Prompt revision 4/21/13

1979. Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.

            Throughout John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, George Milton proves to be a character who may be classified as evil or immoral on the basis of his actions, such as being selfish in his dream of owning a farm, using his friend Lennie to his advantage, and shooting and killing his best friend. However, as Steinbeck portrays George as one who is caring unconditionally for his friend and hopeful about the future, readers are more inclined to react more sympathetically towards him. 

            George Milton is one who is selfish and individualistic. In the intro of the novel, we see George telling Lennie his dream of owning his own farm. This dream sounds to be a bit selfish as he thinks of owning the farm himself and being his own boss with Lennie. At no point does he mention sharing pay or living happily with Lennie because he likes Lennie. This shows how he is only thinking of himself which daydreaming of this future. Concurrently, the portrayal of George being an idealist pushes the reader to think of George in a more sympathetic light as we know that he has endured much hardship, yet maintains his faith and hope. It is clear that George is willing to work hard for his dream and doesn't expect it to be handed to him. The reader cannot keep from rooting for the unlikely hero in the hopes that those who try hard will get what they want in the end, despite his selfish ways.

            George uses Lennie throughout the book to his advantage. Lennie's mental disability allows George to manipulate him to his advantage. George says that Lennie can stay with him when he buys his own farm because otherwise George would get bored. In addition, Lennie's strength will prove to be useful in the future. This shows that he is using Lennie, not as a friend, but as a person to be there to talk to and do manual labor. George reveals in a conversation that he at one point had made fun of Lennie. Lennie also used as a guard. When Curly is upset and Lennie, George orders Lennie to fight Curly back. It can be inferred that this action was partially due to George's strong distaste of Curly. By using Lennie's physical strength to his advantage, the reader gets a sense that George is manipulative. However, Steinbeck shows that George is also caring about his friend, showing that he will always stick with Lennie, even when he got them kicked out of the old town they were in, Weed. This unconditional bond that the two share is highlighted throughout the book and seems to be the driving force for the both of them. The reader understands George and sees that he is willing to sacrifice his time and effort to support the one person who has stayed by his side the whole time. This leads the reader to care more about George and see that he is truly a good person.

The ultimate immoral act that George commits in the novel is the murder of his best friend. As the reader learns more of the deep connection between the friends, we are shocked by the novel's finale as George shoots Lennie in the back of the head. The murder of anyone can be considered immoral, but one of a best friend is unthinkable. At the same time, the reader is able to understand that it is George's love for Lennie that pushes him to kill him. He wants to put Lennie out of the way of Curly and his gang. By even telling the story of their dream before shooting him, he allows Lennie to go in a happy state. Readers are more inclined to be sympathetic toward George by this sweet, yet tragic ending to the novel. 

Summary and Analysis of Ceremony

Summary: 

  The book begins with Tayo at home on the Laguna Reservation. Tayo recalls a horrifying memory of being order to kill a Japanese soldier and only being able to see the face of his uncle Josiah in the face of the Japanese soldier. One flashback describes the story of the medicine man, Ku'oosh coming to visit Tayo and trying to cure him. During his journey, Tayo has many flashbacks about the war and times the in bars when he is with Harley and the other soldiers who returned to the reservation. Aunty tried to keep Tayo and Rocky separate however they became close friends and the summer after they graduated from high school. They enlisted in the army together. Tayo also reflects on his identity of being half-white. He is often concerned about what the other people think of him! His uncle Josiah had an affair with a woman named Night Swan. She was always mysterious but helped Josiah a herd of cattle from her cousin. From his childhood with Josiah, he remember a story about the importance of the fly in Laguna culture. Ku'oosh told Tayo that he should go see another medicine man, Betonie who is a member of the tribe. And his goal is to perform a ceremony to help Tayo free himself of the memories of the war. Betonie tells him stories and legends from Laguna culture, with the help of Shush. 

  Soon Tayo starts to feel better, however Betonie assures him that the ceremony is not yet complete. Then Tayo goes on a search to find Josiah's cattle to returns home soon after. And on his search, he finds house with an woman in it but realizes that the woman is somehow part of the ceremony by recognizing a star pattern Betonie had described. He then leaves and locates the cattle inside the fenced ranch of a rich white landowner. However the cattle run away and Tayo spends the night looking for them. Just as he is about to give up a mountain lion comes and he follows that track to find the cattle. On the way down the mountain, Tayo meets a hunter, who lives with Ts'eh. Although he feels better coming home with the cattle, he know that the ceremony is not over because of the drought. Robert tells him that Emo is spreading rumors about him and as he runs away to find Harley and Leroy, he realizes that they have joined forces with Emo already. As he running away, he found himself in a Uranium mine and if he spends the night there then the ceremony will be complete. After he reports to Ku'oosh and to complete everything, he spends one last night in Ku'oosh's house to finish off the ceremony. 

Author: 

  Leslie Marmon Silko is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe. Being a mix of Mexican and Laguna Pueblo, she may have experienced some internal conflict surrounding being a person of mixed heritage.  

Setting: 

  This novel takes place in the American Southwest, in and around the Laguna Pueblo reservation. It is a few years after the end of World War II. Some parts of the novel   takes place in the jungle of World War II. 

Characters: 

Tayo: A half-Laguna and half-white soldier who returns to the Laguna Reservation from World War II. He searches for his identity as he struggles to find a balance between part white and part Laguna cultures. 

Rocky: Tayo's older cousin who raised like a brother with Tayo. Rocky was involved in a lot of white culture such as playing football and going to college. He did not engage in many Laguna traditions. Tayo looks up to Rocky. 

Josiah: Tayo's uncle who is calm and gentle. Josiah acted as a father like figure to Tayo while he was growing up. He helped Tayo understand Laguna culture by telling him stories. He also had a relationship with a woman named Night Swan before Tayo left for the war. Once Josiah died, Tayo felt lost and without guidance. 

Aunty: The sister of Tayo's mother. During Tayo's childhood, Aunty is very unwelcoming towards Tayo as she fears what other people in the village will think of her and her family. 

Grandma: Aunty and Josiah's mother. Grandma is old and doesn't talk very much. 

Ku'oosh: A Laguna medicine man who comes to help Tayo when he is sick after returning from the war.

Betonie: A medicine man from another tribe that Tayo goes to see to be cured. Betonie believes that ceremonies need to evolve as times change.

Shush: Betonie assistant who and is associated with the bear boy of legend.

Ts'eh: a mysterious woman who Tayo meets while searching for Josiah's lost cattle. She and Tayo become lovers.

Emo: Another former soldiers, and Tayo's rival since childhood. Emo is strongly associated with the evil witchery in the story.

Night Swan: A mysterious woman who was the lover of Josiah and lives in a town near the reservation. She is kind and welcoming to Tayo. But after Josiah's death, she goes away from the reservation. 

Author's Style: 

  This style mimics Tayo's perception of the world-distant. The plot skips around as it randomly jumps between memories and the present. There is a lot of figurative language, metaphors and similes used throughout the book. 

Important Quotes: 

"Jungle rain had no beginning or end; it grew like foliage from the sky, branching and arching to the earth, sometimes in solid thickets entangling the islands, and, other times, in tendrils of blue mist curling out of coastal clouds. The jungle breathed an eternal green that fevered men until they dripped sweat the way rubbery jungle leaves dripped the monsoon rain. It was there that Tayo began to understand what Josiah had said."

“The only way to get change is not through the courts or — heaven forbid — the politicians, but through a change of human consciousness and through a change of heart. Only through the arts — music, poetry, dance, painting, writing — "can we really reach each other,” 

Theme: 

        One must never forget their origins. Keeping traditions and cultures alive with the changing times is essential not only for the order of life, but also for the health of all.