The
Aliens
All societies, no matter the circumstances, have some
things in common. One such commonality is the fact that nearly every
civilization alienates a person or a group of people when they do not conform
to the standards of their society. This separation often not only devastates
those who are alienated, but also highlights the values and flaws of the
society itself , making alienation a very common topic for literature. Margaret
Atwood’s Cat’s Eye and Leslie Marmon
Silko’s Ceremony do just that, with
Elaine’s multiple alienations conveying the misogynistic and religiously elitist
aspects of 20th century Toronto, and Tayo’s separation showing the need
for cultural purity and the supposed
general superiority of Caucasians in post
World War Two America.
The Universal Search for Justice Drives Plot of Ceremony and Cat’s
Eye
Ideas of justice have evolved throughout the
ages side by side with the human race. This relationship has resulted in
important landmarks in history, reflecting the universal nature of the ideal of
justice. The search for justice is synonymous with the fight against injustice,
and affects each and every person in some way throughout their lives. The
importance of this search for justice is explored in Margaret Atwood’ Cat’s Eye
and Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony.
In these stories, both protagonists embark on a search for justice which ultimately
drives the plot of each novel. Both Tayo and Elaine face undue judgment and
initially respond to it through the adoption of the same perverted notions they
were treated with, but their search for justice corrects their ideas and leads
to the elimination of their rancor, greatly contributing to the resolution of
each book as they overcome their inner torments.
Questioning Is Never Far Behind
In Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood and Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, the protagonists Elaine and Tayo
adhere to common social practices while inwardly questioning their beliefs. Once a guiltless child, Elaine is manipulated
beyond recognition by Mrs. Smeath and her so-called friends, who ultimately
compel Elaine to abandon all of her beliefs.
Tayo’s friends and teachers enable his alcoholism and disregard his
traditional beliefs. Atwood and Silko
expertly convey false senses of freedom and loss of innocence, while exposing
the calculating and malicious side of human nature and the lack of
understanding between generations.
Elaine and Tayo must overcome these conformities to cognize the true
intentions of those around them and to be at peace with themselves.
A Wild World
Although they may not be written
down or enforced by a police task force, the rules of society are as important,
or even more important, to people as the laws by which they are governed. These rules often provide order, but when the
ideas and beliefs of a group of people are enforced as law onto others this can
easily lead to alienation, and cruelty.
In the book Cats Eye, by
Margaret Atwood, and Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony,
characters are alienated due to their differences from what society holds as “normal”. Whether it is their race, or even their
personality, they are excluded from a society who’s strict and stubborn ideas
on values and assumptions do not allow them to accept others.
Societal rules are a tricky thing
to wrap your head around, because in other case they allow for there to be
order in society, and a certain level of conformity that allows for people who
don’t like change to live comfortably.
These rules can be helpful, but just like many good things, when they
are taken to extremes they can also hurt a lot of people. In the process of alienating others society
is developing a hatred in their hearts; hatred for those who are different, and
do not conform, a hatred for another race, or a family. This hatred however, does not do society any good;
it does not allow society to grow but rather to shrink as close their minds off
from others worlds. Although, the
societies in the books are fictional many very similar to them exist in our
world. There are a lot of people filled
with hatred, but many societies are changing today. They are becoming more open and
accepting. They are learning from the
faults of societies like those in Cat’s
Eye and Ceremony so that
alienation and suffering can become less and less of a problem, so that people
like Elaine and Tayo can live an unburdened life, and be free to be who they
are, and who they want to be.
Overcoming
the Obstacles
In Margaret Atwood’s novel Cat’s Eye and in Leslie Silko’s novel Ceremony, the protagonists in either book are forced to battle particular
“monsters” either literal or metaphorical.
Cat’s Eye features a
middle-aged woman searching for her purpose in life while experiencing
flashbacks from her traumatizing childhood.
And Ceremony is presented
through a Native American, war veteran who undergoes a journey to rebalance
himself and discover the cause of suffering in the world. In doing so, these characters may battle
“monsters” encountered throughout their journey. In Cat’s
Eye and Ceremony, protagonists,
Elaine and Tayo, battle figurative and literal monsters that overall assist
them during their journey and contribute to the growth and development of these
characters.
Overall, in Margaret
Atwood’s novel Cat’s Eye and in
Leslie Silko’s novel Ceremony, the
protagonists battle with their figurative and literal “monsters” during their
journeys. These monsters, although
obstacles, assisted in the development of these characters internally and
externally. Elaine, with Cordelia as her
obstacle, was capable of becoming independent and making decisions influencing
her life. While Tayo, with Emo and
witchery as his roadblock, was able to rebalance himself, control his
depression, and solve the cause of suffering in the world.
