Themes: All Themes
Themes: Reciprocity and Witchery
The Pueblo philosophy of reciprocity did not accommodate evil. The Pueblo believed everything was interconnected; for instance, when a hunter kills a deer, he offers cornmeal to the spirits as a gift. The Pueblos eventually felt the need to explain evils that contradicted this reciprocity theory. Rather than introducing a devil into their beliefs, they ascribed evil to witchery—the manipulation of life's elements for selfish and violent purposes....
Themes: Connection to Community and Storytelling
The core theme of Silko's novel is the individual's relationship with the community's story. For Tayo to heal from the war's witchery, he must recall his people's narrative and rekindle his connection with the land and its deities. In one scene, he is shown a cliff-face painting of A'moo'ooh. T'seh explains, "Nobody has come to paint it since the war. But as long as you remember what you have seen, then nothing is gone. As long as you remember,...
(Read more)Themes: Role of Deities in Pueblo Cosmology
The three main figures in Pueblo cosmology are Thought-Woman, Corn Mother, and Sun Father. They are interconnected and dependent on each other. Thought-Woman begins the novel and is credited with the story. She created the universe through speech, forming the fifth world (the earth) and the four worlds below where the spirits of the deceased reside. She appears throughout Pueblo mythology and the story. Tayo must connect with her and the...
(Read more)Themes: Identity and Ancestry
One of the most contentious issues Native Americans face today is: Who qualifies as Native American? This question may appear strange, but given the considerable stakes—Native American Tribes are explicitly identified in the U.S. Constitution as sovereign nations, and Congress must negotiate treaties with them as it does with any sovereign nation—the U.S. government has maintained ambiguity around this question. By recognizing only individuals...
(Read more)Themes: Racial Tension and Mixed Heritage
The novel is permeated with tension. Tayo, a mixed-race individual (his father was white), was abandoned by his mother and raised by his Auntie. Emo never lets him forget his heritage, as Emo desired to be white, much like Tayo's cousin Rocky. Tayo confronts Emo with the harsh reality: "Don't lie. You knew right away. The war was over, the uniform was gone. All of a sudden that man at the store waits on you last, makes you wait until all the...
(Read more)Themes: Evil
The Pueblo belief in reciprocity didn't accommodate the idea of evil. They held the view that since everything was interconnected, they only needed to fulfill their part of the agreement. For instance, when a hunter kills a deer, he offers cornmeal to the spirits. If the dances and ceremonies are performed, the crops will flourish.
Over time, the Pueblos felt the need to explain the existence of evils that contradicted their reciprocity theory....
(Read more)Themes: Tradition
A central theme in Silko's novel is the individual's connection to the community's narrative. For Tayo to heal from the war's witchery, he must recall his people's stories and renew his bond with the land and its spiritual guardians. In one scene, he is shown a cliff painting of A'moo'ooh. T'seh explains, "Nobody has come to paint it since the war. But as long as you remember what you have seen, then nothing is gone. As long as you remember, it...
(Read more)Themes: Religion
The three major figures in Pueblo cosmology are Thought-Woman, Corn Mother, and Sun Father, who are interconnected and interdependent. Thought-Woman is...
(This entire section contains 866 words.)
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central to the novel and is credited with creating the universe through speech. She formed the fifth world (the earth) and the four underworlds where spirits of the dead reside. She appears throughout Pueblo mythology and the story. Tayo must connect with her and the people's narrative to bring a...
(Read more)Themes: Racism
A significant and contentious issue confronting Native Americans today is: who qualifies as Native American? This question may seem unusual, but given the stakes—Native American Tribes are explicitly recognized in the U.S. Constitution as sovereign entities, and the U.S. Congress must negotiate treaties with them as with any sovereign nation—the United States government has kept this question ambiguous.
By acknowledging only individuals with a...
(Read more)Themes: Narrative
Silko once described the Pueblo linguistic theory to an audience (as found in Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit), which reveals the narrative style of her novel.
"For those of you accustomed to being taken from point A to point B to point C, this presentation may be somewhat difficult to follow. Pueblo expression resembles something like a spider's web—with many little threads radiating from the center, criss-crossing one another. As with the...
(Read more)Themes: Realism
Silko is celebrated not only for her narrative style but also for her keen observation of human behavior. She captures reality without romanticizing her characters or their environment. The story unfolds on the struggling Laguna Reservation, where, as she notes, uranium run-off has destroyed orchards, drought ravages crops, Herefords are dying, and young men are turning to alcohol. Her portrayal of Gallup is unvarnished, and she resists...
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