World And Ceremonies example essay topic

Knowing Oneself, Knows the World The colonization of civilizations has changed the world's history forever. From the French, Spaniard, and down to the English, have changed cultures, traditions, religions, and livelihoods of other societies. The Native Americans, for example, were one of the many civilizations that were conquered by the English. The result was their ways of life based on nature changed into the more "civilized" ways of the colonists of the English people. Many Native Americans have lost their old ways and were pulled into the new "civilized" ways. Today only a small amount of Native American nations or tribes exist in remote areas surviving following their traditions.

In the book Ceremony, a story of a man named Tayo, did not know himself and the world around him but in the end found out and opened his eyes to the truth. However the Ceremony's main message is related not only to one man but also to everything and everyone in the world. It is a book with the message that the realization of oneself will open the eyes to see what is truth and false which will consequently turn to freedom. Tayo faced a struggle of recognizing his essence: the true definition of himself outside and most especially inside.

Being a half Native American and half-Caucasian in an environment of a Native American tribe in Laguna, he was constantly reminded of being an outcast. Externally, whenever he would try to fit in any of his race, both sides would reject him with ridicules. As Emo stated against Tayo, "There he is. He thinks he's something all right. Because he's part white. Don't you, half-breed?" It presented hatred from a full-blooded Native American because, "the only reason for this hate was that Tayo was part white".

In fact the shame of being a "half-breed" continued down to his relatives. Auntie's, "shame for what his mother (Tayo's) had done, and Auntie's shame for him (Tayo)", was surprising even though she was one of the closest blood relative of Tayo. On his Caucasian side, encounters were similar with the Native Americans. He was not truthfully acknowledged by the Caucasians he encountered under the shadows of his military uniform, which symbolizes "his service and loyalty" for the United States because, "they had the uniform and they didn't look different no more.

They got respect". He was automatically disregarded as "the different one" else by both races because the Caucasian saw a Native American and the Native American saw a Caucasian. In addition to his external struggle in finding his true definition, Tayo also faced internal conflicts because of his uncertainty of himself. Belonging to two different race categories was only the beginning of his struggles because "he wasn't sure any more what to believe... He wasn't sure". His Native American side showed enthusiasm for learning its ways but his minimal knowledge of it would turn into hesitance and he is unable to practice it.

Old Betonie, a medicine man who also was not full-blooded Native American, was one of Tayo's ways of finding out his roots but all he thought about with the first sight of the medicine man was to run away. As old Betonie pointed out, "If you don't trust me, you better keep going... Anyway I couldn't help anyone who was afraid of me". He mistrusted the "half-breed" person that can teach him the right way to live, not as a Native American or a Caucasian alone, but as a human being. However, Tayo's mistrust and ignorance pulled him into a deeper confusion of he was because he would rather in a hospital where he was, "invisible... (and) wasn't afraid" because he "didn't feel things sneaking up behind", him. Although Tayo did not realize that denying the guidance offered by old Betonie will help him unlock his true essence.

However, the truth is difficult to accept and takes time to be understood therefore, Tayo is no different. His comprehension for old Betonie's talk about the "ceremony" was not being established because Tayo does not, "know anything about ceremonies... (or) how long it has been going on". He did not realize that the "ceremonies" were the key into understanding himself and the world he lives in despite old Betonie's lectures of completing the "ceremony". Tayo did not know the importance of the "ceremony", which determined the outcome of life whether good or bad. It is a belief that the evil ceremony will continue to complete itself if evil deeds are accomplished if it is not reversed by a good ceremony, as was explained to him by old Betonie. Still, he continued in his stubbornness and tries reason with old Betonie that there were no relationship between him, the world and ceremonies.

As old Betonie explained to him that people, "look no further to see what is really happening... be ignorant and helpless", because individuals like Tayo did not open their eyes and find out the his connections between the world. Consequently, Tayo began and ended up opening his eyes to see himself, the ceremony, and the connections of the world. He accepted the truth about himself and no longer desired to be the "invisible" which had no form, meaning, or soul. He understood the importance of the ceremonies, how it brings life or death depending on the type of ceremony. Old Betonie's stories and lecture helped him make the right decisions because in the end when he finally had a chance to kill his enemy Emo, who wronged Tayo and his friends profoundly, he chose not accomplish it.

He was also able to see deeper into the event that are happening in the world and how everything always has purpose or a deeper meaning, realizing that finding out and correcting the faults within ourselves will solve humanity's problems instead of blaming it on each other. Tayo's finally knew himself and now knows the world itself. Changes occur within societies, cultures, religions, or livelihood, people lose their sense of importance towards their roots and sense of being therefore redefining the meaning of humanity. However, as Ceremony teaches, being in touch with one's roots and sense of being will bring about understanding of what is true or what is false. An individual should realize the meaning of their essence and in turn would bring the understanding towards the world. Ceremony's world application evaluates and serves as a guide of how humanity should open their eyes and look at everything in a different a perspective to see it in the way of the ceremony: the way of life.

The ceremony should be practiced and adapted throughout all the time, no matter the race, religion, culture or livelihood.