When two unique cultures meet, there is bound to be a clash. The novel “Ceremony” examines this dispute and the impact it has on the day to day lives of those that adhere to the two cultures. It seeks to bridge the understanding of the white's culture often seen as the modern one and that of the Native Americans which in the eyes of the whites is backward.
Silko, the author, shows the interaction between the two through the life of Tayo. Tayo embodies the meeting of the two cultures through his mixed origins. The novel is also on a journey of discovering oneself as seen through the eyes of Tayo. Tayo was abandoned by the mother, and he never knew his father. He had to chart his own way in life under the guidance of Betonie, a traditional doctor. Though a Native American, he goes to a white boarding school after which he went on to fight in the Second World War. After coming back, he undergoes the ceremony to align himself with his culture.
The novel seeks to show mainly the contrast between the two cultures. The natives before the arrival of the whites relied entirely on agriculture and as such timelines within their culture are marked by events such as droughts and coming (Silko 19). However, with the coming of the whites, more of the natives take part in education and then move to white-dominated towns in search of work (Silko 19). They come under discrimination in the process despite having made efforts to attain formal education which was synonymous with the white's culture.
Silko also brings out the theme of evolution in the novel where she is of the view that we must change as time changes or else we will be left behind. Betonie, the traditional medicine man in the novel, is a strong proponent of learning the two cultures both in word and in deeds. In contrast, Ku'oosh, another traditional medicine man does not embrace the whites' modern medicine leading to his failure in curing Tayo.
While there is a need to embrace new cultures that come around, there is also need to ensure that we do not become corrupted by either of the two. Thelma, Tayo's auntie, while being both a traditionalist and a Christian, has failed to strike a balance between the two hence her portrayal as a harsh auntie to Tayo. Furthermore, after returning from the war, most of the natives become embroiled in alcohol as a coping mechanism yet its detrimental effects were shown to be destitution and the rise in prostitution.
The novel brings out a mix of literary skills which while appreciated for their ability to explain vividly the story, also tend to confuse the reader due to their randomness. The author should have had a better-choreographed way of using the various styles especially poetry. However, the poems in themselves were dramatic and self-explanatory on top of their perfect rhymes. While Tayo was the main protagonist of the story, the author should have cared to offer a little bit more light on the other characters that help develop the story. Despite these deficiencies, Silko's explanation of Tayo's journey through the ceremony was excellent. The novel also contains some historical inconsistencies. In an attempt to show the harsh side of the white people, the author fails to give an accurate account of events before the world war. However, the book is a good read for someone interested in learning about the differences between the Native Americans and white people before and after the world war.
Work Cited
Silko, L. 2006. Ceremony. New York: Penguin Books. Print.
