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 20^th 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.