Tradition and Oral Customs
Tradition is a simple and clear word; yet, it carries a plethora of essential connotations, including awareness, identity, feelings, guidance, and community. Oral customs, it is still real, are not normative and prescriptive literature. They should not attempt to illuminate things that may be in this universe, but rather provide a verbal account of what happens in the world. They still should not portray heroes with all ethical ideals and they are perceived as the personification of both good and negative characteristics. Oral rituals are distinguished by the fact that they provide solutions to our most pressing existential issues, providing us with profound solace. To shed more light on oral tradition functions, I will use two short stories "Yellow Woman" by Leslie Silko's and "The trial path" by ZitKala-Sa.
The Short Story "Yellow Woman"
The short story "Yellow Woman" includes vital aspects of the Native American culture like the Trickster figure of oral tradition. Thus, I will confer character Silva as a Trickster element and provide oral tradition functions. I will also elucidate both the protagonist's inner conflicts regarding their identity. On the other hand, I will discuss "The trial path," which has fundamental aspects of Native American culture like the violation element of oral tradition. I will also consider the character Ohiyesa as a person who violates a rule and hence worth express the function of oral tradition.
Trickster Element
It refers to when the villain tricks a hero in a story. In the short story "Yellow Woman," Silva, the spirit, utilizes tantalizing stories to seduce the protagonist Silko, Yellow Woman, into believing in his words that she is a fairytale woman and mysterious and he as a spirit has come to take her away. For example, during that morning when Silko woke up beside a man she did not remember, Silva tells her that the previous night she guessed his name and the place where he came from instantly. His words make Silko try harder to figure out his claims, but all she could remember was seeing the moon in water and the coyote's warmth around her (Silko and Melody 150-176). Silva's trickster nature is aided by his charm, which makes the protagonist start believing in him.
Functions
First, the short story makes us escape in fantasy from our daily frustrations. For example, when the Silko explains how the trickster was a sweet spirit. It guides a reader step by step in following and wanting to be part of her story.
In academics, it provides data for our current gender studies. For example, through the short story, several strong women are depicted from Silko's grandmother, who could tame a lion. She is also told stories of Spiderwoman, yellow woman, and mother creator who portray empowered women thus a great ideal for feminism; hence, the protagonist name "Yellow Woman."
Violation Element
It refers to someone breaking the big rule in a story. From the short story "The Trial Path," Ohiyesa killed his "elder brother" who was his best friend after quarreling. Despite going to trial where his fate was to be known, he managed to escape justice after passing through the mode of a trial set by the victim's father. He was supposed to mount and ride a wild pony towards the center tepee. If by reaching the spot while sitting on the beasts back, his life is spared, but if he falls, he had chosen death as a punishment. Luckily, Ohiyesa managed to escape death by not falling. However, after the victim's dad died, he was also killed at the graveside (Ockerborn).
Functions
Oral tradition validates some aspects of the society's culture and justifies its morals and rituals. For example, the punishment of an offender in Native Americans was decided on whether he or she would fall off a wild pony depending on the mode of punishment determined by the victims. It warns us of the consequences of committing offenses, and if a crime is committed, a person should be ready to face the modes of punishments.
It also functions as a pedagogic device that instills values and morals by sharpening the minds and passing the wisdom to future generation about the past events. The short story teaches us about the dangers of breaking the community norms like murder, which has harsher punishment.
Works Cited
Silko, Leslie Marmon, and Melody Graulich. “Yellow Woman.” 1st ed., New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers Univ. Press, 1993, pp. 150-176.
Ockerborn, Mary Mark. “The Trial Path.” Digital.Library.Upenn.Edu, 2017, http://www.digital.library.upenn.edu/women/zitkala-sa/stories/path.html. Accessed 18 March 2017.
