Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony"

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at how Silko brings out the conflict between traditionalism and modernity in Native-American life in her novel "Ceremony". The paper discusses how the central character, Tayo, rediscovers his heritage in a moment of crisis and learns how that heritage was taken away by the white culture that still dominates his people. The paper highlights the theme of discovery of the past and its relevance to the present.

From the Paper:

"Silko's young American Indian Tayo has faced a personal crisis as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II, and his search for his roots on the reservation is a desperate need for an anchor for his life, something to hold after the horrors of war. The continuation of the way white society views Native American society is seen in the admonition by the Army doctor for "no Indian medicine" (p. 34). Tayo looks to the stories and ceremonies of his ancestors for comfort and finds resentment and anger as well as he remembers what the white settlers did to his people: "He lay there and hated them. Not for what they wanted to do with him, but for what they did to the earth with their machines, and to the animals with their packs of dogs and their guns. It happened again and again, and the people had to watch, unable to save or to protect any of the things that were so important to them. . . He wanted to kick the soft white bodies into the Atlantic Ocean; he wanted to scream to all of them that they were trespassers and thieves" (pp. 203-204)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Silko, L.M. (1977). Ceremony. New York: Penguin Books.

More papers on Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony":

• Comparison Essay # 75678 : "Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony"
• Book Review # 132394 : "Ceremony" - Leslie Marmon Silko"
• Analytical Essay # 38085 : "Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony"

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