Open Post #6

1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.

It’s never easy to stand up to the crowd, but it can be even more difficult when the crowd consists of neighbors, friends and families. In Ceremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko, this is the struggle of the protagonist Tayo as he is forced to reconcile with his dark past. Unable to find peace with himself using traditional Laguna methods or American ones, he consults a revolutionary medicine man who illustrates to him the fallacies in the old ways as they do not take into account changes in the new world. Ceremony illustrates the strength and power of rituals derives from their ability to adapt in an ever-changing world,which stands in direct contrast to Tayo’s society’s views.

Due to his mixed ancestry and his characteristic “hazel eyes”, Tayo serves as a continuous reminder of the white influence.  To the Laguna Pueblos, two sentiments dominate regarding the white-American culture: a desire to join the American culture, yet also to scorn it as the Lagunas know that the society does not truly accept them. Through his army stories,  Emo reveals this ambivalence. He speaks highly of the days when white women swarmed around him, indicating his desire to be embraced by the white American society. However, Emo is also the first to bring up Tayo’s mixed ancestry and to attack Tayo for his genetic fallacy. He cries out “There he is. He thinks he’s something all right. Because he’s part white. Don’t you, half-breed?” This illustrates Emo’s feeling of belittlement caused by the white culture that directly contrasts with his longing to be immersed in it.

Although Tayo notices the ambivalence in the Pueblos’ view of the white culture early on, he is unable to find a solution. While Tayo’s army buddies turn to liquor, “the medicine for the anger that made them hurt” Tayo cannot suppress his own. When Tayo visits  Betonie however, Betonie reveals that the Pueblo customs of old have become obsolete because they fail to take into account the presence of whites. By manipulating the old rituals, Betonie actually fortifies the Pueblo traditions as they become applicable to the present and he manages to bring Tayo peace. Along his healing process, Tayo is able to break free from the anger and ambivalence and renew a sense of pride in his culture that had been largely lost by his people.

In conclusion, Ceremony suggests that traditions and rituals rest at the crux of cultures. When the traditions become obsolete, society loses a sense of pride and unity. By tweaking rituals to suit the modern world however, a culture’s strength can be restored. Although Tayo is the only one to realize this key detail, his transformation implies the potential for the entire Pueblo community to be revitalized.