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The Man to Send Rain Clouds
"They found him under a big cottonwood tree . . . "
___
Originally published in 1968 under the name Leslie Chapman, “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” is a little dagger of a story about a clash of religious customs and the differences between what people think and what they say and what they do.
___
Originally published in 1968 under the name Leslie Chapman, “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” is a little dagger of a story about a clash of religious customs and the differences between what people think and what they say and what they do.
10 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1968
193 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Marmon Silko
46 books937 followersLeslie Marmon Silko (born Leslie Marmon; born March 5, 1948) is a Native American writer of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, and one of the key figures in the First Wave of what literary critic Kenneth Lincoln has called the Native American Renaissance.
Silko was a debut recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Grant, now known as the "Genius Grant", in 1981 and the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
(from Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_...
Silko was a debut recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Grant, now known as the "Genius Grant", in 1981 and the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.
(from Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 26, 2023
Read with The Short Story Club
Leslie Marmon Silko is a Native American writer, part of Laguna Pueblo tribe. The Man to Send Rain Clouds is the story of the death and burial of an old man who is member of the Native tribe. When the man is found the family performs the traditional rites and initially plan to burry him without the knowledge of the local priest. Later, they decide to ask the priest to pour some holly water at the grave site which he agrees to do, even though the Traditional Catholic procedure was not observed. The burial becomes a mixture of both cultures and each shows respect for the other.
Leslie Marmon Silko is a Native American writer, part of Laguna Pueblo tribe. The Man to Send Rain Clouds is the story of the death and burial of an old man who is member of the Native tribe. When the man is found the family performs the traditional rites and initially plan to burry him without the knowledge of the local priest. Later, they decide to ask the priest to pour some holly water at the grave site which he agrees to do, even though the Traditional Catholic procedure was not observed. The burial becomes a mixture of both cultures and each shows respect for the other.
July 2, 2023
It is the first time I came across Leslie Marmon Silko, the native American author but the story left some lasting impressions on my consciousness. It is another little beauty which The Short Story Club introduces as one of the quite a few pieces of creatives outbursts that fell into my lap after joining the club. It further confirms my notion too that short stories are a great option to get acquainted with the universes of various authors in the minimum possible time frame. And it additionally reinforced the perception in the modern world of a skewed balance between personal and professional demands of life, short story could be a great option to keep your literary buds satiated through small but timely doses of literature. So could it be said that literature has evolved to the proliferation of short stories in the modern times, and we have other options too in the contemporary world, as flash fiction, autofiction, memoirs, slam poetry and perhaps anime too, of course, the purist would not agree- at least on anime.
source
The story starts off with the proclamation of one of the crudest truths of life which, of course, is death. Death which has been elusive to mankind since time memorial and all the expressions of arts, and cultures perhaps hover around it. And even after so many years of civilized discourse, it still remains a mystery to us, we have devised so many faith systems and religions to look for answers to the mystery but all of them probably raised more questions. Nonetheless, all our faiths and value systems, no matter how archaic and antiquated so may sound, perhaps provide us a peep and glimpse into our age-long inquiry and clues to find solutions to it, if not the solutions themselves. It would be naïve to us to judge those value systems as to how developed or not those faith systems were as we see in the current upsurge of the right-wing ideology as claimed under the shallow veneer of nationalism.
As already mentioned, the story begins with the death of head of a native American family- Teofilo though not with surprise or bang as we are customed to perceive the death, but as a simple, calm proceeding of a day as if in the customs of native American it’s an everyday thing, perhaps it is and probably it should be. Having said that, as we take a pause and contemplate upon it, we may realize that perhaps it is quite mature of them to believe so and it underlies a profound notion which even modern scientific community is gradually agreeing to or at least moving towards, and the concept is that death may not be end of cycle of life (which may inevitably bring to mind the CCC model proposed by Roger Penrose) rather just a part of the cycle itself wherein the spirit of the deceased may return in different manifestations of physical world such as rain. The natives strongly believe in it and that’s why they paint the face of old man as if to identify him when he returns through afterlife, and the title of the story underlines the belief and thereby justifying itself.
However, what appears to be a simple story of action with an objective, third person narrative wherein a few characters get chance to express themselves or even their thoughts, depending upon the mercy of the narrator, actually forces you to contemplate and demands you to reflect upon it to look for the traits of symbolism and thereby understanding the story in their context. The seemingly simple tale of a family involved in the last rites of their relative, comes out as a depiction of struggle between Native American family and Church, it touches upon the struggles from the perspectives of both factions of society but not in bitter manner and perhaps goes a step further to suggest solutions wherein both may co-exist embracing traditional values in the settings of modernity. The story also nudges the age-old dilemma of individual vs community as a Catholic priest goes through an inner battle to overcome the belief of the community he is representing to listen to his individual voice and become one with the local society and thereby upholding the faith in humanity eventually.
The story is full of symbols of which some of them may be representing natural beauties such as falling of August rain through the shining sun while the priest sprinkles the holy water from its container to the 'Lamb of God'. The water plays an essential part in the story as the sprinkling of water by the priest reinforced the faith of the family that the profuse splashing of holy water would enable the old man to send big thunderclouds and thereby providing nourishment to the earth. Of course, the childish ticklish in the mind may encourage you to see the parallel between the belief system and scientific understanding that universe manifests itself through living and non-living forms but the premises of both are different, however, they are at least similar in their inklings.
source
Short stories which may provide historical context and symbolism are second to none, they take dive into the various cultures and spring up a story around it to convey their point or at times not to convey at all. The Man to Send Rainclouds ticks all the checks to fulfill the criteria to fall under the gamut of such short stories.
source
The story starts off with the proclamation of one of the crudest truths of life which, of course, is death. Death which has been elusive to mankind since time memorial and all the expressions of arts, and cultures perhaps hover around it. And even after so many years of civilized discourse, it still remains a mystery to us, we have devised so many faith systems and religions to look for answers to the mystery but all of them probably raised more questions. Nonetheless, all our faiths and value systems, no matter how archaic and antiquated so may sound, perhaps provide us a peep and glimpse into our age-long inquiry and clues to find solutions to it, if not the solutions themselves. It would be naïve to us to judge those value systems as to how developed or not those faith systems were as we see in the current upsurge of the right-wing ideology as claimed under the shallow veneer of nationalism.
As already mentioned, the story begins with the death of head of a native American family- Teofilo though not with surprise or bang as we are customed to perceive the death, but as a simple, calm proceeding of a day as if in the customs of native American it’s an everyday thing, perhaps it is and probably it should be. Having said that, as we take a pause and contemplate upon it, we may realize that perhaps it is quite mature of them to believe so and it underlies a profound notion which even modern scientific community is gradually agreeing to or at least moving towards, and the concept is that death may not be end of cycle of life (which may inevitably bring to mind the CCC model proposed by Roger Penrose) rather just a part of the cycle itself wherein the spirit of the deceased may return in different manifestations of physical world such as rain. The natives strongly believe in it and that’s why they paint the face of old man as if to identify him when he returns through afterlife, and the title of the story underlines the belief and thereby justifying itself.
However, what appears to be a simple story of action with an objective, third person narrative wherein a few characters get chance to express themselves or even their thoughts, depending upon the mercy of the narrator, actually forces you to contemplate and demands you to reflect upon it to look for the traits of symbolism and thereby understanding the story in their context. The seemingly simple tale of a family involved in the last rites of their relative, comes out as a depiction of struggle between Native American family and Church, it touches upon the struggles from the perspectives of both factions of society but not in bitter manner and perhaps goes a step further to suggest solutions wherein both may co-exist embracing traditional values in the settings of modernity. The story also nudges the age-old dilemma of individual vs community as a Catholic priest goes through an inner battle to overcome the belief of the community he is representing to listen to his individual voice and become one with the local society and thereby upholding the faith in humanity eventually.
The story is full of symbols of which some of them may be representing natural beauties such as falling of August rain through the shining sun while the priest sprinkles the holy water from its container to the 'Lamb of God'. The water plays an essential part in the story as the sprinkling of water by the priest reinforced the faith of the family that the profuse splashing of holy water would enable the old man to send big thunderclouds and thereby providing nourishment to the earth. Of course, the childish ticklish in the mind may encourage you to see the parallel between the belief system and scientific understanding that universe manifests itself through living and non-living forms but the premises of both are different, however, they are at least similar in their inklings.
source
Short stories which may provide historical context and symbolism are second to none, they take dive into the various cultures and spring up a story around it to convey their point or at times not to convey at all. The Man to Send Rainclouds ticks all the checks to fulfill the criteria to fall under the gamut of such short stories.
July 10, 2023
When “culture wars” are stoked to fire division, especially between faiths and races, it was refreshing to read this peaceful 1981 story where there is a mutual delicacy in the relationship between the two faith traditions.
Water of life, water of death
“The water fell through the light from sundown like August rain that fell while the sun was still shining, almost evaporating before it touched the wilted squash flowers.”
It opens with an old shepherd's body being found under a cottonwood tree (sacred to Pueblo people). His family take his body and begin the traditional rituals: a feather in his hair, coloured lines painted on his face, a sprinkling of corn meal and pollen, and a prayer to “Send us rain clouds, Grandfather”. There is a tranquil acceptance of mortality and deep respect for the dead. They conjure and remember beauty, even in death.
Image: Cover of some editions, showing the lines painted on Teofilo’s face
But there’s a Roman Catholic priest in the village (he has a glossy missionary magazine, with coloured photos of lepers and pagans!). Christian traditions are different, and he has one faith; the Pueblo people are more open.
Silko’s own heritage is mixed, and she channels the rich complexity and contradictions of that in this short story. It's a beautiful example of what she said in an interview quoted in the anthology about the power and necessity of storytelling.
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story here.
You can join the group here.
Water of life, water of death
“The water fell through the light from sundown like August rain that fell while the sun was still shining, almost evaporating before it touched the wilted squash flowers.”
It opens with an old shepherd's body being found under a cottonwood tree (sacred to Pueblo people). His family take his body and begin the traditional rituals: a feather in his hair, coloured lines painted on his face, a sprinkling of corn meal and pollen, and a prayer to “Send us rain clouds, Grandfather”. There is a tranquil acceptance of mortality and deep respect for the dead. They conjure and remember beauty, even in death.
Image: Cover of some editions, showing the lines painted on Teofilo’s face
But there’s a Roman Catholic priest in the village (he has a glossy missionary magazine, with coloured photos of lepers and pagans!). Christian traditions are different, and he has one faith; the Pueblo people are more open.
Silko’s own heritage is mixed, and she channels the rich complexity and contradictions of that in this short story. It's a beautiful example of what she said in an interview quoted in the anthology about the power and necessity of storytelling.
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story here.
You can join the group here.
June 28, 2023
5★
“They found him under a big cottonwood tree. His Levi jacket and pants were faded light blue so that he had been easy to find. The big cottonwood tree stood apart from a small grove of winter-bare cottonwoods which grew in the wide, sandy, arroyo. He had been dead for a day or more, and the sheep had wandered and scattered up and down the arroyo.”
Written in 1968, this short story was published in the New Mexico Quarterly, about a very old Native American who sat down to rest while tending sheep and died a peaceful death. His people take him home to prepare him for burial and ask him to send rain.
They don’t tell the local priest, presumably because he probably won’t approve of their customs. But as they get to the burial, one of the women asks about holy water possibly helping the old man not to get thirsty in the afterlife.
I loved this peaceful telling and the way the local and Catholic cultures managed to bump along together in a solemn, but caring way.
You can read it online here:
https://www.onelimited.org/ss-marmons...
Enjoy! This is another selection from the The Short Story Club Group on Goodreads.
“They found him under a big cottonwood tree. His Levi jacket and pants were faded light blue so that he had been easy to find. The big cottonwood tree stood apart from a small grove of winter-bare cottonwoods which grew in the wide, sandy, arroyo. He had been dead for a day or more, and the sheep had wandered and scattered up and down the arroyo.”
Written in 1968, this short story was published in the New Mexico Quarterly, about a very old Native American who sat down to rest while tending sheep and died a peaceful death. His people take him home to prepare him for burial and ask him to send rain.
They don’t tell the local priest, presumably because he probably won’t approve of their customs. But as they get to the burial, one of the women asks about holy water possibly helping the old man not to get thirsty in the afterlife.
I loved this peaceful telling and the way the local and Catholic cultures managed to bump along together in a solemn, but caring way.
You can read it online here:
https://www.onelimited.org/ss-marmons...
Enjoy! This is another selection from the The Short Story Club Group on Goodreads.
June 22, 2023
Author Leslie Marmon Silso grew up on the Laguna Pueblo Reservation in New Mexico. Her family was of mixed Indian, Mexican, and white decent. People on the reservation practiced a mix of Pueblo and Christian ways.
"The Man to Send Rain Clouds" is a 1969 short story about old Teofilo who was found dead. His relatives started the first stages of funeral rites so the ghost of the deceased would not return. A gray feather was attached to his hair, and his face was painted with markings so old Teofilo would be recognized in the spirit world. Corn meal was sprinkled to provide food for the journey. The family did not want a Christian funeral, but his grandson asked the young priest to sprinkle holy water so that Teofilo's spirit would send plenty of rainfall.
For the Pueblo, time is not linear, but circular in an endlessly repeating cycle. Teofilo is part of that cycle, and the Pueblo have a traditional prayer asking the spirits of the deceased to send rain clouds to their dry land. The Pueblo customs have not been abandoned, but a small Catholic ritual has been combined with their ceremony. While the sprinkling of holy water has a different significance to the priest, both parties have shown a respect for each other's traditions by converging their rituals.
"The Man to Send Rain Clouds" is a 1969 short story about old Teofilo who was found dead. His relatives started the first stages of funeral rites so the ghost of the deceased would not return. A gray feather was attached to his hair, and his face was painted with markings so old Teofilo would be recognized in the spirit world. Corn meal was sprinkled to provide food for the journey. The family did not want a Christian funeral, but his grandson asked the young priest to sprinkle holy water so that Teofilo's spirit would send plenty of rainfall.
For the Pueblo, time is not linear, but circular in an endlessly repeating cycle. Teofilo is part of that cycle, and the Pueblo have a traditional prayer asking the spirits of the deceased to send rain clouds to their dry land. The Pueblo customs have not been abandoned, but a small Catholic ritual has been combined with their ceremony. While the sprinkling of holy water has a different significance to the priest, both parties have shown a respect for each other's traditions by converging their rituals.
July 6, 2023
This is a short story set in New Mexico. An elderly Native American man was found dead underneath a tree while tending sheep. He died peacefully and was found by members of his community. It's a slice of life story, nicely written.
Here is the link. https://www.onelimited.org/ss-marmons...
Here is the link. https://www.onelimited.org/ss-marmons...
June 29, 2023
A peaceful, gentle story about the death of a Pueblo man. Silko uses specific, vivid details to relay a simple but deep beauty. How comforting, in this time of cultural clashes and violent reactions to change, to see a compromise modeled, and respect, even if reluctant, lead to a blending of traditions, in the spirit in which they were perhaps originally intended.
June 28, 2023
A short story set in a First Nations community in the "south west" (from the "American" perspective).
A light and skilful embrace of the intersection of Native traditions and colonial impositions, and how accommodations are made on both sides.
A story that deals with death is always a story about life, and the living.
A light and skilful embrace of the intersection of Native traditions and colonial impositions, and how accommodations are made on both sides.
A story that deals with death is always a story about life, and the living.
September 3, 2021
A really beautiful story. For several years I taught this as a bridge between the old and new customs in America to students in my American Literature class. We began by comparing Native America creation myths with the Judeo-Christian myth (story of Genesis). We then looked at different perspectives on the early texts, such as Bradford's Of Plimoth Plantation and considered the Native American view of the same story. It would lead to reading the work of contemporary Native American writers like Silko, and I used this story, which I particularly like in the way it weaves old spiritual customs with new; the way it shows conflicts between the those originally in this country and those who encountered them--how very different their ideas were in the role nature plays in creation, culture, religion, medicine, and so on.
The imagery in this story is rich. As a person from New England who has spent time in NM, this story always brings me back to that place when I read it and I can picture the arroyos and mountains and dusty terrain, as well as the melding of customs.
The imagery in this story is rich. As a person from New England who has spent time in NM, this story always brings me back to that place when I read it and I can picture the arroyos and mountains and dusty terrain, as well as the melding of customs.
July 31, 2023
Short stories can accomplish a variety of functions as much as the novel format does, and one of them is to discuss social and other themes through the lens of literature. Annie Proulx does it greatly in her book of short stories Close Range: Wyoming Stories, mainly the outstanding Brokeback Mountain.
In The man to send rain clouds, Leslie Marmon Silko tells the story of an old Indian man, Teófilo, found dead under a big cottonwood tree while he went there to herd the sheep. His family, having found him there, prepare him for the burial, but don't tell a word to the Pueblo priest. Yet, they needed the priest to bless Teófilo with holy water.
This is a very interesting story that leads to a possible clash between cultural beliefs and the rules of the church, having mankind seen throughout history how these rules crashed cultural beliefs in favor of a doctrine of the church. We've seen it in the play Keeper of Promises by Brazilian author Dias Gomes. We see it today with evangelists trying to convert indigenous people to their beliefs. We see it in the Muslim world, as the Islamic State forces their beliefs. And so on.
Apart from the religious/cultural beliefs issues, as I was reading this beautiful short story, I thought of how we, human beings, are failing more and more. We are coming to a point when there could be a yearning for understanding, reconciliation, and (if necessary) reparation. Yet, what we see are groups, each barricading to confront the other as opponents when they could be allies.
What is so beautiful about Silko's short story is that instead of a clash of ideas/ideologies, there is a search for a common denominator, thus a yearning for coming together instead of coming apart. A possibility for human survival.
In The man to send rain clouds, Leslie Marmon Silko tells the story of an old Indian man, Teófilo, found dead under a big cottonwood tree while he went there to herd the sheep. His family, having found him there, prepare him for the burial, but don't tell a word to the Pueblo priest. Yet, they needed the priest to bless Teófilo with holy water.
This is a very interesting story that leads to a possible clash between cultural beliefs and the rules of the church, having mankind seen throughout history how these rules crashed cultural beliefs in favor of a doctrine of the church. We've seen it in the play Keeper of Promises by Brazilian author Dias Gomes. We see it today with evangelists trying to convert indigenous people to their beliefs. We see it in the Muslim world, as the Islamic State forces their beliefs. And so on.
Apart from the religious/cultural beliefs issues, as I was reading this beautiful short story, I thought of how we, human beings, are failing more and more. We are coming to a point when there could be a yearning for understanding, reconciliation, and (if necessary) reparation. Yet, what we see are groups, each barricading to confront the other as opponents when they could be allies.
What is so beautiful about Silko's short story is that instead of a clash of ideas/ideologies, there is a search for a common denominator, thus a yearning for coming together instead of coming apart. A possibility for human survival.
August 8, 2023
Nothing really happens in this book. They find the dead body of a Native and he is buried.
Read as part of Goodreads “The Short Story Club”.
Read as part of Goodreads “The Short Story Club”.
January 7, 2025
I read this and 'Lullaby' back to back and I was crying pretty much the entire time. Beautiful work!
This was my first experience with Native American Lit and it definitely made me want to read more <3
This was my first experience with Native American Lit and it definitely made me want to read more <3
February 8, 2025
This story was beautifully written!
January 8, 2016
Personal Response: I thought that this book was very boring and slow. The reason why I say that is because, nothing really happens in the book. It was a good book when it came down to describing things. I could understand everything and I can picture everything in my head. The last thing I really didn't like the book is because, it was not interesting. The plot was kinda bland.
Plot: It started out by talking about this guy walking around and he saw this sheep farm. He noticed the guy that was supposed to be watching the sheep passed out and some of the sheep got away. He told the younger person and he told them he wasn't going to let him watch the sheep anymore and he got the sheep back. Then the guy which we don't know his name went to church with his family and friends which I am guessing is he lives in the country. That was basically the whole book but there was some side events but it didn't really matter.
Recommendation: I think if someone needs a good read in they should read this short story. Its a fast reader so if you need to get a done you can. Also if you like non interseting books this is just the book for you.
Plot: It started out by talking about this guy walking around and he saw this sheep farm. He noticed the guy that was supposed to be watching the sheep passed out and some of the sheep got away. He told the younger person and he told them he wasn't going to let him watch the sheep anymore and he got the sheep back. Then the guy which we don't know his name went to church with his family and friends which I am guessing is he lives in the country. That was basically the whole book but there was some side events but it didn't really matter.
Recommendation: I think if someone needs a good read in they should read this short story. Its a fast reader so if you need to get a done you can. Also if you like non interseting books this is just the book for you.
March 10, 2021
I read this for my religious lit class because it is the week we are talking about death rituals. The struggle between the family wanting a native american burial and what the local priest wanted was so interesting. Definitely an insightful read.
March 14, 2017
Určite tam je nejaký skrytý význam, len ja som to nepochopila zase raz... tak hádam mi to v škole vysvetlia, čo na tomto má byť také úžasné... dovtedy len takto...
August 30, 2019
Nice story about differing beliefs!
March 25, 2023
Each and every people in the earth has their own and different rituals and culture...
July 6, 2023
The Man to Send Rain Clouds is a short story by Leslie Marmon Silko. When they find the old man, Teofilo, under the big cottonweed tree in the arroyo, Leon and his brother-in-law Ken respectfully anoint the body, wrap it in a red blanket and bring it back to the pueblo. “Send us rain clouds, Grandfather.” Leon murmurs. They encounter the Catholic priest, Father Paul, who asks if they found Teofilo. Later, Leon’s wife Louise shares her thoughts “about the priest sprinkling holy water for Grandpa. So he won’t be thirsty.” But they haven’t given Teofilo a Christian burial: will Father Paul oblige? Heartwarming and uplifting.
May 20, 2025
Very enjoyable read, I also included this one in my research paper. Here, silence becomes a means of preserving the cultural identity of Leon’s family, as he faces the pressure of being imposed the religion of its colonizers. His quiet, yet unwavering refusal to explaining Father Paul their spiritual practice serves as a form of resistance. Regardless of both beliefs meeting halfway (which is by itself a beautiful thing, for cultural tolerance is the main topic for this story), Father Paul’s good intentions end up acting as an oppressive force, one which Leon’s family resist by refusing his full service but inviting him to be a part of it under their conditions.
June 30, 2023
Okay, this one started out rather dry and unmoving, soon it started to get more colorful, but something was still seemingly missing, some unfinished business, then in the dusk it dawned on them, a prophet from another land is called upon for the finishing touch - the ending is rather watered down, but lush, it will definitely grow on you . . .
Hate to break up some feel good narratives, but, as in Everyday Use, with the mother's humorous stubborn take on the Dee name, and I'm with her, but also with the "one formerly called Dee" for calling it for what it is, likewise, in "The Man" I will refer to the rather casually mentioned glance at the Spanish bells to bring up the incredible subjugation wrought by the Spanish in squashing native religious practices, languages, and well the people themselves of the "New" World, forcing the locals to practically either totally embrace the concepts, or to subtly mix in their beliefs and practices. The fact that in both these stories, as in life, there is a willingness to embrace some of these new concepts into their system at the end of the day is something special indeed. I did infer that the priest, initially upset, did seem to vaguely reciprocate an awareness of the local spirituality as it unfolded before his eyes as a participant . . .
Hate to break up some feel good narratives, but, as in Everyday Use, with the mother's humorous stubborn take on the Dee name, and I'm with her, but also with the "one formerly called Dee" for calling it for what it is, likewise, in "The Man" I will refer to the rather casually mentioned glance at the Spanish bells to bring up the incredible subjugation wrought by the Spanish in squashing native religious practices, languages, and well the people themselves of the "New" World, forcing the locals to practically either totally embrace the concepts, or to subtly mix in their beliefs and practices. The fact that in both these stories, as in life, there is a willingness to embrace some of these new concepts into their system at the end of the day is something special indeed. I did infer that the priest, initially upset, did seem to vaguely reciprocate an awareness of the local spirituality as it unfolded before his eyes as a participant . . .
August 24, 2023
stories of native american heritage are not typically emphasized enough in the realm of literature. silko’s tale addresses the idea of being open to assimilation into western culture, despite differing in religious and cultural perspective.
i analyzed this text for my ap literature class and i have a feeling i’ll be reading plenty of other short stories this following school year.
i analyzed this text for my ap literature class and i have a feeling i’ll be reading plenty of other short stories this following school year.
December 11, 2024
I didn't like it. The story of the death of an old man from an Indian tribe where the family decide not to stick to the exact rituals of burial could have been told in a different and better way. I really didn't like anything about this story!
February 12, 2025
I read this 2x this year, once with high school sophomores, and once with college sophomores (both assigned the story). Unless a teacher explains the meanings, it is deep. Good story for discussions and learning about other cultures/settings.
Want to read
July 1, 2023I learned of this book via this post https://whisperinggums.com/2023/06/18...
July 7, 2023
3.5
peaceful + love how Silko uses colors
peaceful + love how Silko uses colors
August 16, 2023
A truly beautiful short story about how different cultures can become intertwined in a very organic way. Very well done.
January 25, 2024
this year I’m adding short stories to good reads
October 18, 2024
I needed a bit more, felt too short for me.
August 25, 2023
The opening of this short story sums it up perfectly:
“The Southwest, because of its history, has a rich legacy of various cultural traditions that exist side by side. Think of how you have been affected by cultures other than your own - the in foods you eat, the clothes you wear, and the music you enjoy.”
To me this is a perfect articulation of diversity in cultures. Leslie Marmon Silko wrote a masterpiece in depicting the cultural and religious differences about a funeral from the perspectives of Native-Americans as well as a Christian priest. Fine nuances in her short story depict the open- vs. closed-mindedness of the protagonists.
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“The Southwest, because of its history, has a rich legacy of various cultural traditions that exist side by side. Think of how you have been affected by cultures other than your own - the in foods you eat, the clothes you wear, and the music you enjoy.”
To me this is a perfect articulation of diversity in cultures. Leslie Marmon Silko wrote a masterpiece in depicting the cultural and religious differences about a funeral from the perspectives of Native-Americans as well as a Christian priest. Fine nuances in her short story depict the open- vs. closed-mindedness of the protagonists.
Find me on instagram
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews