The story “the man to send rain clouds” is written by Leslie Marmon Skilo. It is about native American rituals. This story is based on the real incident of New Mexico Indian reservation. He explains the point of view as the third person is narrating the story. It’s revealed that what Indians feel about death and what is a reason for facing the death and main objective behind it all explained in this story. An Indian man found dead in sheep camp when he was away from the village, and he has given a traditional Indian funeral.
The story is divided into four parts, in each of section he narrates the different part of Indian burial.
The main theme of a story is death, where he tells that how differently native Americans and Indian see the death and after death activities.
Main Characters in The Man to Send Rain clouds
There are three main characters in this story Teofilo, Ken and Leon. Teofilo is the main character who died and his burial activities done in the Indian style. He is very respected in society and revived a lot of affection from his family. Ken is the brother in law of Leon and the main character who believes that Indian burial is best and he performs all the activities after the death of grandfather. Leon is a grandson of Tefilo, and he believes in both Christian and Indian burial, and he manages to do both for his grandfather.
The Man to Send Rain clouds Analysis: Part 1
In the first part of this story, he tells that the old man Teofilo died in peace. He was tending sheep out at camp away from the village. His grandsons Ken and Leon, adopt the typical buried process before sending him to final destinations. The prepare their grandfather body in a ceremonial style before taking it to a family. One of them ties a feather in Teofilo long hair, and others paint his face with blue and white paint
They also throw the corns meal in the air that their grandfather will eat it even after his death. They also paint under his eyes with yellow color and chin with green. After all this ceremonial devotes they wrap him in a blanket. They talk about the whole process of Indian burial and gives its imaginary vision. Leon paints his grandfather face because of native American customs where he believes that old man spirit brings rain. His grandfather is the man of his words, has a calm and great sense of dignity.
2nd Part
In this second part of a story, a writer tells thy the women of their family were waiting for grandfather body at home. Grandsons tell the whole thing to women that how they found him dead and bring him there. One of thing in Indian burial is that all of them also dress up for funeral and same done by grandsons. They get ready for grandfather burial process. Both of them eat breakfast without saying a single word.
The environment was full of sorrow, everybody busy in preparation of burial. Ken go for the preparation of grave, besides the fact it was too cold, and the land got froze. Writer picture all the events so dramatically that we feel ourselves to be part of Teofilo burial.
The Man to Send Rain Clouds Conflict Analysis:
After the death of a grandfather, Leon did talk much about this and tell the family in few words. He did explain him all feelings. Another character of this story is Louise who is one of wife, the Ken. In a third part where the dead body of grandfather is at home, he further talks about the women reaction and beliefs. Liouse is one of the wives of Ken she came to him and told about her feeling. She said that she believes her grandfather need holy water with him. It may be possible that he may feel thirsty when he was going to his last journey. Leon was not much convinced about her talks. He thinks for a while and realizes he is getting late and it’s already too cold. He said to Liouse that he is already getting later and he will see about the celebrant.
Traditional Indian methods have all the old methods and perform burial with that. They have their summer dances and other activities. In the part four-story continues, the priest was hurt because he is not invited to ceremonies which make his heart sad. Leon suggested him that he should pour the holy water on Teofilo. First, the priest was hesitant to pour holy water on the Toelifo graves as the old man did not give him rights, but in the end, he agreed to do so. Finally, he gives consent to do so and spread water on the grave of Teofilo.
After a while, people arrived at the grave and priest sprinkled the water on the body, and people lowered his body to the grave after closing the grave the priest then sprinkled water on the grave and water got vanished as it hits the ground as the mud was dry and cold.
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The man to send rain clouds questions:
At the point, he thought to remember something because he felt if he remembers the thing he could sort out the reason of phenomena. The priest was walking outside from the grave while Leon watched him going far from the grave. Leon was happy that the holy water is sprinkled on body and grave which gives Leon peace and he was pleased that priest brought the sacred water. It was also the reason for him to be happy as this holy water sprinkle gave him the hope that his grandfather will bring the rain to he dry land which is in dire need of rain and needed it more than ever before.
The man to send rain clouds climax was on the death and cultural rituals associated by each community towards the burial rituals. People use their rituals according to their beliefs and native Americans and Indian style of burial. The cultural differences made it obvious to have these clashes between these communities and a Catholic church also give it boost as they are emphasizing and practicing the burial rituals differently.
