let it rain

In many cultures all over the world their religions view death in numerous different ways. The author Leslie Marmon Silko depicts this in a short story called “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”. The author herself is of mixed ancestry including Laguna Pueblo Indian, Mexican, and white enabling her to write a short complex story of a culture trying to maintain their own religion when living in a society of what religion is expected and right in others eyes(Literature for Life, 1243). The theme of “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” focuses on death, understanding everyone has different cultures, and respecting others.

To begin, death is a the main focus in the story “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”. The story is established by describing how the elder man Teofilo was found deceased under a big cottonwood tree. He was found by his grandson Leon and brother in law Ken. Leon waits for Ken to bring the truck around to gather Teofilo and squints up at the sun thinking how hot the weather was for the time of year. Before wrapping the old man in a blanket they tie a gray feather with string to Teofilo’s long white hair, paint streaks of white, blue, yellow, and green in precise locations on his face, and then throws pinches of corn meal and pollen into the wind. All of which are customs revealed of the Native American culture for someone deceased. Leon says, “Send us rain clouds, Grandfather.”(Literature for life, 1244). This one sentence reveals the belief of Native Americans that there is life after death and this is not the end for Teofilo. As Native Americans they are in tune with nature and his grandfather will bring needed rain from his death.

Simultaneously, as the story proceeds with the death of Teofilo, the theme of understanding ...

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... for Life, 1246). In other words, Leon could be at peace knowing that father Paul helped Teofilo be able to have plenty of water to aid him in the afterlife.

All things considered, when times of death arise understanding and respect are important qualities to have to get through the unfortunate event. Everyone learns to work together and be there for one another to mourn the death of Teofilo. And through their merging of cultures they are able to bring lightness to his death by believing their actions will aid him in bringing rain clouds to their dry lands.

Works Cited

Kennedy, X. J., Gioia, Dana, and Revoyr, Nina. “Literature for Life” Upper Saddle River,

NJ: Pearson Education, Inc., 2013. Print.

Silko, Leslie Marmon: “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” by Leslie Marmon Silko. Copyright

1981 by Leslie Marmon Silko, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.