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Summary: "A Ceremony for Indian Culture"
Review: For years punishment have existed among the different races. But those who are punished can demonstrate that they are able to gain positive things from life. The Indian culture has been punished by the white people, because, they believe that the Indian race is inferior. For this reason white people deprived Native Americans of lands, freedom, justice and many other things. Ceremony, the novel written by Leslie Marmon Silko, is mostly based on those kinds of problems. Silko is part of a bicultural race. She is from indian parents and also have a white origin. This means that she can visualize both points of view. The story Ceremony discusses other types of social problems. Some of the problems are war and abandoned kids. Tayo, the principal character of the story, had suffered both problems, because he was a veteran of war who was also a prisoner of the Japanese people and his mother abandoned him at an early moment in his life. Some Native American characters in the story seem to care too much about how white people treat them and make them feel, for example one of them pretended to be an Italian in order to have relationship with white women. They treated them without respect making them feel inferior. With this situation the Native American felt upset and in response to these feelings they create a spiritual rebelion against white people. Tayo and other people from his tribe have many problems, because white people do not trust them as they would like to be trusted. Also historically white people have repeatedly lost the trust of the Native Americans. But this is not a barrier for Tayo, because he always try to do the best he can, no matter in what situation he gets involved. Tayo got sick, because all of the problems he had, then he solved with an Indian ceremony that help him get well. Another message that the story has is conveyed in the poems that intercept the narrative of the reading. Those are trying to let us know that our Mother Earth is suffering a lot, because human beings are destroying her without thinking of the consequences. Those poems are written in a way that makes the reader think a little of what we are doing to nature. Readers can be very interested in what they read from Ceremony, but they must concentrate since some times it may be confusing. The novel have some narrative that intercept the story, so the reader have to compare them with the basic story of it. Ceremony is a good story that presents different points of view such as the white people's belief that Indian culture is worthless in contrast with the Native American belief that white people are responsible for their problems.
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Summary: Ceremony: a great Native American novel
Review: Ceremony is a very descriptive and intriguing novel. Silko presents us various situations of the Laguna Indian's life and their struggle to determine their self-identity. The characters were chosen very wisely. Tayo, the main character, is an Indian who served in the war and witnessed the death of his cousin Rocky. The war and the death of his cousin have caused him an internal conflict that haunts him. While he tries to untie the knots in his mind, his family and friends think that he has gone crazy. He also has to deal with the shame of his mother's past and the hate of Emo, a war-vet who hnows him since childhood, who envies Tayo's white roots. The autor presents us various types of Indians. The Indian who denies his culture presented by Rocky. Harley characterizes the sterotype Indian who is always drunk and in troubles. Emo presents the Indian who wishes to be part of the white world. Silko also presents us Auntie, the racist Indian, who discriminates against her nephew Tayo because he is part white. Betonie characterizes the typical medicine man that is an important character in the Indian's culture. Silko presents us these situations throughout anecdotes and memories told by the characters. The author uses poerty to presents us various legends that are part of the Laguna Indian's culture. This provides us a mythical background or explanation of the situations that are occuring. The author changes frequently from present to past. This may confuse the reader but it does mantain you in suspense asking yourself what will happen next.
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Summary: Help the readers understand Native American way of life
Review: The novel is very interesting because it helps the readers to understand better the Native American way of life. You can see the different problems that affect the Indian community. A good example is Tayo, he went to a war and now he is back home but he is not quite the same anymore, that is something very typical of veterans. The novel transport us to the World War II where many of the people who went there still suffering many traumas that wont heal up with the time. In this occasion Tayo is the one that reflects this action because he was the one that went to war with his cousin Rocky, who couldn't make it on the war. Now Tayo need to learn how to change in order to survive his experiences. Leslie Marmon Silko also helps the reader keep in touch with her special interpretation of the subtopics and her unique technique of narration. She looks deep inside her roots and her own experiences to create a real life mood in the novel. She identifies herself as part of the mixed-blood community to make the story of Ceremony one more real and more interesting to read. Silko as part of her style introduce poems trough the story. That helps the reader to be more interested on the story. The poems also keep in touch with the narration in the story so you can keep in track with it so you won't miss a thing. Poems help the reader to understand the reading while it shows a different point of view the mythical one.
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Summary: CEREMONY enthralls and entertains. A satisfying read.
Review: "Nothing was all good or al bad either; it all depended"(11). Through Betonie's ceremony and the Laguna myths, Tayo comes to realize that the evil which has caused him so much loss, so much grief, began with his own people. Indian witchcraft harnessed evil in the form of the whites through the words of a story, and only by accepting responsibility for this can one truly live in harmony with his past and present. He sees that to simply get drunk and blame the "whites," like his veteran buddies do, is to play the victim. Tayo's journey may be confusing and lapsing to some, yet it strikes me as being an authentic search for truth and healing. With the help of Betonie and Ts'eh, Tayo realizes the lie that has been perpetrated upon the Indians by white society- that they are second-class citizens, and Tayo sees beyond that lie. He breaks the cycle of violence by not retaliating against Emo, and he restores balance to his life. Evil still exists, yet his awareness of it helps him "stay out of trouble"(256). The uniqueness of Silko's proposal, that Native Americans accept responsibility for their participation in the violence and dissolution, makes CEREMONY an honest and affecting work. Seen in this light, sensitivity to the plight of Native Americans becomes something for readers to accept and appreciate, rather than to reject without consideration.
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Summary: Great Novel About Native American History
Review: Leslie Marmon Silko, a Native American writer, talks in Ceremony about the survival of the people from her Pueblo, Laguna. In this novel Tayo, the main character, enlisted in the ARMY with his brother Rocky. Rocky died in the World War II. Tayo was very affected and came back to his home. Here Leslie Marmon Silko writes about the different reactions that the characters have to their suffering. Many of them take refuge in alcohol like Harley, one of Tayo's friend and Emo, the evil symbol of the novel; but Tayo lives with a guilty feeling. Ceremony is how they try to overcome World War II, it is how they try to overcome their social problems and how they found the balance in life. The novel talks about the different Indian traditions. For example, the ritual they do when a deer is killed (p.51-52). We can see too how important it was to Indians to be at the same social level of white people. This is one of the greatest polemics that Leslie Marmon Silko talks about, one of the biggest social problems that Indians are confronting. Indians have been always persecuted by prejudice and becoming part of World War II here in the novel made them feel popular and important. They feel that everyone treats them as Americans, as white people, it makes them feel that they (Indians) are just like white people. They even compare themselves with Americans; but Tayo found out by heart that this was a big lie, white people and Indians were really different (p.191). In the novel we will see how alcohol and the consequences of prejudice combine together to bring out a great theme that will get us thinking. Thinking in our own problems and how we have survived with prejudice, we should take Ceremony as an example to overcome today's society finding the balance like Tayo did. The most interesting part of Ceremony is the grate technique that the author Leslie Marmon Silko uses to take the reader on a travel through time. The characters in the novel are living in the present, but at the same time remembering and thinking of the past. Sometimes the reader will wonder of what he/she is reading is in the present or if the character is just remembering. But Silko integrated poems in the novel, the real Indian ceremonies. Many people think that the poems are only one more puzzle to figure out, and maybe they are right. However, I believe that even when they are puzzles they can help the reader, in some way, to comprehend the switching in time, so that they do not get lost, they help to keep track of time. The poems talk about many Indians traditions, droughts, witchery and stories that people do not know. As the people change the ceremonies change too. Here is where the puzzle comes in because the reader has to be very concentrated and into the novel to understand them, but at the same time the reader starts to comprehend the poems and the ceremonies; the reader will start to comprehend the novel too. People who like to analyze things and love analogies and the switching between the present and the past, between reality and fantasy and people who want to learn about Indians, their traditions and beliefs should buy this novel because it is very interesting. It will definitely get the money's worth.
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Summary: Is a great book of surviving.
Review: Book review of Ceremony. Ceremony, is a very dramatic book. Is not a very long book but is very slow, in the way that when it happens something very passionate or very intensive, well you can distinguish it very rapidly. Its about how modern Indians are trying to survive to the change white man is making in there life. Is something out of this world, because is in a way that almost no one can adapt in so short time. Any specie will have trouble trying to adapt to their new type of life. Is more like evolution, the strongest specie survives. It also shows that great part of the Indian population is auto destroying with alcohol. Is a very sad novel at the beginning and kind of pessimist because how humans can be so inhuman with each other and with them selves. It shows how white man tries to eliminate the Indian race. It talks about how cruel can be life with us and how if you don't fight back to survive you will died. It also mentions how the white man makes fun of the Indians by making them believe that if they fought in there war they will be part of them. Like it happened to emo and every one on the story. Talks about war, racism, auto destroying, self-esteem and conflict like man vs. nature, man vs. man and man vs. himself. In a very general way it tries to show the suffer and struggle that Indians had to pass on so that they can survive.
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Summary: Ceremony is Silko's first book, but it could've been worse.
Review: Certainly, Ceremony was a hard book to read nevertheless a good one. Even though I'm Puerto Rican and my main language is Spanish, I consider myself a good English reader, and still it gave me some hard times. The constant changes in tenses kept you awake, but still it made me wonder many times were the hall I was... To be sincere, the book's a good one, well written and nevertheless deserves to be recognized as a great piece of art. As far as the characters, the development of each one is outstanding. The author creates an atmosphere in which each character fits perfectly. Their purpose at the first glance, but soon it becomes apparent and their role in the developing plot becomes clear. The only one that I wasn't satisfied with was the fact that Tayo, the main character, was kind of a perfect, goody-two -shoes kind of character. Being the main character in the novel, it's a bit disappointing to see him overcome in such an easy way all adversities he faced. He was oppressed by both, Indian and white society for being half-white and half-Indian; he was sent to war in the name of liberty, he saw his cousin die. Back home, he faced the resentment of his own people, including members of his own family, because he couldn't prevent his cousin from dying at the war. Do not take the word "easy" wrongly. Obviously, there was an immense amount of struggle and hard work related to his triumph, for example the whole healing ceremony, and facing his "nemesis" Emo everyday, but still after everything he faced, he subsisted too easy. The author uses Tayo to represent her main ideal of man beating society, but she could have used other tactics. For example, she could have made him go a little crazy, in order to deal with these overwhelming situations. The fact that she uses religion as the main (main because I don't want to say sole) support and shelter for him seems unreal, and a fiction book like this one, that tries to portrait the Native American experience, should be as close to reality as possible; ideological heroes are not welcomed with open arms in real life, and the author wants us to. I would have liked actually to see him crumble and fall apart a little in presence of the monster that society, white and Indian is. On the other hand, it's obvious that Silko wants to use Tayo as a symbol of all the Native American values, which contrast with her disgust and despise towards all the abuses committed against the Native Americans by Aryan People. The novel is full of symbolic characters. For example, Betonie symbolizes the harmony between the wisdom of old natives combined with the modern science brought by white society. Emo, another "American Hero" who was all that he could be, symbolizes all the frustrations Indians may have channeled through alcoho9l and violent and destructive acts. He is an example of the man conquered completely by the environment. Harley and Leroy are symbols of partial defeat by society over the Indian ways. They fought for their native believes, but ended up being entangled in the American ways. Rocky, the typical young, enthusiastic Native American who wanted to step up the ladder of civilization, and couldn't. But being a promising athlete and a bright young lad with high hopes didn't prevented him from being brainwashed into the white ways. Night Swan, the Mexican woman, represents the misunderstood, yet understanding alien who fights for survival in a hostile environment. The list just keeps growing... Auntie, Josiah, Helen Jean, Pinky- the author simply exhibited great ability in developing her characters into key, role-playing pieces in her story. Using poetical figures, such as metaphors, personification, and foreshadowing was another of her strong attributes the author exploited. Also, by using sensory images, Silko was able to create the appropriate scene for the developing situations. Language was also critical in the creation of this literary piece. The use of regionalisms certainly helps the reader get into the story. Also, foul language was used sparingly yet tastefully. The plot was also an interesting one, which which had many twists and turns. With the addition of every new character, the plot thickened and was able to capture the reader's attention. The way Tayo comes back from the war, the constant bar brawls and stories, and the healing ceremony which encompasses the whole story are well are a well thought plot for making the reader interested in the theme, therefore wanting to read more. The different short stories and poems that are inserted in the reading may appear annoying at first, but their purpose is served. They help give the average reader the background needed to understand to some extent the meaning of the book, Wrapping things up, the book establishes interesting points, which have been around for a while, and portraits them in an artistic way. Leslie Marmon Silko made a nice piece, which proves to be worthwhile.
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Summary: A poetic novel to learn about Native American's culture.
Review: Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko Indians have always been subjects of injustice since the Spanish took their land from them. They have gone through several stages in their lives with the purpose of preserving their culture and customs, to try to survive and pass on to their generations the essence of being Indians. These people have proven in many ways that are a productive, creative and a fighting race that will survive. The novel Ceremony was written by Leslie Marmon Silko. This novel is about the consequences of the World War II in the life of the Indians. It also explains several of the problems and situations that have made the Indians act sometimes violently or needful of revenge against white people. This is presented in the behavior of some characters in the story like Emo, who hated Tayo, a Laguna Pueblo Indian, for being part white. In contrast to this, Tayo was not so aggressive; he liked being an Indian, but he also felt comfortable when other people treated him as a white man. Tayo is the main character of the novel and a veteran, who brings back with him not only psychological problems but also the problem of alcoholism. Silko expresses her ideas and knowledge in a very real and passionate way. When she describes any event in the novel like the rain, this feels as if it was the rain falling in that moment. Besides, since she is both white and Indian she can see all points of view, describe and project them to the reader. The author also uses a form of writing that is very interesting. Silko inserts poems in the narration this makes the reader to get more and more wrapped up in the reading, expecting more poems. These poems are very well located in the novel because they are equal to the narration. If Silko speaks about the rain, before or after the narration there is a poem related to the rain; it is perfect because the poems and the narration have a relationship. The poems are good mythical explanations of the Indian's beliefs such as why white people exist or why droughts occur. Silko also used retrospection in the novel which keeps you traveling in the time. This maintains the reader with desires of continuing reading, waiting for the narration that the author left behind. In the novel, Silko makes characters travel in time. The retrospection is commonly used when she speaks about Tayo. Sometimes he is in the war, other times in a bar with friends, in a hospital or in his house. The reader has to be very careful when reading the novel, so that each detail can be understood and the course of the narration does not get lost. The end of the story can offer different interpretations, because it is not exposed explicitly. Ceremony is a good book for those interested in Native Americans and who wants to understand more about their culture and social problems. The book has 262 pages and the price is approximately $12.95. Penguin Group Penguin Books USA Inc. published it in 1986.
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Summary: A great and different reading experience.
Review: "Ceremony" Leslie Marmon Silko Publication-1977 262 pages $12.95 October 18, 1999 The novel "Ceremony" by Leslie Marmon Silko is a well written novel of a young Laguna Pueblo Indian named Tayo. This book is for readers who love to read a different kind of novel, since it will take the reader from past to present and has Indians stories in between readings to help the reader understand a little more abount the Indian culture. After Tayo goes to World War II, he comes back home mentally depressed, confused because of his war experience:the death of his cousin Rocky, he was confused as to why he himself was killing and his guilt of leaving his uncle back home to raise the cattle. This novel will take the reader on a journey through Tayo's rough life. Because he is half white, half Indian, he is stereotyped by some of his own race and even treated with indifference by his own family. Another difficulty was one shared by Indian veterans who felt accepted by society when they gave their life up to the war, then they came back to find no job and nothing to do but to drink. After being hospitalized Tayo tries to find another way to heal himself: through a Ceremony. Through this Ceremony we (the readers) learn about Indian cultures, stories, beliefs and traditions. I highly recommend this novel because it is about suffering, confusion, loneliness, the war experience of Native Americans, stereotypes, racism, self healing and how Tayo found the answer to his confusion within his own culture.
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Summary: Ceremony, a book for eveybody
Review: In the novel Ceremony Leslie Marmon Silko exposes her point of view about the Laguna Pueblo life, the land where she grew up. She introduces to us the Pueblo life in the characters she creates throughout the narration. Each character had different characteristics that identify the different kinds of people that lived in Laguna Pueblo. She also gave a message of how cultures survive as time passes on and people change. The novel is developed around the events in the life of Tayo, the main character. He had to live with the rejection of his aunt because she was ashamed of him and his mother and was always worried about what people said. Tayo joined the Army with his cousin Rocky. They went to war but Rocky didn't came back, since he was killed by the Japanese. Tayo had to live with all the memories of his cousin but he was very proud of him and never let anyone say bad things about him. Throughout the novel we could see how every time Tayo was in a situation he remember when Rocky was alive. Tayo had an uncle named Josiah that he loved a lot and was always telling him stories about the past. Tayo also had a lot of friends who also went with him to war and when they went to the bars to drink they told their life stories. In the stories they presented the Laguna Pueblo life, their fears and problems. They also express how they felt when they were in the Army and were treated like white men, their adventures with women and their fights. A lot of themes are developed throughout the novel. One of them is drought, it was a problem that the Laguna Pueblo Indians had to face frequently. Culture is an important theme developed in the novel. Each culture had their traditions and ceremonies that they had to preserve. These are the things that identify the culture, that makes it unique. To preserve them they have to change as people change "the ceremonies have always been changing" (p.126). Another theme is witchcraft. Some of the most interesting ceremonies and stories in the novel are those that talked about witchery, magic, invention of white people, etc. They gave a different touch to the novel, they were like little tales within the novel. As you read about drought, the war, white people, problems, etc...in the middle you find a story about witchcraft that captures your attention and makes you think about the significance of this for the Laguna Pueblo life. The novel has a lot of shifts between past and present, so you have to concentrate to understand what time they are and where is the present of the novel. The use of the poems or stories that intercept the narration is a very good technique to maintain the interest of the reader and to explain better what is happening. It could be about a character, an opinion of a character, their beliefs, their prayers or about something that happened in the past. The poems help you identify with the novel and with the characters, and make you want to continue reading. It is a very good novel that presents to us the difficult lives that some Indians lived, in what way they look at white people. and their feelings. There is always someone that has more problems in life than you. This is a very good novel for those of you who like to read about different cultures, who like to know more about the past, about history or who just enjoy reading. In fact it is a novel for everyone because it offers lessons for everybody's life. We all should preserve our culture because it is what passes generation to generation. For example the Puerto Rican people could identify with this theme because no matter what is our political status we have to preserve our culture and be proud of being Puerto Ricans.
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