This thesis illustrates that despite differences in contexts and approaches of Thomas king and Leslie Marmon Silko, the novels succeed in illustrating progression of the Native American literacy culture in redefining the native ontology and identity (Wilson 68). By means of identity analysis, Tayo in Ceremony novel and Eli in green grass, running water, stand alone. Thesis Statementĭespite their contextual differences, Silko’s and King’s novels are similar based on general thematic structure.

The two authors used a protagonist who suffered direct impacts of the White Cultural Hegemony regarding the identity that allowed them explore ‘identity ambivalence’ theme within the profoundly divided community (Chavkin 19). However, after performing reconnection rituals, they became freed from the paralysis (Chavkin 18).Īs the two novels are adjourned, the reader is left anticipating the return to balance between the psyche and environment of the protagonist. They found themselves incapable of moving on and healing. Nevertheless, the circumstances of Second World War for Tayo and death of Eli’s mother and wife, the two returned home while wounded physically. Initially, Eli and Tayo left the reservation to get a place within the Euro-American social culture. In this definition, the two novels narrate a story of the protagonist experiencing ambivalent relationship with Native American identity and the respective nations of origin. Also, the two novels may be considered within the definition of ‘Initiation Stories’ by Jeanette Murray (Wilson 67). Discussionĭespite the differences in contexts and origin, Green Grass, running Water, and Ceremony novels refer to the recurrent theme of the cultural alienation issue reaching the outside personal experience realm and demonstrates the positive contribution of successful cultural regeneration on a person’s community. The second section is the evolution of identity in search for post-contact environment, while the third section investigates the repercussions of the re-actualization of identity by protagonist in the community. The first section illustrates the role of nature as a cultural referent in the regenerative processes of the main character. This comparative essay has three main sections. The current paper presents the differences between Ceremony Novel by Marmon Silko, and Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King. This was, especially, due to their wide use of the cross-genre writing of mixing prose and poetry, as well as their recuperation of the traditional native culture (Chavkin 17). The major novelists within this period include Leslie Marmon Silko, Scott Momaday and James Welch. There has been great effervescence for the Native literature since the second half of 20th century.

Ceremony silko novel