Ceremony

Ceremony

 I. Basics:
   Author: Leslie Marmon Silko
   Setting: Laguna-Pueblo reservation in New Mexico, after World War II

II.) Characters:
Tayo: The main character of the novel, Tayo struggles to reckon with his dark past.
Harley: One of Tayo’s war buddies, Harley also has powerful memories of the war, but his method of coping is alcohol- the white way.
Emo: Tayo’s main antagonist, Emo seems to represent evil incarnate. He collects his followers, tells them his poisonous stories and even performs a ceremony himself. All of this evidence suggests that Emo is himself a witch.

Betonie: A radical medicine man who teaches Tayo that the power of ceremonies is in their ability to change.

Tseh: The Earth incarnate, Tseh helps Tayo to find peace.
Rocky: Tayo’s brother, Rocky contrasts with Tayo in his skills and attitudes towards American society in general.

III.)Plot:
Tayo is haunted by memories of his childhood, his uncle and the war. However, finding that both traditional Laguna and American ways of coping to be inadequate, he sets forth to find a new way to confront his problems. Together with Betonie, Tayo creates a new ceremony that incorporates the old world with the new and by doing so he reinforces his people’s customs and brings peace to himself.

IV.)    Narrative Voice/Author’s Style

POV: Third person, biased narrator

Tone: Bitter and disassembled

Symbolism: Circles, ceremonies, eyes, the donkeys

V.)    Quotes:
“The word he chose to express ‘fragile’ was filled with the intricacies of a continuing process, and with a strength inherent in spider webs woven across paths through sand hills where early in the morning the sun becomes entangled in each filament of web. It took a long time to explain the fragility and intricacy because no word exists alone, and the reason for choosing each word had to be explained with a story about why it must be said this certain way. “

This quote refers to the first medicine man Tayo encounters, Ku’oosh. Tayo has returned home after being psychologically damaged by the war. This is Tayo’s first attempt to heal himself using Laguna methods. Although the ceremony is wholly ineffective, it represents Tayo’s regained interest in connecting with his roots. The quote above outlines the principle behind Pueblo-Laguna culture and though he has yet to understand it, this world will soon become clear.

“She sighed, and laid her head back on the chair. ‘It seems like I already heard these stories before—only thing is, the names sound different.’”

The closing line of the book, this quote by Grandma reinforces the cyclical theme that is present in the book.  Throughout Ceremony, the traditional Pueblo stories which are sprinkled in with Tayo’s, are also the same stories with different names. For the Laguna, time is a never ending circle that connects all people regardless of time or place.

VI.)    Themes:

Traditions and rituals rest at the crux of cultures. When the traditions become obsolete, society loses its sense of pride and unity.

The whole purpose of Tayo’s ceremony operates under this theme. The old customs of the Laguna have come obsolete, evidenced by Tayo and Betonie themselves, and the white culture surrounding them. In order to regain strength for himself and his people, Tayo must embark on a new ceremony which will allow him to reconnect with the Earth and his roots.