Integral Themes In Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony

Throughout Leslie Marmon Silko’s work Ceremony, there are many integral themes. The story focuses on Tayo, a World War II veteran, who is traumatized by his experience over the course of the time he spent on the battle front. He views his cousin, Rocky, being killed, and this loss to him wounds him greatly, both physically and mentally. His family idolized Rocky, from Tayo’s point of view, because, I argue, Rocky seemed to be a successful Native American, and Tayo was just not as successful as Rocky. Rocky was slated to play college football, but soon this idea of playing the sport were erased as he died. Additionally, Tayo is distraught after believing that he saw his Uncle Josiah’s face in the Japanese camp he was in while during the World War II battles. Tayo returns to his home in New Mexico, where the area is suffering from an extreme drought. He blames himself for it on account of praying against the rain earlier in his life. Overall, I believe that Tayo seeks solace after the war, and from all the tragedies that he faced throughout his life, such as his mother leaving him when he was a child at the age of four. I also identify that Tayo yearns to …show more content…
In American society, it is seen as feminine to shed tears if you are a male. Men are supposed to be masculine and tough, and provide peace to females, not shed tears. Tayo does sob a lot, and since he is a male, it is very significant, in my opinion, why the author displayed Tayo crying. But at the same time, Tayo is not just an ordinary American. He has mixed heritage, and he will go and follow his own standards. This is admirable, because I think the author did not want Tayo to just be an ordinary character. The author yearned for this whole text to be unique to the way Native Americans lives. Therefore, both these actions of excessive vomiting and crying display how distraught Tayo is over several issues that he faces in