Application 1/ summary

In Glory Bird’s article on the novel “Ceremony,” I have found that her main focus was her search for decolonization, through the works of "Ceremony." Bird demonstrates many occurrences that represent the colonization of her people. She explains instances where Native peoples were forced to mold themselves and their lifestyles to fit that of the dominate race. This has greatly altered their way of life. She then touches on the importance of language, and how her mother, as well as Tayo’s Auntie chose to estrange them from their Native Tongue. In this act of colonization, Bird feels the people are endanger of internal oppression and that they will suffer from a negative impact on their psyche. She even mentions Christianity and how it has had a huge influence in the act of colonization. Christianity is one way that Auntie alienates herself from her family, and her cultural beliefs. Bird uses these examples of the impacts of colonization of her people to show the whites how they have selfishly altered the Native culture. She writes this article through Native eyes, just like Silko does in “Ceremony.” This is a step for her to decolonize her culture, which is why she teaches “Ceremony.” She beliefs this novel is the best demonstration of decolonization. Her article is told to have affects on not just the whites, but to hope the Native eyes as well to their colonized ways. She wants both sides to see the result of the colonized world. This is apparent in Tayo’s encounter with Night Swan, and Betonie. They are mixed blood like Tayo, and they give him the courage to embrace his culture and to learn to reject the colonized ways. Tayo’s quest for peace of mind is what leads him to his ceremony, resulting in his decolonization.
Bird demonstrates many prime examples of decolonization in “Ceremony” However; I feel she left out a key factor to this quest of decolonization. This would be the gender roles that are demonstrated throughout “Ceremony.” Gender is important in decolonization because it is a role that signifies certain responsibilities and roles that Native peoples carry out. In a colonized world the woman is still considered to be the weaker of the two genders. This is not the case in Native cultures, or is it the case in “Ceremony.” Native women are considered wiser, and they take on more responsibilities then the men. They are the ones who decided whom the children are going to date or marry, where in a colonized world this would be more likely the father’s role. In “Ceremony,” we can see many different instances where the woman plays the stronger gender. Auntie who seems to be the head of her house hold, has a great impact on Tayo, and he listens every word she says, even if everyone else doesn’t. Although Auntie is not the greatest example of feminine strength, she still had more control over Tayo’s home than any other character. I found that Night Swan was the most emotionally strong character of the book. She used her beauty to control men, showing men’s weakness. This is not a colonized belief. Women are meant to have little to no control over men. However, Night Swan doesn’t just use her beauty to sway Josiah, but she does this to Tayo too, proving that no matter her age, she still has a charm that none of the male characters possess. She even get’s Tayo to mention his issues with his mother which he’s never spoke of. She then gives Tayo advice that helps him on his road to recovery. She is a very influential character, because of her strength and likeable personality. Even the secondary female characters where perceived as strong, such as Ts’eh and Helen Jean. Helen Jean also uses men to survive, but she remains in control of this situation. She doesn’t let the men control her. This is also not a common thing to seen in colonization, because most woman are not in control, and are beaten or raped in cases like that. Ts’eh, is a strong character in many ways. She unlike Tayo, isn’t afraid of the cattle. When we are first introduced to her she is wearing a man’s shirt. She knows how to manage the cattle, and plant crops. She has both feminine qualities and masculine. She also has Tayo’s heart, showing once again the women’s control.
The men in “Ceremony” seem to all be suffering from emotional or mental problems. Tayo loses control in the bar and almost kills Emo. Emo beats and tortures Harley, cutting off parts of his body to try to get Tayo to come out from hiding. Josiah, who has a secret love affair with the Night Swan, can’t seem to be open with it. Ku’oosh is a medicine man who can’t even help Tayo with his problems. Betonie who is often intimidating to people and scares them. All these characters show signs of emotional problems that they all find hard to conquer. This is why I feel that gender is important in the process of decolonization, because it is one of the aspects that make the Native cultural different from the white cultural. Gender is a part of decolonization of Natives and whites.