Throughout our lives, especially today in modern culture, we rely on our identity, because it makes us who we are and will consciously or unconsciously make decisions for us; who we hang out with, what we eat, what books we read, what activities we take part in, and so on. It seems strange at first, but if you think about it the concept makes sense. The ceremony is no exception to this idea. In the novel Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, we follow the story of a young man named Tayo who is a war veteran. Readers can follow and experience how identities truly affect the characters in the novel, including Tayo, his mother, his aunt, and many others. Tayo, completely and utterly traumatized after the war, feels understandably lost when he returns home. He is mentally unstable and even his aunt, who is his carer, is not of much help. With all of this, plus the constant flashbacks we see, we can really see the toll this all takes on identity. Social expectations set in stone shape characters' identities and the ongoing actions they take based on their identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Tayo, the protagonist of the story, is one of the most complex characters when examining his identity due to his genealogical background. Tayo's mom is Laguna Pueblo and his dad is white. It is “a shame” for both cultures. The whites want nothing to do with him and neither do the Native Americans, including his aunt. However, during the war everything changed. "The first day in Oakland he and Rocky were walking down the street together and a big Chrysler pulled up in the street and an old white woman rolled down her window and said, 'God bless you, God bless you,' but it was the uniform, not them , he blessed. As shown, Tayo's encounters with white individuals change dramatically when he begins serving in the military. However, due to his upbringing, he is not fooled. While his friends feel like they are part of something, Tayo now knows the reality. “The war was over, the uniform was gone. Suddenly that man at the shop waits for you last, makes you wait until all the white people have bought what they want. And the white lady at the station of the buses, now be very careful not to touch your hand when counting the change. You watch it slide across the counter towards you and you know it!" When the war ended and Tayo took off his uniform, he felt lost once again. Now the man in the shop is "waiting for it last". All white individuals must get everything they need before the man will help them. Yet, if he had worn the uniform, perhaps he would have been served when it was his turn, or perhaps before. Be that as it may, without uniform, they are treated like peons. When he fought for America, he was treated well. When his service ended, he left. Whites used him for what they needed, simply respecting his willingness to diet for the American cause. Society expects a white man to be favored over a Native American. Since Tayo doesn't really fit into the category of white or Native American, his identity is distorted, contributing to his mental health struggle and the actions that take place throughout the novel. There's one character we technically never meet in the book, but he's probably the most affected by identity than any other character. This is none other than Tayo's mother, Laura, who is only seen in flashbacks. He brings shame to his community by being ashamed of the way white people describe Native Americans. He is ashamed of his race and yes.