Ceremony by Silko
In Ceremony, Leslie Silko ties the concept of transitions into the book. Transitions are used to describe and show the change that Tayo is going through during the whole book, or his ceremony. They show Tayo’s progress in his ceremony and also show his change of thinking. Silko mentions transitions when she wrote, “[Tayo] had only seen and heard the world as it always was: no boundaries, only transitions through all distances and time” (229). This shows that Tayo’s world revolves around transitions. They can happen anywhere, at any time. Silko also mentions the concept of transitions in the book when Betonie tells Tayo that “it is a matter of transitions. You see; the changing, the becoming must be cared for closely” (120). This foreshadows the transitions and changes that Tayo will experience later in the book. On page 236, Silko writes that “the transition was completed” which means that Tayo is cured.
Task 2:
• Transition 1: Tayo’s change of culture o Tayo realizes that he must become accustomed to both the white and Pueblo Indian way of life in order to survive. After Tayo realizes that this transition is necessary for him to be cured and to complete the ceremony, he listens to his grandma and sees Ku’oosh and Betonie. o “There are some things we can’t cure like we used to, not since the white people came” (35). The medicine man Ku’oosh says this while seeing Tayo. Ku’oosh explains to Tayo how the whites have changed the Indians and how Indians must follow the whites in order to get cured. This line explains how white and Indian cultures have merged. It persuades Tayo to learn and follow both cultures.
• Transition 2: Tayo looking for a sense of belonging to others o For Tayo’s whole life, he has been looking for a sense of belonging to others. Since his mother left him when he was young, he felt like he had no family. When he moved in with Auntie, he didn’t feel as if he belonged to a family because Auntie would show her embarrassment of her sister
Task 2:
• Transition 1: Tayo’s change of culture o Tayo realizes that he must become accustomed to both the white and Pueblo Indian way of life in order to survive. After Tayo realizes that this transition is necessary for him to be cured and to complete the ceremony, he listens to his grandma and sees Ku’oosh and Betonie. o “There are some things we can’t cure like we used to, not since the white people came” (35). The medicine man Ku’oosh says this while seeing Tayo. Ku’oosh explains to Tayo how the whites have changed the Indians and how Indians must follow the whites in order to get cured. This line explains how white and Indian cultures have merged. It persuades Tayo to learn and follow both cultures.
• Transition 2: Tayo looking for a sense of belonging to others o For Tayo’s whole life, he has been looking for a sense of belonging to others. Since his mother left him when he was young, he felt like he had no family. When he moved in with Auntie, he didn’t feel as if he belonged to a family because Auntie would show her embarrassment of her sister