Ceremony, 3 Questions (pgs 58-142)

We are also introduced to Josiah’s Mexican lover, the Flamenco dancer, Night Swan. What do we find out about her? What significance attaches to her character? What’s with all the blue? How does what she tells Tayo connect with elements that come up in other parts of the novel?

Night Swan is an extravagantly beautiful woman, who appears ageless, because "she was like the rain and the wind; age had no relation to her." We find out that she is a promiscuous woman, who not only sleeps with Tayo, but his uncle as well. She is a dancer, who uses her beauty and dancing to draw men in. What I found to be interesting about her character was that she seems to represent Tayo's mother. She's obviously quite fond of men no matter what ethniticity. Tayo's mother was also like this. Tayo even finds himself opening up to her, when he's never done this with anyone else. She seems to be a free spirit, who doesn't care about others opinions, which was also the same characteristics of his mother. He finds comfort in Night Swan, because she is not only a motherly figure, who now dances only for her grandchildren, but she supplies him with understanding. She tells him that "people are afraid of change, they think that if their children have the same color of skin, the same color of eyes, that nothing is changing." This is comforting to Tayo, because it gives him a sense of understanding of who he is, and that he is not at fault for being of mixed blood. She then says, "they are fools, they blame us the ones who look different. That way they don't have to think about what has happened inside themselves." I think this exactly what Tayo needed to hear, because he blames so much him being "different," which is causing him to be sick. This also shows that Night Swan can relate to him, when she says, "us" when refering to "the ones who look different."


We read a flashback to Tayo's early years (0-4) with his mother in Gallup, then we meet Betonie, the mixed breed medicine man, who lives in the Indian area of Gallup. Discuss what we readers should take note of in the presentation of Betonie, his hogan, his views, and his collections.

I think that Betonie is a very crucial character in Tayo's search for a "cure." Although he scares Tayo at times, Tayo feels that he must listened to Betonie, and do what he says. Tayo actually talks to someone about his feelings towards his uncle and Rocky. This is obviously important in Tayo's recovery. Betonie shows him that it is not his fault for what happened to his family. He gives him reasoning, and tells him old stories, that show that "accidents happen." This is where the story of the boy and the bears is told. This view of Betonie, is important in showing Tayo that things happen, they are not always black and white or good and bad, but they always balance one another out. I found this to be very true, and a good lesson to be taught. Betonie doesn't seem like a typical medicine man, his hogan is very dirty, and full of old things. Tayo even calls him out for it, but Betonie knows how others view him, and still remains confident in his teachings.


The long story.poem, p. 122-128, is of how "witchery" created whites and the onslaught of Europeans and all the destruction they brought. Gloss this poem to identify how the story represents Europeans and their relationship with the world. Consider also: what is the point of Betonie emphasizing the American Indian role in the destruction? What IS his point? Why does he think it is important for Tayo to think about it in this way?


This poem was very interesting to me. In the poem the "white people" are conjuered up by witches, who are having a "contest in dark things." They are discribed as seeing no life in any form of mother nature. They are fearful creatures, who will kill out of fear. They are "objects to work for us (meaning the withces) to destroy, to kill, for suffering, for torment, for the still born, for the deformed, the sterile, the dead." These things are all very disturbing things, that are not entirely true, but sadly true enough. We do kill out of fear, we do distroy, and so on. Over time we have lost a sense of humanity, with the need for new technology. We live a life of "material." So this poem is a good way of showing us what we are really like, and what we have become. I feel that Betonie emphasizes the American Indian role to show that we are all to blame for the way all human beings live their lives. It's not just the "white man," it's all of us. This is is point, that each race, plays it's own part in the destruction of humanity. He wants Teyo to see this so that he can forget his hatred of the "white man" in the destruction of his family, and focus on ways he can better himself.