James Osumah Mr.

Williams Honors English 10 13 February 2012 Man to Send Rain Clouds Leslie Silkos The Man to Send Rain Clouds portrays a non-violent clash of tradition and religion resulting in the characters embracing the future and the change it holds. Father Paul is battling the traditions and heritage of a group of pueblo Indians while trying to uphold his Christian Beliefs and trying to inculcate it into their daily lives as well. Father Paul is battling his obligations as a priest to do what he was taught is right in his Catholic faith, against what the Pueblo Indians traditions are. Father Paul resents Leon and his family for keeping him in the dark about Teofilos death and not letting him orchestrate Teofilos funeral arrangements. They also took too their own culture by asking the Man to Send Rain Clouds. Not fully trusting in what Father Paul taught them they stuck what they as a people knew as and trusted in instead what they didnt fully understand. But they do trust in him a little because they asked him to bring holy water. If they didnt trust him at all and what he taught they could have completely disregarded him but they didnt. Its safe to say they believe in what he teaches but when it comes to death they have traditions for that. But these are things Father Paul knows he is supposed to fulfill as the priest. But not knowing full and well their traditions and beliefs as a people he compromises his beliefs so he can watch what they do from a distance. Father Paul also has a lot of influence on the Indians because in 1598, when the Pueblo swore allegiance to Spain they Catholic Missionaries tried to force Christianity on the Indians but they still continued with their beliefs and traditions. By at first declining to sprinkle water to sprinkle holy water on Teofilos he shows that the Indians are more tolerant than Catholics but he agrees in the end. Leon knows now that with the Holy Water theyll have huge rain clouds and this alludes to the belief of the Pueblo that the dead return and bring rain clouds. This belief is in opposition to Catholicism even though it came from Catholic Holy Water. This is bad influence on Catholicism and for the church because its something they dont believe and the Pueblos who are supposed to be Catholic gave root to the idea. Something Father Paul probably shouldnt have done. The things Father Paul does is nothing but respect for the Pueblo Indians. They face a culture clash when Teofilo dies but they choose to adapt and respect each others beliefs. They are able to mix Indian rituals and Catholic Rites together and have a mutual understanding. They are also able to exist and live together in a community Indian and Catholic.