Ceremony

1)Explain why Tayo blames himself for the six year drought.


Throughout the story Tayo constantly notes observations about the rain and wind. During his time at war he remembers the type of rain he experienced there compared to the rain he was use to at home; a rain that was a nuisance versus a rain he relied on to live. Tayo blames himself for the six year drought because while at war "he had prayed the rain away, and for the sixth year it was dry." When Tayo was at war he experienced "jungle rain" which grew like foliage from the sky". Jungle rain was "unending" and really defeated Tayo's spirits when his cousin, and close companion, Rocky, became wounded by a Japanese grenade. While Tayo and the other marines were carrying Rocky back the jungle rain started making it nearly impossible to carry him back to safety. The rain swarmed throughout the island, "filled the tire ruts and made the mud so deep" that the troops were falling while still trying to save Rocky. This is when Tayo began to pray. Tayo prayed for "dry air, dry as a hundred years squeezed out of yellow sand, air to dry out the oozing wounds of Rocky's leg." Tayo blamed himself for this constant drought after the war and "could see the consequences of his praying."



2)Describe, as best as you can, Auntie’s attitudes about Tayo, mixed blood, and religion.


Aunties attitude toward Tayo ranges from annoyance to shame. She assumes the obligation of Tayo's guardian but criticizes everything he is. She is embarassed that he is a mixed blood and even brings it up when Old Grandma tells her to bring in the medicine man. Auntie is outwardly embarassed that her little sister had sex with a white man, but because she wants a good and charitable family name, she takes Tayo into her home. She also brings up mixed blood when one of her boys liked a mexican woman, pretty much showing her extreme disapproval.

Auntie takes care of Tayo after he gets home from war, but she does it in the most shameful way. It seems that she doesn't want a mixed blood in her family, but she wants something to be in control of. She is very concerned with how her town views her family and even is willingly to give up saving Tayo in order to avoid the town talking about her and her family name.