Significant Characters: Tayo, Betonie, Auntie, Tseh, Josiah, Rocky, Emo
Plot: The archetypal story of cycles and journeys. Tayo struggles to find his true identity as he is troubled by war and his brothers death. Tayo switches from his white to his native Laguna side throughout the story. Tayo feels guilty for condemning the rain in the war and realizes the gravity nature plays. Nothing is purely good or bad. Everything has a purpose even rain. Tayo falls into habits of alcholism which is expected from the white washed natives. However as advice from the Indian medicine man Kuo'oush fails, Tayo looks toward Betonie. Betonie is like Tayo because he is half white and understands that ceremonies must adapt to the times. Betonie's Ceremony leads Tayo all through out the Laguna making reference to the cardinal directions and color scheme. Tayo meets Tseh and lives there for a summer. She then warns Tayo and send him on his way. Tayo completes the ceremony and the drought ends. Tayo finds out that Tseh is actually A'moo'ooh, the she-elk spirit. The ceremony and rain is Tayo's rebirth and fulfillment as a hero.
Theme: There is no pure evil or good only a combination of the two and just as sacred as traditions are, they must adapt to the times. Mistakes are much harder to fix than they are to create which is why we must never forget our traditions and values.
Author: Silko is a fairly progressive writer in the native community because she discloses ancient Laguna history and culture. She does this through short vignettes of cultural texts which play a deep role in the story. The poems interrelate to the story to create this full cycle of work. The story works on many levels and is to not be taken as an independent work. It is very much part of a larger scheme in describing native culture and the transforming beliefs. Betonie condemns natives more than whites because she is criticizing the assimilating population. This a key theme in the play and Silko does a fascinating job of playing on the hybrid race and role of Betonie and Tayo. By creating a hybrid character, it eliminates the racial part and creates a bigger emphasis on culture.
Key Quotes:
"They never thought to blame the white people for any of it; they wanted white people for their friends"-Tayo
A key moment when Tayo understand the witchery of the white man. Tayo sees the truth and where his culture and background lies. The white men took everything from them and yet they craved to see their acceptance? They war helped no one. It just spread the white man's hate. Tayo realizes this and understands that drinking at the bar is the last thing he should do.
Again this is an epiphany moment for Tayo. He sees the hallowness and the emptiness that has consumed him. He is not whole and will never be whole until he completes the ceremony and becomes whole again. He has to discover himself and his identity before the outline fills in.
Once again good job hitting all the main points but more elaboration would be helpful. I know the summary is supposed to be a short thing but I think in this case especially with a novel this complicated, you can't go wrong with a slightly longer summary because there's so much to this novel that needs to be understood. Also good insightful thesis, i didn't quite come to the same conclusion but your makes a lot of sense as well so good work.
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