Leslie Marmon Silko - Ceremony

Leslie Marmon Silko - Ceremony

LESLIE MARMON SILKO - “CEREMONY “

            Leslie Marmon Silko was born 1948 at Albuquerque. She was raised in the Native-American settlement of Laguna Pueblo which is close to her birthplace. Her works bring out the stories and traditions that bind people into a community. She attended Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools and married an attorney –John Silko. She taught at Navajo Community College in Arizona and the University of Washington and New Mexico.

                Silko published a volume of poetry called “Laguna Woman” ,but   first came to national attention with her short story “Lullaby” ,which was included in “The Best Short Stories of 1975”. “Lullaby” mixes prose and poetry, traditional Navajo myth and the modern conditions of Native Americans. In her book “Storyteller” which was published in 1981 she combines narrative with verse and includes twenty-six photographs from the lifetime collection of her father and grandfather. “Storyteller” follows the movement of stories and storytelling across generations and among Native-American and Anglo cultures. Her book compares the myths of Corn Woman and Buffalo Man with the history of her grandfather –Hank.

                Her novel “Ceremony” was first published in 1977.In his narrative the protagonist Tayo escapes madness and death through a healing ceremony taught to him by an old medicine man and a young Laguna woman .The story concentrates on the importance of storytelling and necessity of tradition. As always the strength of Silko`s communities is found in the power of her stories.

                    In the novel “Ceremony” we are introduced to the main protagonist Tayo, who returns to his home from World War II .Unfortunately he finds out that his people suffered from constant drought and in the meantime he is feeling exhausted and suffers from malaria.Tayo decides that e must find a way to cure himself and to bring the rain back to his community....