We must examine in what ways the native Americans fought English colonization, not just through war, but also through the legal system that was established after the area was colonized.

“This is where the white people and their promises had left the Indians.”Indians wake up every morning of their lives to see the land which was stolen… its theft being flaunted.” Tayo’s interaction with Betonie really set this theme in the novel into focus and as the novel progressed, further events and characters strengthened this idea.

She teaches him the importance of certain plants, flowers, and ceremonies and how they are significant to Indian culture and survival. Tayo falls in love with her, and through his love, he begins to feel alive again. He realizes that he does have a place and that he is not invisible to everyone and

“My people are few. They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain...There was a time when our people covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor, but that time long since passed away with the greatness of tribes that are now but a mournful memory.,” Chief Seattle Speech of 1854. The culture of the Native American people has been deteriorating ever since the Europeans arrived in the Americas. The impactful and immense loss of lifestyle that they faced is one that can never be recovered, what the United States has given them are generations of trauma and blatant suffering. However, the U.S. did not stop there, a multitude of cultures have been broken to help keep America pure. For instance, one of the most significant cultures that have been dismantled by the U.S. other than the Natives and their music were the languages and music of the African slaves. The apparent likeness of these two cultures in the ways in which their deconstruction impacted them is in more of an abundance, such as the dominating influence of the Christian religion and the gravely vital role of maintaining what little heritage they could through language. In contrast to this, the two groups had an opposing difference pertaining to how the Natives and slaves tried to compensate the immense loss of their culture through the generations.

Grandma decided to send him to Betonie, a wise medicine man, who is connected not only to Native Americans but whites. “This Betonie didn’t talk the way Tayo expected a medicine man to talk. He didn’t act like a medicine man at all” (Siko 118). Batonie did all the talking when Tayo arrived, he was trying to earn Tayo’s trust and make Tayo feel comfortable around him. Betonie told Tayo about his life experiences and the reason he lives near the Gallup.

Ku’oosh referred Tayo to Betonie because Betonie practices evolving ceremonies. These ceremonies carry on the traditions but are more applicable to present day. Betonie, a half-breed like Tayo, lives atop a cliff overlooking a run-down white town. Initially Tayo questions Betonie’s surroundings and wonders if this medicine man will help him. Betonie explains to Tayo his different approach to performing ceremonies. He tells him that some think the ceremonies must be performed exactly the same as they had been for many years, but rather the ceremonies must evolve over time or else become ineffective. Betonie said, “But after the white people came, elements in this world began to shift; and it became necessary to create new ceremonies…only this growth keeps the ceremonies strong” (126). Betonie stresses that the white world has affected the Indian too much for the old rituals and chants to be effective. Betonie also believes that in order to cure Tayo he must combine

In order to rid him of the physical and mental sickness that the war and the racial issues brought Tayo, Betonie takes him through a ceremony.  In order to complete the ceremony, Betonie tells him to find a woman, stars, cattle, and a mountain.  The woman he meets knew beforehand that Tayo would come to see her.