As the United States’ Native American population has struggled against discrimination and oppression ever since the coming of the white race, the growing genre of Native American literature often explores the relationship between Native American culture and white culture and the effects such a contrasting mixture of perspectives can have on a human being. Leslie Marmon Silko, arguably the predominant Native American author, examines this relationship profoundly in Ceremony, the story of a Laguna Indian World War II veteran named Tayo who fights the post-traumatic stress disorder the war inflicted upon his mental state. Tayo’s illness results in multiple conflicts, most obviously with a fellow Indian named Emo. Emo is also a World War II veteran,
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Emo’s incredibly vicious actions and words further reiterate his role as the representative of cruelty and pain; Emo intends to punish Tayo’s friend Harley by torturing him, and he shouts at Harley, “‘Scream! Scream loud so he [Tayo] can hear you” (233). Emo is completely focused on forcing Tayo to desperately resort to violence to stop him from causing more anguish for his friend. Emo’s plan nearly works, for Tayo feels he “could not endure it any longer. He was certain his own sanity would be destroyed if he did not stop them and all the suffering and dying they caused….He was not strong enough to stand by and watch any more. He would rather die himself” (234). Emo’s brutality causes Tayo to recognize that without any preventive measures, Emo and others like him would ravage the world, destroying with impunity. Tayo tries to justify his violent thoughts, but is unable to reconcile any attack on Emo with his belief in Native American culture and consequently holds himself back. Tayo comes to understand that Emo, and the broader culture of oppression he represents, wanted him to succumb to the violent impulses in his mind: “Tayo had almost jammed the screwdriver into Emo’s skull the way the witchery had wanted….Their deadly ritual for the autumn solstice would have been completed by him. He would have been another victim, a drunk Indian war veteran settling an old feud….The white people would shake their heads, more proud than sad that it took a white man to survive in their world” (235). Silko compares Emo’s desires to the tendencies of the white people to illustrate how violence is a part of white culture without penetrating Native American philosophies. Emo becomes the greatest symbol of the oppression and brutality that World War II caused upon the Indian
Emo’s incredibly vicious actions and words further reiterate his role as the representative of cruelty and pain; Emo intends to punish Tayo’s friend Harley by torturing him, and he shouts at Harley, “‘Scream! Scream loud so he [Tayo] can hear you” (233). Emo is completely focused on forcing Tayo to desperately resort to violence to stop him from causing more anguish for his friend. Emo’s plan nearly works, for Tayo feels he “could not endure it any longer. He was certain his own sanity would be destroyed if he did not stop them and all the suffering and dying they caused….He was not strong enough to stand by and watch any more. He would rather die himself” (234). Emo’s brutality causes Tayo to recognize that without any preventive measures, Emo and others like him would ravage the world, destroying with impunity. Tayo tries to justify his violent thoughts, but is unable to reconcile any attack on Emo with his belief in Native American culture and consequently holds himself back. Tayo comes to understand that Emo, and the broader culture of oppression he represents, wanted him to succumb to the violent impulses in his mind: “Tayo had almost jammed the screwdriver into Emo’s skull the way the witchery had wanted….Their deadly ritual for the autumn solstice would have been completed by him. He would have been another victim, a drunk Indian war veteran settling an old feud….The white people would shake their heads, more proud than sad that it took a white man to survive in their world” (235). Silko compares Emo’s desires to the tendencies of the white people to illustrate how violence is a part of white culture without penetrating Native American philosophies. Emo becomes the greatest symbol of the oppression and brutality that World War II caused upon the Indian