"Dance Hall of the Dead"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Tony Hillerman's book "Dance Hall of the Dead"about a Navajo policeman who investigates the murder of a young Zuni. It discusses how no one, outside an initiated practitioner in a Native American religion can really comprehend the true significance of its beliefs and rituals and how Hillerman in this novel makes an excellent beginning in differentiating between spiritual beliefs of Zuni and Navajo. It shows how the Zuni religion can be seen to be extensively different from the religion of the Navajo's in the two tribes' rituals, burial practices and beliefs in an afterlife. It uses outside sources to confirm and expand on the understanding of these varied spiritual practices.

From the Paper:

"For the Navajo, spirituality permeates all areas of life and is rooted in nature. Daily life proceeds upon Mother Earth and under Father Sky. There is no word for religion in the Navajo language, not because there is no religion, but because religion is not separate from life. There is nothing but religion, otherwise known as life among the Dineh, or the People. Rituals, prayers, legends and songs, are scarcely ever out of their minds. The Navajo create sand paintings and hold sings such as the Enemy Way, the Blessing Way, the Flint Way and the Mountain Top Way to cure illness and to help them surmount the problems of life on earth (Waters 248-249). From the Navajo point of view, as Frank Waters puts it, "religion is the way of life" (Waters 396)."

More papers on "Dance Hall of the Dead":

• Comparison Essay # 22642 : "Zui and Navajo Spiritual Practices in Hillerman's Dance Hall of the Dead"
• Analytical Essay # 23433 : "Literature of the Southwest"
• Analytical Essay # 17094 : "Southwest Literature -- America Picante"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: