" (498). Upon finishing his statement the narrator does not refuse, either she agreed with him or thought of it as truth. Silva's role to adapt to the yellow woman story made it more convincing for the narrator. All of the persuasion the narrator feels is possible in today' time which makes it relevant.
In Yellow Woman Leslie Marmon Silko does an excellent job of combining myth with reality, making the folktale more a reflection of everyday experiences within the context of Native American life. The work shares the story of a Native American woman who is literally swept up in the myth of her Native American people. The detail Silko provides helps or "blur" the distinction that exists between myth and reality by combining Native American everyday existence and experiences with the many myths that permeate and enrich this culture (Napierkowski, 1). They folktale helps the reader separate the Yellow Woman's relationship with the land and spirits within the land, as well as differentiate between fictional stories and every day reality. The tale helps not only "recreate" but also comment "upon the oral traditions that have sustained the Laguna Pueblo community" (Napierkowski, 1). Silko also works to explore "the intersection between traditional stories and individual voice" by using mythological Indian lore (Napierkowski, 2). This is combined with historical facts as "a kind of counterpoint to her special music" writing with "intensity" that helps distinguish her work from traditional stories (Napierkowski, 2).
Lastly Leslie Marmon Silko in her works attempts as have many contemporary native American authors to describe the Native American view from a first person perspective. She does this by describing nature, spirits, animals and mankind who inhabit a particular land by retelling the history of the people of the land (Napierkowski, 2). She also shares insights into their every day life but also insights into their mythic history and legends (Napierkowski, 2). In doing so the author attempts to engage the reader and reveal the importance literature and language both play in not only Native American heritage but the...
The work shares insights regarding the "inseparability of the land" and the "ways and wisdom of the old time people" (NWHP, 2004). This may also reflect the author's own unique history. Enjoying a mixed heritage of Anglo, Mexican and Native American cultures the author uses Yellow Woman in some respects as a metaphor for her life (NWHP, 2004). Silko does this by "anchoring to the traditions and stories of the Laguna Pueblo on one side and with Anglo mainstream on the other" (NWHP, 2004). Silko uses storytelling not simply as a form of entertainment or as a means to pass the time but as a ritualistic endeavor whose ultimate purpose is to link people with their mythical and mystical heritage (NWHP, 2004). Her work succeeds among other things in promoting the cultural heritage and survival of people by fusing rituals of old with present day realities (NWHP, 2004).
Leslie Marmon Silko reminds us how folktales may lie dormant but can still affect normal people in current time. Silko mimics the ancient Pueblo tradition of writing folktales, and thus gives us broader perspective. She helps connect us to the story by making it authentic and gives us the same emotions and feelings as the woman in the story. If any other method than the first person point-of-view were to be used the narratives would lose that connection. Folktales still have meaning and influence in the world today, as evidenced by this tremendous story.
Works Cited
Folktale." American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Houghton Mifflin Company: 2000.
NWHP. "Leslie Marmon Silko." (2004). National Women's History Project, 12, October 2005: http://www.nwhp.org/tlp/biographies/silko/bio.html
Silko, Leslie Marmon. Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit Essays. New York:
Simon and Schuster Adult Publishing Group, 1996.
Yellow Woman: Introduction." Short Stories for Students. Ed. Marie Rose
Napierkowski. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1998. October 2003. 15 October 2005. http://www.enotes.com/yellow-woman/8496.
