Symbolism In Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony

“If the white people never looked beyond the lie, to see that their was a nation built on stolen land, then they would never be able to understand how they had been used by the witchery; they would never know that they were still being manipulated by those who knew how to stir the ingredients together: white thievery and injustice boiling up the anger and hatred that would finally destroy the world: the starving against the fat, the colored against the white” (191). Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony, is an example of Postcolonial literature. The novel focuses on the de-colonization of the Native American culture by white people and the effects it has on the Natives. Rocky is a strong, educated Native boy who prefers the lessons taught by the
“Greasers and Indians- we can run them down anytime. But it's been a couple of years since anybody up here got a mountain lion. Just leave him where he is and let's go get the lion hounds before it gets dark” (202). After capturing Tayo from trespassing on their land, the white patrollers decided that instead of bringing Tayo, an Indian, back to their boss that a mountain lion would prove to be more valuable. The white men left Tayo after being seriously hurt to chase an animal, to them the lion was more worth their time. After Tayo is left injured he reflects on how white men are destroying nature. He hates the white destroyers for what they are doing, the destruction they are causing. He hates them for stealing the land, killing the animals, and destroying the
Reflecting on white people influencing the Natives, this applies to all people. Today, all of society is pushing to shape others how society views people should be. With influence from another race, religion, government, or even parents; everyone has an idea of what they think their peers should be. We should not conform to these ideas and be who we wish to be with no outside influence. If everyone looked the same, acted the same, and believed the same thing life would be dull and have no purpose. People are different and see things different, that is what makes everyone