Summary Of Yellow Woman And A Beauty Of The Spirit

In “Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit” by Leslie Marmon Silko, a whole different manner of existence is brought to life through the author’s vibrant account of growing up amidst the Laguna Pueblo people. Although the ways of society in the Laguna people’s world may seem new and foreign to many readers, Silko’s story makes the reasoning behind the Pueblo traditions powerfully clear. Through the use of a structure that centers around reflections and references to the past, the author effectively delivers her points in a manner that is clear, convincing, and engaging. Silko begins her narration with a simple statement from her past: “From the time I was a small child, I was aware that I was different” (Page 60). This is a very effective

She describes how she “came early every morning to help Grandma water the plants before the heat of the day arrived” (Page 62). Although this may initially appear as a necessary responsibility, the younger Silko chose to do this of her own free will, due to the boundless respect and admiration she felt for her grandmother. She speaks of the stories that Grandma A’mooh would tell, and how her childhood self learned to “be proud of [her] strength” (Page 62) through helping with the daily chores. These reflections that the author provides allow the reader to understand another important characteristic of the world in which the Laguna Pueblo people reside. Their society is not patriarchal, but rather focuses on the fact that strength and leadership can be found within anyone. The line that distinguishes gender roles is nearly non-existent, and female role models are especially prominent within the harmonious social order. Silko’s descriptions of the beauty of her Grandma A’mooh’s strength and the powerful way that her grandmother’s stories impacted her life serve as a tool to convey this idea to the reader. Through this account, yet another important manner of living within the Laguna Pueblo society is clarified for those who did not experience it for

Silko often speaks of important female figures within these stories, such as Mother Creator and Thought Woman. However, Silko’s favorite heroine is Kochininako, better known as “Yellow Woman”. Silko describes many adventures of Yellow Woman, such as the time she saved the village from starvation, or another instance in which she bore children that grew up to be great heroes. The author stresses the importance of Kochininako so often because she is the embodiment of everything the Laguna people stand for. The beauty of Yellow Woman does not lie in her appearance, but rather in “her passion, her daring, and her sheer strength to act when catastrophe is imminent” (Page 70). Her femininity is not a hindrance to her, but rather a symbol of strength and a statement that differences are a thing to be admired. Through the stories of Yellow Woman, the childhood Silko learned to be comfortable with her differences, and be proud of who she is as a person rather than focusing on her appearance. With these references to the traditions of the past, the author fully explains the mindset of the Laguna people and the way that they accept others for their internal beauty rather than what’s on the