Tayo In Ceremony Essay

Returning Unwanted
His mother left him at age 4, and then he watched his brother die at war right in front of him. Tayo in Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after his return from the War. Tayo’s life has never been easy but as he tries to return to a normal and productive life after returning from WWII, despite his PTSD, he is greeted with a multitude of social pressures and moral burdens that will only resolve when he accepts who he is.
Tayo is a Native American from the Laguna Reservation in New Mexico. He was born a ‘half-breed’ being part native and part white never knowing his white father. His mother left him at age 4 turning over custody to his Auntie. She never wanted to be responsible for Tayo that saw him only as a burden to her household. Although, Tayo did have people in his life that supported him. He had his uncle Josiah who was his father figure growing up, he taught him about life. He also had Grandma who taught Tayo the native traditions, she cared for him unconditionally. When Tayo joined his aunt’s family he gained a brother Rocky; while auntie never let them be called brothers they bond they shared was one of brother hood. The two

boys decided to join the Army together and served in the pacific Theatre of World War II. Sadly, Uncle Josiah died while Tayo was away at war. Tayo and Rocky went to the war together under the condition that they would watch over each other. Although, Rocky never returned from the war he was killed in battle. Tayo often blames himself for both that death of Rocky and Josiah. Tayo returned from the war to the Pueblo to find that the land is in a severe drought and the people who loved him are gone except for Grandma. He began to experience PTSD in his daily life in the form of extreme sickness and pent up anger. Tayo’s childhood friends are also experiencing PTSD and self-medicate in alcohol which provides comfort. His Grandma however sees his pain and calls upon a medicine man to help aid in Tayo’s healing. The medicine man has failed, so Grandma sends Tayo off to a new medicine man and his ceremony begins to heal Tayo.
Returning from the war Tayo faces a plethora of social pressures. First, he blames himself for the deaths of Josiah and even more so Rocky. He then returns to live under Auntie’s roof only to see her mourn the death of her Son. When Tayo returned “… Auntie stared at him the way she always had, reaching inside him with her eyes, calling up the past as if it were his future too, as if things would always be the same for him” (Silko 27). She subconsciously blames Tayo for Rocky’s death and Tayo blames himself as well. He lives with this social pressure to get better and help around the house specifically Robert, Aunties husband, with the cattle. The whole community has put social pressure on Tayo to return to a normal, productive life.
Meanwhile, Tayo’s friends put this unspoken social pressure on Tayo as well.

The doctor at the Veterans Affairs hospital says that “’Reports note that since the Second World War a pattern of drinking and violence, not previously seen before, is emerging among Indian veterans.’” (Silko 49). This is evident in the way that Tayo’s friend are always at the bar self-medicating, because “Liquor was medicine for the anger that made them hurt, for the pain of the loss, medicine for tight bellies and choked-up throats” (Silko 37). This behavior from his friends put this pressure on Tayo to drink, but when he does it only makes him sicker. While it temporarily relives the pain it only hurts him more. The social pressure is not the only thing hindering Tayo’s forward

progress
Tayo feels suppressed of forward progress by moral burdens. He feels amoral emphasized with his lack of connection to his native heritage. The people are not following the ceremonies making Tayo feel as if he is losing his morals and culture. While in the war Tayo did countless things that were immoral his thoughts are haunted by “The green waves of dead faces and the screams of the dying that had echoed in his head…” (Silko 96). Once during the war Tayo cursed the rain only to return and see the reservation in a drought. His instinct was to blame himself for the drought, that the gods had listened to his curse. Only when Tayo begins to see the medicine men does his PTSD begin to dissipate. His morality is beginning to return and the moral burdens once felt are being lifted. Tayo will never make a full recovery until he comes to peace with his childhood of who he really is.
Tayo has been pestered since childhood about being a ‘half-breed’. The consistency of the insults has taken a toll on his self-perception. Tayo’s mom’s reputation has hurt Tayo his whole life. He has been made fun of countless times for his mom’s promiscuity and the fact that his dad was a white man. Tayo loved his mom “He clung to her because when she left him, he knew she would be gone for a long time. She kissed him on the forehead…” (Silko 60). Tayo needs to accept who he is before he can return to a normal life.
Tayo went to WWII with his brother and returned alone. He begins to experience PTSD self-medicated with liquor. Tayo’s goal is to return to a productive and normal life. He wants to rid his body of the anger and sadness that he has been bottling up. Despite his battle against social pressures put on him by the community and his friends. He begins to come to terms with his morality and his identity. When Tayo blocks out the negativity and begins to accept who he is the PTSD will dissipate.

Works Cited
Silko, Leslie Marmon. Ceremony. New York, NY: Penguin, 1986. Print.