Set in a Pueblo community in New Mexico, The Man to Send Rainclouds by Leslie Marmon Silko revolves around the death of Teofilo, an esteemed elder. The title alludes to the traditional Pueblo belief that the departed souls return as rain clouds to bless the living. 

 As Teofilo’s grandson, Leon, discovers his lifeless body, he embarks on a journey to honor his grandfather’s memory and cultural heritage through traditional funeral customs. The story artfully explores themes of spirituality, cultural identity, and the clash between indigenous traditions and Christianity.

 

 The Man To Send Rainclouds | Summary

 The story begins with Leon and his brother-in-law Ken discovering that Leon’s grandfather, Teofilo, has passed away while tending to sheep alone. His lifeless body is found beneath a sacred cottonwood tree, revered by the Pueblo community. In a gesture of deep respect for his grandfather and their customs, Leon proceeds to paint Teofilo’s face and places a prayer feather in his hair. Meanwhile, Ken performs a traditional funeral ritual by offering pollen and cornmeal to Father Sun.

During this entire process, the only spoken words come from Leon, who softly says:

 “Send us rain clouds, Grandfather.”

The significance of this phrase resonates with the community’s beliefs and hopes for nourishing rain.

 After wrapping Teofilo’s body in a red blanket and gathering the sheep, Leon, and Ken load the deceased into Ken’s pickup truck. On their way back, they encounter Father Paul, the mission priest, who expresses concern about Teofilo’s whereabouts. Out of deference to Teofilo, his family, and their desire for a traditional funeral ceremony without Catholic involvement, Leon chooses not to disclose the truth about Teofilo’s passing and evades Father Paul’s inquiry.

 Upon returning home, Leon and Ken are warmly greeted by Louise and Teresa. Leon recounts the events surrounding Teofilo’s passing, and the family begins the solemn task of preparing his body for the funeral ceremony. As family and friends gather to pay their respects, there is an atmosphere of quiet reverence, and few words are exchanged.

 With Teofilo’s body carefully wrapped, Leon places it in the truck to proceed with the burial. Before leaving, Louise asks him to request holy water from Father Paul, emphasizing the belief that Teofilo’s spirit should not suffer from thirst in the afterlife. After a moment of contemplation, Leon decides to visit the Church and seek out Father Paul, fully aware of the delicate balance between their traditional beliefs and the influence of Catholicism in their community.

 Leon locates Father Paul at the church while Ken takes Teofilo’s body to the cemetery. When Leon requests holy water, Father Paul becomes visibly upset, feeling hurt that Leon didn’t confide in him about Teofilo’s death. He laments the absence of important Catholic rituals during the private traditional ceremony. However, as Leon firmly insists that holy water is not necessary, Father Paul has a change of heart. Together, they head to the gravesite to prepare for the burial. In a detached and methodical manner, Father Paul applies the holy water, displaying a lack of emotional connection with the people and their traditions. Once the task is completed, he departs for the church without offering any words of comfort or solace to the grieving family.

 Left to find solace in his way, Leon gazes upon the distant sacred mountain and draws strength from the sacred promise he made to his grandfather. Despite the tension with Father Paul, Leon finds peace in the meaningful connection with his cultural heritage and the memory of his beloved Teofilo.

 

The Man To Send Rain Clouds | Analysis

 

“The Man to Send Rainclouds” illustrates the contrasting lifestyles between the traditional Pueblo community and the modern ways embodied by Father Paul. In Leon’s simple Pueblo household, the essentials are valued, and the people hold great significance within the community. When Teofilo passes away, the depth of their sorrow is evident through the heartfelt actions of Leon, Louise, Ken, and Teresa during the traditional funeral ceremony.

 In contrast, Father Paul lives on a mission on a hill, separated from the Pueblo village. His living quarters, with modern furniture in earthy colors, symbolize his detachment from the natural surroundings and the Pueblo culture. The presence of a brass lamp hanging by chains reinforces the historical imposition of Catholicism on the Pueblo people.

 Father Paul’s isolation mirrors his lack of connection with the Pueblo community. He remains emotionally distant, barely acknowledging Leon’s presence, and shows little understanding of their beliefs. During the burial ceremony, he observes the attendees with detachment, revealing his ignorance and lack of empathy. Despite providing holy water, he offers no words of comfort and departs without bidding farewell or expressing any meaningful sentiments. Ultimately, Father Paul appears unchanged by the experience, returning to his isolated existence, oblivious to the profound lessons he could have learned from the Pueblo people. 

 “The Man to Send Rainclouds” delves into the cultural and social conflicts arising between the Pueblo Native Americans and the influence of the Catholic Mission. For the younger generation, like Leon, finding a balance between their traditional indigenous ways and modern Catholic beliefs becomes a significant challenge. The Catholic mission has already left a noticeable impact on the younger members of the community. An example of situational irony occurs when Leon and Louise believe that holy water is essential for their grandfather’s burial, even though Teofilo himself would likely have preferred a different approach.

 The limited involvement of the community’s elders highlights how Catholicism has begun to overshadow the ancient traditions. Leon feels torn between respecting his grandfather’s wishes and honoring his Catholic upbringing. Eventually, the influence of Catholicism outweighs his traditional upbringing, leading Leon to seek out Father Paul.

 The tension between Leon and Father Paul symbolizes the broader tension between the Catholic mission and the preservation of Pueblo’s traditional culture. In the end, Leon chooses a compromise, holding a private funeral that incorporates Catholic burial rituals. Through this decision, he seeks to make peace with both the living members of the community and the departed soul of his grandfather.

 In the Pueblo community, cultural wisdom is passed down from the older generation to the younger one. Leon, Ken, Teresa, and Louise belong to a younger generation compared to their Elder, Teofilo. Within their culture, it is essential for the younger members to show respect and honor to their elders by preserving their spiritual beliefs and practices.

 During the traditional burial rituals, such as face painting, feather tying, corn meal, and pollen tossing, Leon and Ken demonstrate their reverence for their ancestors and pay tribute to Teofilo’s memory. Each member of the community plays a significant role in preparing for Teofilo’s burial. Ken provides a blanket, while Louise contributes the ritualistic pollen and corn meal. Teresa and Louise offer food and coffee to provide comfort and sustenance to everyone involved. Leon and Ken take care to dress Teofilo’s body in sacred ceremonial attire. The entire community participates in the act of traditional ceremony, thereby keeping the old ways of the culture alive.

 Through these meaningful actions and collective involvement, the Pueblo community ensures that their cultural heritage endures and that the bond between the younger and older generations remains strong.

 

The Man To Send Rainclouds | Themes

 In Pueblo culture, elders hold a position of great reverence as they play a vital role in preserving the ancestral wisdom of their community. Throughout the story, Leon demonstrates his deep respect for his late grandfather by honoring his memory in various meaningful ways. Upon discovering Teofilo’s body, he performs funeral ceremonial customs, such as adorning his face with paint and attaching a prayer feather, while he and Ken wrap him in a red blanket and dress him in traditional ceremonial moccasins for the burial.

 Leon’s family ensures that Teofilo receives a traditional funeral ceremony, staying true to their cultural heritage and refraining from involving the Catholic church. This choice reflects their commitment to honoring the deceased according to the traditional practices of their people.

 Following the Catholic burial, Leon reconnects with his cultural roots as he gazes at the distant sacred mountain, which holds the belief that the departed spirits return there, where the Katchina rain spirits reside. Leon finds solace in the idea that his grandfather’s spirit will come back to bring life-giving rain clouds for the living. By cherishing his grandfather’s teachings, Leon not only honors him but also safeguards his own cultural identity, preserving the ancient ways of his people.

 In contrast to the Catholic priest, Leon possesses a profound understanding of the spiritual significance of natural rainwater. He recognizes its deep connection to the land and its ancestors, valuing it even more than the holy water of the Catholic church. To him, rainwater symbolizes the sacred life force of his people, reinforcing his strong cultural ties and beliefs. 

 In the unfolding of the story, Leon is constantly attuned to the natural world around him. In the traditions of the Pueblo and many Native American cultures, elements of nature and animals serve as a conduit for communication with the spirit realm and are deeply interwoven with their mythology. This sacred wisdom and profound understanding of their connection to nature are evident as Leon reverently performs the traditional funeral customs upon discovering his grandfather’s body.

 One of the first gestures he makes is attaching a prayer feather to his grandfather’s hair. Among the Pueblo people, feathers are regarded as sacred offerings in prayers and are also used as ceremonial attire during sacred rain dances. With the utmost respect, Leon entreats his grandfather’s spirit to “send rain clouds” to bless their people.

 Rain holds immense significance in Pueblo culture, as it is vital for their agricultural practices. The Pueblo community relies on rainfall to nurture healthy crops, which are crucial for their harvest and sustenance. Through ceremonial dances, they communicate with the spirit world, requesting rain for abundant crop growth. A prevalent cultural belief holds that the departed souls return as rain clouds, bestowing blessings upon the harvest. Leon deeply honors the wisdom imparted by his elders and ancestors, firmly believing that his grandfather’s spirit can play a role from the spirit world in granting the precious gift of rain. This bountiful rain brings hope for prosperity and abundance to his family and community.

 Leslie Marmon Silko frequently emphasizes the profound interconnectedness of family life among the Pueblo people. In a 1995 interview, she describes the Pueblo society as a “communal egalitarian society,” where each individual is valued and has a meaningful role to play. Regardless of age, every person’s contribution holds significance. The family unit serves as a cornerstone for preserving their cultural beliefs and values within the broader community. The oral tradition, crucial to their heritage, remains shared and cherished among all members of the community.

 For Silko, family storytelling played a pivotal role in her upbringing and education. It was through these stories passed down within her family that she learned the authentic account that forms the basis of “The Man to Send Rainclouds.”

 In the story, Leon’s family is portrayed as tightly-knit and supportive, exemplifying their spirit of cooperation and mutual aid. Throughout the funeral preparations, various family members actively contribute to the customs and arrangements. Ken, Leon’s brother-in-law, plays an important role in assisting Teofilo’s body and the ceremonial rites. Louise and Teresa handle affairs at home to ensure everything is ready for the arrival of the men. The community’s friends show up to pay their respects, offering comfort and bringing food to support those involved in the burial.

 In contrast, Father Paul’s lifestyle is depicted as solitary and disconnected from the Pueblo people. He resides alone in the mission, where even the nuns living there seem distant from him. Despite being surrounded by modern comforts, he lacks an understanding of the land and the ways of the Pueblo community.

 The Pueblo people have a deep reliance on agriculture for their livelihood, making rain an essential requirement for successful crop harvesting. In their culture, ceremony, and rituals hold significant importance, as they are often used to invoke the aid of spirits to bring forth rain for the community’s prosperity.

 One of the traditional and sacred ceremonies performed by the Pueblos is the rain dance, which plays a central role in calling upon the spirits to bring much-needed rainfall. Within this ceremony, two types of rain spirits are involved: the “Katchinas” and the “Cloud People.”

 The Katchinas are spiritual entities that communicate through natural forces such as wind and rain. Residing in the Underworld, they assist the living through ceremonial interactions. During the rain dance, the dancers establish communication with the Katchinas, seeking their assistance to materialize rain through the power of the rituals.

 Cloud People, on the other hand, represent a spiritual manifestation of the departed. According to Pueblo beliefs, the deceased can return in the form of rain clouds to provide rain for the living. This belief forms a crucial part of the Pueblo worldview and reinforces the connection between the living and their ancestors.

 Through the historical practice of the rain dance, performed for generations, the Pueblo people not only call upon the spirits to bring rain but also use the ceremony as a means to connect with the departed. This sacred tradition plays a vital role in preserving the ancient wisdom of their culture, as it encompasses their beliefs, practices, and reverence for nature and the spirit world.

 Since the 1500s, the Pueblo people have faced the challenge of coexisting with Spanish Catholics, who sought to conquer their land and convert them to Catholicism. Over time, Catholicism established itself in the Pueblo villages, and by the beginning of the 20th century, its influence was prominent in the region. In the story, Father Paul represents the Franciscan priests who arrived with the Spanish Catholics, symbolizing the ongoing presence of social and religious conflicts that persisted for decades after the Spanish invasion.

 As a child and young adult, Silko attended Catholic schools on the reservation, experiencing both a public Catholic education and a private traditional education at home. This duality allowed her to preserve the wisdom of her people, as she learned from the traditions passed down in her family. As an author, Silko continued to uphold and perpetuate this wisdom by writing stories that drew inspiration from traditional myths and legends.

 Today, the Pueblo people have found a spiritual compromise by incorporating elements of Catholicism into their cultural practices. This syncretism is evident during important festivals like Saint Joseph’s Day and other occasions on the reservation. The Pueblo have embraced a blend of traditional beliefs and practices alongside the rituals of modern religion, showcasing their ability to adapt and maintain the essence of their heritage amidst external influences.

The Man To Send Rainclouds | Title of the Story

 The title “The Man To Send Rainclouds” refers to Teofilo, the deceased grandfather and a revered elder in the Pueblo community. According to Pueblo beliefs, the deceased can return as rain clouds to bless the living. As “the man to send rain clouds,” Teofilo symbolizes the spiritual connection between the Pueblo people and the natural elements, particularly the life-giving rain.

 The title hints at the primary conflict of the story, which revolves around the clash between American Indian ways and Christian ways. Teofilo’s death raises questions about how to properly honor him through traditional Pueblo rituals while also accommodating the influence of Christianity, represented by Father Paul. The title underscores the importance of preserving cultural traditions and ancestral beliefs. It highlights the enduring significance of the Pueblo people’s customs and their profound reverence for nature, as reflected in their belief in the spirits returning as rain clouds.

The Man To Send Rain Clouds | Character Sketch

 Leon, the grandson of Teofilo, embodies the internal conflict that exists within the younger generation of Pueblo Native Americans. He grapples with the challenge of coexisting with the traditions of his elders and the imposing influence of the Church. While Leon deeply reveres the customs of his ancestors, evident in his respectful performance of the death ritual for his Grandfather and dressing him in ceremonial attire for a traditional funeral, he has also become somewhat distant from the traditional ways of his people.

 Throughout the story, Leon’s journey revolves around finding a balance between these two contrasting belief systems in order to cope with his grandfather’s death healthily. His profound respect for his cultural heritage becomes a guiding force, leading him to connect with the land and his family as sources of solace and closure.

 Ultimately, Leon’s character represents the struggle faced by many young Pueblo individuals as they navigate the interplay between their ancestral heritage and the influence of outside cultures, particularly the Church. By honoring his grandfather’s memory and embracing the wisdom of his people, Leon seeks a harmonious resolution within himself, fostering a sense of peace and unity for his family. Through this journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Leon embodies the resilience and adaptability of the Pueblo people in preserving their traditions while embracing the realities of a changing world. 

 Father Paul, the Franciscan priest stationed at the Catholic mission, symbolizes the imposing presence of organized religion upon an ancient and deeply rooted traditional society. Throughout the story, he grapples with inner conflict as he reluctantly agrees to provide holy water for Teofilo’s burial. His initial hesitation and eventual compliance serve as a poignant reflection of the tension between the established traditional beliefs of the Pueblo people and the encroaching influence of organized religion, specifically Catholicism.

 Father Paul symbolizes the intrusion of Catholicism onto the sacred land of the Pueblo people. Throughout the story, he disapproves of the Native Americans’ adherence to their traditional ceremonies without the involvement of the Church. At first, Father Paul resists Leon’s request for holy water to be used in Teofilo’s burial, as he fails to comprehend the significance of Pueblo rituals and beliefs.

 However, a pivotal moment occurs when Leon addresses him respectfully as “Father.” This gesture sparks a change of heart in Father Paul, leading him to eventually provide the holy water for Teofilo’s body during the public burial ceremony. This gesture indicates a subtle shift in Father Paul’s understanding and acknowledgment of the importance of respecting the Pueblo’s cultural practices.

 Father Paul’s character represents the tensions that arose between the indigenous traditions of the Pueblo people and the efforts of the Catholic Church to assert dominance and assimilate them into Catholicism. The story highlights the complexities of cultural clashes and the challenge of finding common ground between different belief systems. The moment when Father Paul relents and offers the holy water can be seen as a step towards recognizing the value of the Pueblo people’s spiritual practices, even amidst the ongoing tension between their traditional ways and the influence of Catholicism. 

Teofilo, the elderly man found dead under the big cottonwood tree, is the central figure in the story and embodies the title, “the man to send rain clouds.” The plot revolves around the conflict that emerges after his passing, highlighting the clash between American Indian customs and Christian beliefs. As a Native American residing on a reservation in New Mexico, Teofilo possessed a fiercely independent nature. He embraced a blend of both modern American ways, seen in his choice of clothing, and traditional Indian practices, such as keeping his white hair long. Despite exposure to new influences, he continued to hold onto the beliefs of his ancestors.

 Teofilo actively participated in ceremonial dances during the summer, crafting new moccasins for the occasion. However, he was not particularly enthusiastic about attending church, showcasing his strong attachment to the old ways. His age and wisdom earned him great respect within the community, evident in the affection shown to him by Leon and his family.

In the story, Ken is a minor character and Leon’s brother-in-law. Like Teofilo and Leon, he strongly believes in following the traditional Indian ways, and he readily offers his assistance to his brother-in-law in any way he can.

 

The Man To Send Rain Clouds | Literary Devices

 The short story “The Man to Send Rainclouds” revolves around the pervasive symbol of rain, which holds great significance for the Pueblo people. The title itself, “The Man to Send Rainclouds,” highlights the importance of rain and nature in their culture. When Leon discovers his grandfather’s body, the symbolism of rain becomes evident as he paints white, green, and blue stripes on Teofilo’s face and asks him, “Send us rain clouds, Grandfather.”

 Rain holds immense importance for the Pueblo people, but the specific reasons are not extensively explained in the story. Father Paul speculates that Leon’s request for holy water might be linked to ensuring a good harvest, but this remains a presumption. Instead of delving into the reasons behind the importance of rain in their burial rites, Silko focuses on Teofilo as the central figure. The story begins and ends with the idea that Teofilo, in his spirit form, has the power to send them significant rain clouds.

Through the character of Leon, Silko articulates rain as a precious gift from his departed grandfather, emphasizing the spiritual connection between the Pueblo people and the natural elements. This portrayal underscores the deep reverence and cultural significance they attach to the gift of rain, viewing it as a symbol of blessings from their ancestors and the spirit world.

 Teofilo himself can be a symbol and representative of the native culture. His death may be interpreted as the breakdown of the culture that he represented and the intrusion of the Western traditions brought in by missionaries like Father Paul.