Abstract This paper discusses several of the themes presented in Leslie Silk's novel, "Ceremony." This paper looks at the main character, Tayo's journey to self-acceptance of his roots through a journey he takes through the world of the white man and its many vices. The paper uses different examples from the story that follow the journey through to its conclusion. These include Tayo's contact with the white doctor, his feelings of invisibility and his search for spirituality. The paper continues this theme through Tayo's use of alcohol and how it serves as a symbol for both his thirst of learning about his culture and his continued abuse by the white man. It is through this journey that Tayo eventually returns to the medicine man and eventually inner peace and acceptance.
From the Paper "Tayo insists that he is invisible in the onset of the novel. He cannot speak because an invisible man has no tongue. The white doctor forces Tayo to feel. The doctor's voice lures Tao into the doctor's sense of reality. Tayo feels that he is part of the fog and "like brittle red clay, slipping away with the wind, a little more each day" (Silko, 27). Consequently, Tayo felt hallow internally. He didn't fit in mentally and wished to ease his internal pain by physically escaping into nothingness. Tao's desire for non-existence is symbolic in the novel's theme of self-discovery."
This essay discusses the Cherokee Indians, and the Trail of Tears they trekked across to reach the Indian Reservations that the United States government placed them in.
Abstract This paper talks about the background of the Cherokee Indians, the Indian Removal Act, the removal forts they were put into, and the trail of tears they trudged on, and symbols that symbolize the trail of tears and the pain the Cherokee Indians endured. The author includes several maps in the paper.
From the Paper 'In the 1800s, the Cherokee Indians were forced off their ancestral lands in Georgia and coerced to march the long, bitter journey to Oklahoma, where the government had decided they should live. This journey became known as the "Trail of Tears" for the grief it caused the Cherokee. It was called "Nunna dual Tsuny" by the tribe, which literally meant the "Trail Where They Cried". The Cherokee were a friendly tribe, but were stripped of justice as they were made to trudge hundreds of miles in bad weather; many were treated brutally, and many died either in concentration camps or on the trail itself."
Abstract This paper describes the historical genocide and displacement of the Native Americans through Dee Brown's book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". It traces the history of the Dakotas and Sioux Tribe during and after the conquest of the West by the American military.
From the Paper "Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is a fully documented account of the genocide and displacement by the United States government and military of an entire race of people, human beings, natives of the land that spanned from sea to shining sea. This unthinkable inhumane act was done in the name of Manifest Destiny, a name Congress gave to this movement. Brown documents battles and defeats of the Navaho, Nez Perces, Cheyenne, Apache, Utes, the Sioux and other tribes against a relentless and dishonorable government."
Abstract This paper reviews John Ehle's book, "Trail of Tears", which provides a thorough review of the Cherokee people, starting from their first encounter with Europeans. The paper presents the book's argument that the Cherokee efforts to adopt and adapt to the cultural achievements of whites, while advancing their own culture, fundamentally shaped their history.
From the Paper "In Trail of Tears, John Ehle poignantly depicts the unique struggle of the Cherokee to defend against the onslaught of the advancing "white storm." As they initially realized the futility of violent resistance, the Cherokee enthusiastically devoted themselves to ensuring the societal advancements that would grant them peaceful and prosperous co-existence with the whites. Thanks to the visionary leadership of individuals such as Major Ridge, the tribe successfully fought off internal division, reactionary traditionalism, and white interference in order to forever disprove the fallacy that Indians were incapable of "civilization.""
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss the book "Reservation Blues," by Sherman Alexie. Specifically, it looks at the musical poem at the beginning of the chapter "My God Has Dark Skin," and how it relates to the beliefs and religion of the characters throughout the book.
From the Paper "These words tell the story of how the Native American's had to give up their beliefs, and their religion for the white man's religion, in the name of "modernity" and "Christianity." The numerous Native American tribes each had a complex religious system, made up of folk tales, and a wide variety of gods and goddesses. Yet, when the white men came and took over the Indian lands, they tried to convert them to the "true" religion of Christianity, while they gave up their old ways and beliefs."
Tags: Indian, god, christianity, modernity, native, american, white, men
A discussion on the book "House Made of Dawn" by N. Scott Momaday, a story about a Native American man that could never fit into the white man's world, and did not feel a connection with the Native American world any more.
1,010 words (approx. 4 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract The following paper discusses the themes of dawn and dusk in "House Made of Dawn" focusing on their symbolic and metaphorical meanings of new beginnings and endings. The paper briefly discusses the story, which tells of the differences between the races, and how difficult it is for Native Americans to fit into either world.
From the Paper "We learn throughout the novel that he never could fit into the white man's world, but he does not feel a connection with the Native American world any more. He is going through his own personal "hell" of not belonging anywhere. We see his life in Los Angeles, after he finishes serving his time in prison for murdering the albino. We can see immediately this is not the place for him. He cannot find his place. He returns home only when he is beaten so badly, he almost dies. The story uses the imagery of New Mexico to paint pictures of the old ways, and even romanticize them. Dusk and dawn are important elements in the painting of pictures."
Tags: chant, grandfather, tradition, indians, white
Abstract Analysis of Sherman Alexie's novel. Centers on character of John Smith, a man caught between two worlds: the Indian and the White and not at home in either world. Issue of John's intolerance; his suffering, alientation and violence. Negative impact of intolerance of white society and co-workers. Author's message.
From the Paper "John Smith, the protagonist of Sherman Alexie's novel Indian Killer, is a man caught between the white world and the Indian world, and at home in neither. He is a full-blooded Native American Indian, but was raised by whites, and knows little about his Indian roots. As a result of these circumstances, and the fact that he is a man who appears to be an Indian in a nation of prejudice against Indians, he is a man without an identity. With respect to the issue of intolerance, one could say that John has become a man without the capacity for tolerance at all, including tolerance for himself and his confusing situation in life. In other words, he has been shaped by an unforgiving and intolerant culture which does its worst in creating human beings who are such victims of intolerance that they practically do not even exist. They have been made invisible by intolerance. In fact, John is certainly mentally ill to some degree, and it is clear from the book that his madness is a direct result of living in an intolerant society which tries to take away his history, identity, cultural roots and his very humanity at every turn. It should come as no shock that in his suffering and alienation and madness, he turns to ..."
Abstract This paper centers on the Trail of Tears, a perilous journey by the Cherokee people. The author discusses the round-up of Native Americans in Georgia and the subsequent abuse suffered by them. Explanations for the expulsion of the Cherokees from the South are given.
From the Paper "Herded like cattle, they left behind all of their belongings and the remnants of their past lives. Their land was given to their suppressors, and they were left with next to nothing. This is the story of the Cherokee removal, the Trail of Tears. 'Long time we travel on way to new land. People feel bad when they leave old nation. Womens cry and make sad wails. Children cry and many men cry, and all look sad like when friends die, but they say nothing and just put heads down and keep on go towards West. Many days pass and people die very much. We bury close by trail.' This quote by a full-blood Cherokee is the epitome of their journey."
Abstract This paper analyzes John Deemos' "The Unredeemed Captive" about the adoption of Eunice Williams by Indians at a time when the Puritan settlers of New England Colonies did not get on with their neighboring Indians. It discusses the Puritan's stereotype views of the Indians and how the only way to 'redeem' oneself if captured was by escape or by being freed. It tells the story of Eunice's capture and evaluates how this stereotype only increased Eunice's repulsion of how her father viewed the Indians,. making her adopt their way of life and marry an one of them and thus remaining "unredeemed".
From the Paper "The Mohawk Indians attacked the frontier village of Deerfield in 1704, taking a number of Puritans captive. The whole Puritan Indian cross-cultural encounter brought out the Puritan's view of other societies and how their lack of Puritanical beliefs made them savages, uncivilized and wild. On release, some captives decided to remain behind with the Indians, one of them being Eunice Williams, daughter of the Puritan minister John Williams. This horrified the other Puritans, as they could not understand how one would be willing to turn away from God and adopt heathenic ways ensuring their souls would never attain salvation."
Abstract Life of Nicholas Black Elk, a religious elder, as told to the author. History of the Plains Indians of the late 19th Century. Describes the tribe's belief system. Black Elk's relating how the spirit voices came to him. Sanctioning of his vision. Need to bring his message of the unity of the planet to the world.
From the Paper " Black Elk Speaks (2000) is more than a history of the plains Indians of the latter 19th century. Black Elk was a religious elder of a people that has historically relied on the oral tradition. So this recounting of his life and his vision can be seen as a sacred text that has been preserved on paper instead of committed to memory. As Black Elk begins to relate his life and his vision to John Neihardt, he calls upon the Spirit of the World to keep him true (2), and then he reaffirms the authority of his vision, his tribe's belief system, and his belief that somehow, this vision can still be fulfilled.
When Black Elk was five years old he heard the spirit voices and saw the two messengers who flew down from the sky (14-15). He knew that this was not a dream, but a vision that came from the One Spirit. From that time he would occasionally hear the..."
