Silko Ceremony

Healing Demonstrated In Silko’s Ceremony Bibliotherapy is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “The use of books for therapeutic purposes, esp. in the treatment of mental health conditions” (“Bibliotherapy”). Many works of literature are calming and can promote many different types of wellbeing through storytelling. One specific example of a novel that demonstrates healing, which can then be translated to its readers, is Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Through its main character, Tayo, the narrative is able to make the reader sympathize and empathize with his struggles, potentially learning about themselves throughout his ceremony. Overall, the novel expertly addresses trauma and how one can heal from it. Numerous pieces of literature
His mother left him as a child, and his remaining family doesn’t treat him much like one of their own. The only people who truly cared about him died, and he was left with those who treated him as an outsider. Readers are meant to be sympathetic to Tayo because while Rocky was the golden child, he was the one who would never amount to anything; he was expendable. “’Rocky is different,’ she kept saying, “but this one, he’s supposed to stay here’. he could see that she was waiting for something to happen; but he knew that she always hoped, that she always expected it to happen to him, not Rocky” (67). Readers are meant to sympathize with Tayo by seeing how cold and uncaring, especially his Aunt, can be. Also, by reading about Tayo’s home life, the audience can potentially draw parallels from their own lives and learn from his experiences and healing ceremony. While the Ceremony manages to address the concept of trauma through Tayo, with his moments of PTSD and conflict about his mixed heritage, it also addresses the healing properties found in ceremonies and nature. For example, by completing his ceremony started by Betonie, Tayo is able to begin his journey of
Hunting cattle was good for that. Old Betonie is right. It was a cure for that, and maybe other things too” (178). From ceremonies, a person can heal, as they take one back to something bigger than themselves and give them a sense of peace and calmness. By completing his ceremony, Tayo heals, he ingrains himself in nature and the world around him, growing and embracing his Laguna culture. From Tayo’s ceremony, a reader can learn that they too can heal, they are not forced to stay controlled by their past trauma. Everyone can heal, it just takes time and effort. All things considered, Ceremony is an outstanding example of a novel that expertly and accurately depicts trauma, as well as how a person can heal from it. Its main character and his journey throughout the narrative makes readers strongly sympathize and potentially empathize with his struggles. By reading Silko’s novel, an individual can see the therapeutic influences of a ceremony or ritual, similar to the kind Tayo experiences, and apply it to their own lives. From Tayo’s interactions with others, as well as his internal thoughts and feelings, someone could draw parallels between him and