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

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