Incorporating and Emphasizing Cultural Processes
In order to incorporate and emphasize cultural processes, Leslie Marmon Silko modifies a number of convections. (Leslie). The story-telling technique uses simplicity in the most unusual manner possible. An impartial explanation of the tale is given. It is an elaborative third-person story. The narrative describes a rigidly objective tone. As each figure is introduced, the narrator's own voice is not hinted at. (Leslie). When the story comes to a close, certain thoughts that the character had are not explained; instead, only acts are shown. This is an anomaly. The paper follows argumentative essay on how Silko’s The Man to Send Rain Clouds incorporates the adaptation and assertion of the Indian and Christianity cultural processes.
The Simplicity of Writing
The simplicity of writing the story is strange. There is no clear description of the characters of the story either in a psychological way or physical way (Leslie). The characters are not developed much sense of individual personality. There is little said by the characters about themselves of other individuals in the scene. Despite the fact that there is a momentousness of the event entailing the death of Teafilo, Leon together with Ken say little to each other. They do not even seem to be in a stress mode or saddened by the event (Levy and Razin). There is clearly no attribution of the people either way but when they ask their grandfather to bring them rain, it clearly speaks for both of them. Louise has the idea of having the priest sprinkle holy water on her grandfather so that he will not be thirsty. There is no consideration of asking the priest to participate in the burial ceremony which has already ended (Levy and Razin). The priest meets them after they were from the field but they do not consider telling him.
Determination of Interactions
The interactions of the Indians described in the context is determined by rituals rather than the negotiations of various individuals and also the will of conflict or self-expression (Leslie). The ritual set for Teofilo is planned quietly all times. The priest does not know about the death of Teofilo until when he is called to pour holy water on him (Levy and Razin). He is disappointed and opts not to go but still they make their way.
Declination of Ritual Representation
There is a declination of the representation of the ritual results to avoidance of various interests based on anthropological or ethnographic (Leslie). The period of mourning and also the ceremony are conducted contrary to the religious views of the Indians. At first, the burial ceremony gets conducted in the traditional Native American way. The wife to Leon then recommends that the priest should be called in order to sprinkle holy water on the grave (Levy and Razin). The priest however refuses to take part in the burial ceremony of the Indians in relation to the holy water. However, after reconsideration, the priest resolves to attend the burial ceremony but is confused about the role he is supposed to take part in the ceremony. The priest consequently changes his mind and sprinkles holy water on the grave (Leslie). Leon gets happy because their grandfather would now send big thunderclouds.
Focus on Traditions and Customs
In addition to that, the story focuses on the concern of the strengths related to customs and various traditions relation to those of Native Americans (Leslie). There is an emphasis on the strengths of the traditions of the Native Americans by the great ability of the incorporation of various alien elements into their own ways of life. Inclusion of the theme of death, it is presented in the perspective based on the Native Americans (Levy and Razin). The death of someone, is not considered to be the end but part of life cycle. Consequently, death is actually not the end of existence. The spirit is believed to have departed to have returned in time together with the rainstorms. Ken and Leon ritually paint the face of the old man. The faces of the people who are dead are painted so that they would be recognized in the next world (Leslie). In addition to that, corn and water are sprinkled to provide food and water for the spirit on its journey to the other world. Leon smiles at the end of the ceremony offering the conventional Pueblo prayer of requesting the dead person for rains.
Struggle Between Individuals and Community
The article displays a struggle existing between the individuals and community (Levy and Razin). The priest must oversee the Catholics based on his religion, priest of the Native American parish. Parishioners are informed the death of the old man yet the priest is not informed (Leslie). The priest is the last person who actually joins the rest of the people in the graveyard. Consequently, he joins the Native American community.
Contrast between Appearances and Reality
There is also a great contrast between the appearances versus reality as displayed by the character of the priest (Leslie). He is excited about the full plans of working for the Native American Parish. However, the priest finds it different working in the Indian Parish from the expectations he had. The priest seems tired and has unseeing eyes focused on the magazines when asked by Leon to participate in the burial ceremony (Levy and Razin). However, after moment's reflection he resolves to go to the burial ceremony.
Clash of Cultures and their Resolution
There is a great clash of the cultures based on the priest's culture and Leon's culture (Leslie). A moment of confrontation arises when the priests asks Leon why he was not informed about the death of the old man because he would have brought the last rights, Leon responds saying that it was not necessary. The cultural conflict is resolved when the priest resolves to take part in the rituals of the Indians (Leslie). The dead person receives blessings both on the traditional view and Christian cultures.
Comparison with Real-Life Events
There is a comparison of the Man to Send Rain article with the real life. The minorities entailing the Native Americans organized to fight and obtain equal rights in the United States of America in the 1960. There were several eruptions of violence that occurred between the groups (Levy and Razin). The different implications of the sexual and racial discriminations arises a nation debate rage. Consequently, there is rage all over the United States as the minority groups sought for equality.
Neglecting Tribal Rituals and their Consequences
The neglecting of the tribal rituals in Pueblo is believed to have a result of either death or sickness (Leslie). The spirits return in form of ghosts with no blessings as a result of not being able to enter the other world. The sad prospect is totally avoided by attaching a feather to the hair of a dead person. The face of the deceased is also painted so that there would be clear recognition in the next world (Levy and Razin). The tasks are usually performed by a religious priests. There is also offering of corn to the wind and also sprinkling of water so that the journey of the spirit is nourished. Finally, a prayer is made to conclude.
The Sense of Community and Indigenous Identity
The sense of community is the central to comprehension (Leslie). It is basically viewed by the entry of the priest in the community. The flexibility and power of Indian ritual assuring the continuity of life is viewed on the entrance of the priest in the community. In addition to that, there is an encounter of an indigenous community with Christianity. The indigenous people are the people connected to a specific land (Levy and Razin). The priest is perceived as being bewildered in relation to the incorporation of rituals of catholic performed in an Indian ceremony (Leslie). There is retention of pagan rituals and various customs despite the fact that the reserved Indians being Catholic.
The Notion of Time and Death
The notion of time is associated with death (Leslie). Time is described to be round but not linear string. Based on the historical dimensions, time is an endless repeating cycle. Man is just a minute part of the cycle. The acceptance of Teafilo's death in a serene manner is related to the notion of time. There is a clear contrast in which the Catholic view death as a sinful mortal final. Death is also a critical meeting where one meets with the supernatural being (Levy and Razin). The holy water is thus used to symbolize blessing when the soul of the dead meets with the Creator. There is a technical masterful story with which there are clear use of adjectives which give clear details on the events of the story (Leslie). The narrations and dialogue maintains the interests of the readers.
Offering and Acceptance of Gifts
There is incorporations of offering gifts to various people. Both the community and the priest offer gift to each other (Levy and Razin). The holy water is a gift to the deceased after induction from Leon. The actions the priest offers, bring him close to the community (Leslie). People of the community offer him the gift of acceptance.
Double Vision and Hidden Details
There is double vision exhibited by the story. Leon and Ken come looking for Teofilo when they already have various preliminaries required to perform for the dead (Leslie). The preliminaries entail the paint and the string with feather. They also ask for rain clouds upon completion of their tasks. They return home where they meet the priest who still believes that Teofilo is well and alive (Leslie). The funeral is then performed only by the people of the clan and various old men who have medicine bags. There are also hidden details such as the role of the old men with medicine bags at the funeral (Levy and Razin). This hides the rituals and attitudes of the community.
The Strengths of Tribal and Religious Traditions
Silko is an intelligent writer who diligently adheres ceremonies in on their abilities to adapt to various traditions and also ever-changing circumstances in incorporation of various new elements (Leslie). There is an emphasis of tribal and religious strengths.
Works Cited
Leslie, Marmon Silko. “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.” An Anthology of Natve American Literature, 2001.
Levy, Gilat, and Ronny Razin. “Religious Beliefs, Religious Participation, and Cooperation.” American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, vol. 4, no. 3, 2012, pp. 121–51, doi:10.1257/mic.4.3.121.
