The air grows brisker as the wind sweeps gray dust along the narrow pueblo road. The sun inches closer to the long mesa, where it vanishes during the winter months."

Allusions

"The Man to Send Rain Clouds" is a title steeped in cultural significance, nodding to the Pueblo belief that spirits of the departed are entwined with rain clouds. The narrative is rich with references to traditional Indian burial rites and the storied history of the Pueblo people. The title itself echoes a sacred prayer, where the community beseeches the departed's spirit to bring rain clouds, ensuring their crops flourish and fend off hunger. In Pueblo tradition, death marks a transition rather than an end, as the human spirit returns to its origins, aiding the living by summoning rain clouds. Rituals include painting the deceased's face for recognition in the afterlife, and scattering corn with water to nourish the spirit on its otherworldly journey. The mention of the Catholic church's "twin bells from the King of Spain" underscores the historical encounter between the Pueblo and Christianity. In 1598, as the Pueblo pledged allegiance to the Spanish crown, Catholic missionaries endeavored to convert them, yet the Pueblo steadfastly preserved their ancestral beliefs.

Humor

Silko deftly wields humor as a subtle yet potent instrument. The interaction between a novice priest, longing to conduct Catholic rites, and Leon, who dismisses their necessity, is laced with gentle comedy. This humorous exchange also highlights the underlying cultural tension. One example unfolds as follows: "The priest approached the grave with deliberate steps... His gaze fell on the red blanket, doubt creeping in—was it a mischievous Indian ruse, a ceremonial act to invoke a bountiful harvest? He wondered if old Teofilo might be at the sheep camp, tending his flock. Yet there the priest stood, facing a biting wind and squinting at the sun's fading light, ready to inter a red woolen blanket while his parishioners, shadowed in the sun's last warmth, looked on."

Description

Silko's narrative sparkles with vivid descriptions and meticulous attention to detail, hallmarks of her literary style. In "The Man to Send Rain Clouds," she employs phrases such as "wide, sandy arroyo," "low, crumbling wall," "brown, wrinkled forehead," and "He squinted up at the sun and unzipped his jacket" to enrich her storytelling and draw readers into the scene.

Irony

Irony, the art of expressing meanings opposite to their literal sense, is elegantly woven into Silko's narrative. She showcases irony with finesse, particularly in her portrayal of the young priest. As an authority figure intent on guiding the Indians towards Catholicism, he ultimately embraces a symbolic gesture by using holy water in an indigenous ceremony, thus participating in a non-Christian ritual.

Dialogue

Silko artfully blends narrative with dialogue, creating a tapestry where character interactions unravel their essence. Conversations between Leon and Father Paul, and between Leon and Louise, invite readers to step into the shoes of each character, piecing together their motivations and personalities through their spoken words.

1960s: In a decade marked by fervent activism, minorities including African Americans, Native Americans, and the Gay community rise up to challenge entrenched systems. Their struggles blaze with the desire for equality under U.S. law. Women, too, engage in a determined quest for equal opportunities. These battles sometimes ignite into violent clashes, while a national discourse on racial and sexual discrimination captures the zeitgeist.

1990s: By the '90s, the landscape shifts as affirmative action for various minority groups faces repeal in certain regions. Legislative protections come under siege, and Congress stalls on passing a federal statute for hate crimes, leaving marginalized communities at risk.

1960s: As the cultural climate changes, Native American voices begin to resound, sharing their unique narratives with the world. Visionary authors like Leslie Marmon Silko find success and recognition, becoming celebrated figures in American literature and reshaping the literary landscape.

1990s: The '90s see a continuation of rich contributions from Native American writers, who offer profound insights into the American experience. Their works gain a foothold in academia, with Native American literature and culture becoming integral to university studies across the nation.

While "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" has yet to find its form in a multimedia adaptation, the videotape Running on the Edge of the Rainbow: Laguna Stories and Poems (1979) provides an intimate glimpse into Silko's literary world. It features engaging readings from her works, accompanied by her insightful reflections on the rich tapestry of Pueblo culture in Laguna, New Mexico.

Sources

Danielson, Linda L., ‘‘Storyteller: Grandmother Spider's Web,’’ in Journal of the Southwest, Vol. 30, No. 3, Autumn, 1988, pp. 325-55.

Krupet, Arnold, ‘‘The Dialogic of Silko's Storyteller,’’ in Narrative Chance, edited by Gerald Vizenor, University of New Mexico, 1989, pp. 55-68.

Ruoff, A. LaVonne, ‘‘Ritual and Renewal: Keres Traditions in the Short Fiction of Leslie Silko,’’ in MELUS, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter, 1978, pp. 2-17.

Seyersted, Per, Leslie Marmon Silko, Boise State University, 1980.

Silko, Leslie Marmon, Ceremony,/i>, New York: Viking Press, 1977.

----Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit, Simon and Schuster, 1996.

Further Reading

Danielson, Linda L., ‘‘Storyteller: Grandmother Spider's Web,’’ in Journal of the Southwest, Vol. 30, No. 3, Autumn, 1988, pp. 325-55.
An interpretation of Silko's ‘‘The Man to Send Rainclouds,’’ particularly with regard to themes of creativity and community, analyzed from a feminist perspective.

Ruoff, A. LaVonne, ‘‘Ritual and Renewal: Keres Traditions in the Short Fiction of Leslie Silko,’’ in MELUS, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter, 1978, pp. 2-17.
An analysis of the traditions at work in Silko's work, suggesting on pp. 2-5 that the story provides an example of the strength of tribal traditions through adaptability.

Seyersted, Per, Leslie Marmon Silko, Boise State University, 1980.
Addresses Silko's biography, and provides a brief history of the Pueblo people and an analysis of Silko's works, in particular a study of the theme of culture clash in ‘‘The Man to Send Rain Clouds’’ on pp. 15-18.