Yellow Woman And A Beauty Of A Spirit Analysis

"Yellow Woman and a Beauty of a Spirit" by Leslie Marmon Silko addressed multiple societal views, individuality, and sexuality in a powerful and persuasive manner. Silko effectively structures her narrative by using a plethora of techniques such as reflection, comparison, and narration. In her exposition, Silko sets up multiple points and ideas while conveniently clarifying the ways of life of the Laguna Pueblo people through reflections and flashbacks.

Silko begins the opening paragraphs with the main issue, which regards her physical appearance and her differences. Her grandmother A'mooh is introduced through flashbacks, and Silko's experiences with her develop several central ideas that later become the resolution for Silko's problems. Silko's relationship with her grandmother is extremely important due to A'mooh’s acceptance of Silko, not for her physical appearance, but for her entire being as a person. The stories and reflections of the old Pueblo people heavily influence Silko with their powerful themes such as beauty, identity, and harmony. According to the Pueblo, the act of comparing one thing with another was useless, because everything was completely and utterly unique, thus differences were highly valued and accepted. Silko slowly builds up her exposition by further

Gender binary roles were nonexistent, as the Pueblo believed that as long as one was capable of doing the work, they would do it, whereas in Western culture, strict restrictions are placed upon who does work based upon gender. By using powerful comparisons such as these, Silko elaborates on the Pueblo meaning of beauty and clearly conveys the societal differences between the old and the