Tayo’s Journey Of Self-realization-Interpretation Of Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony From Deep Ecology Perspective

Leslie Marmon Silko is one of the most prominent contemporary Native American writers. She published Laguna Women:Poems (1974), Ceremony (1977), Storyteller (1981), Almanac of the Dead (1991), Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit (1997) and Gardens in the Dunes (2000), of which Ceremony is one of the most widely studied. Since its publication in 1977, Ceremony has received great critical acclaim. It has been studied by a lot of critical studies from various approaches, including history, post-colonial, culture, feminism, narrative mode and psychological trauma perspective, etc. However, few scholars focus on the relationship between Indian tribal people and nature, and the ecological wisdom embodied in the novel. Therefore, this thesis will situate Ceremony within the theoretical framework of Arne Naess’s Deep Ecology to explore Silko’s ecological consciousness implied in the novel.The theory of Deep Ecology views the world as an interrelated one, and all beings are part of that whole. All beings closely connect with each other and have equal opportunity to survive, develop and reproduce, and the same equal right to realize their self-value. Deep Ecology is based on two norms:Self-realization and Biocentric Equalitarianism. The two norms are interconnected. Respecting all forms of life advocated by Biocentric Equalitarianism is the prerequisite of Self-realization, and the process of Self-realization can help human recognize the deep meaning of Biocentric Equalitarianism that all living things are endowed with equal rights to survive and develop which can not be deprived by human beings. The reason for Tayo’s loss of self can be found out from the theory of Deep Ecology. His traumatic experiences arise from his disharmony with nature.Native Americans’reverence for nature and their holistic world view is in accordance with Deep Ecology ideology. Therefore, by analyzing the ecological thought expressed in Silko’s Ceremony from the two norms of Deep Ecology, this thesis reveals that the journey of Tayo’s recovery is in fact a process of Self-realization, and Tayo’s recovery demonstrates Native Americans’ecological attitude towards nature:nature has the power of helping us return to human good nature, human beings should return to our mother nature and live in harmony with it. The balance and harmony between man and self, man and society, man and nature could be achieved only through man’s awareness of the fact that all forms of life in ecosystem are equal and should be revered. It is expected that the findings of this thesis will contribute to arousing man’s ecological consciousness, helping man establish an ecological view and return to human good nature, and bringing some inspiration for the studies of this novel.