“Ceremony,” Leslie Marmon Silko's novel, mainly seeks to explore the contradictions and the effects of two unique cultures mixing. In the novel, these contradictions are brought out by having a closer look at Tayo's life. Tayo not only bears the cultural contradictions in him but also a physical one as espoused in his green eyes. They symbolize the mix of white and the Native American origins in him.
The two cultures have adverse effects on the lives of the Native Americans, both positive and adverse. Tayo, an admirer of his Native American culture, happens to be educated in a white boarding school, something that highlights the contrasts between the two cultures. In the white schools, the views of the teachers tend to be biased. It is especially the case when it comes to the teaching of science and nature, which are seen by the whites as purely a matter of biology. However, to the natives, science and nature are spiritual, and they act as a conduit to connect them with their divine selves. Betonie, Ku'oosh, and the old woman all of whom practice traditional medicine show this through the use of plants, animals and other rituals connected to nature to facilitate communication with the spiritual world (SparkNotes Editors).
Silko also appears to explore the theme of adaptability or the lack of it in the novel. As explained by Betonie, there is a need to evolve as time passes and adapt to new realities. Betonie and Tayo, while still adhering to their culture, attend white boarding schools. In contrast, Ku'oosh, the medicine man fails to evolve which eventually causes him to fail to cure modern diseases brought about by the interaction with the whites.
However, the author also explores the need to adapt to change and the interaction of cultures with a realistic and open mind. Tayo's auntie, Thelma, despite being a native traditionalist is also a staunch Christian. Her actions were not always driven by pure intent but rather the need to follow doctrine, which causes a conflict within her personality. It is shown by how her treatment of Tayo, who she raises; her treatment of Tayo is not the best and she always reminds Tayo of his differences from the rest of society (SparkNotes Editors). The lack of an open mind in adapting to the two cultures leads her to accept what suits her yet she denies that which does not.
While the book is much about the destructive effects of the interaction of the two cultures, there are also a few good elements brought about by it. The Native Americans get an opportunity to explore the white's education, which opens a new dimension for them. They are then able to seek white collar jobs in towns run by the whites albeit the fact they still faced discrimination (Silko 16).
The book manages to narrate these stories through the use of several literary skills with poetry being a huge part of it. The manners in which the author brings up the rhyme and the dramatic scenes in them enable the reader to have a clear appreciation of the facts that Silko tries to capture in the novel. The fact that it has been written by a person who comes from the minority itself provides a vivid account of the events in a way that an outsider would not have been able to. The story also inspires the readers' urge to connect with their culture even in the face of a changing world just as Tayo did. Apart from doing an entertaining reading, Ceremony also has a profound teaching of literary skills that could be useful for all the students of literature.
Works Cited
Silko, L. 2006. Ceremony. New York: Penguin Books. Print.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Ceremony.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
