Ceremony Lesson Plan

How are women presented in Ceremony?

Helen Jean is an example of how women are often only left with their bodies as a resource. Much of the novel is about the horrors American Indian veterans have to endure during and after the war. Helen Jean is an example of how the war affected women on the Homefront and how women are often left with fewer resources than the men who returned with various war wounds.

Moreover, the woman Tayo encounters when he looks for his uncle’s cattle is meant to be a symbol. She nurtures him, cares for him, in a way that is not subservient. She helps him regain his health. Through his connection with this nameless woman, Tayo is able to feel more...