Answered

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko's story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds."
His fingers were stiff, and it took him a long time to twist the lid off the holy water. Drops of water fell on the red
blanket and soaked into dark icy spots. He sprinkled the grave and the water disappeared almost before it
touched the dim, cold sand; it reminded him of something-he tried to remember what it was, because he
thought if he could remember he might understand this. He sprinkled more water; he shook the container until it
was empty, and the water fell through the light from sundown like August rain that fell while the sun was still
shining, almost evaporating before it touched the wilted squash flowers.
What inference can be made about Father Paul's motives for going with Leon to sprinkle holy water on Teofilo's grave?
O He hopes that Teofilo's family will allow him to hold a funeral Mass.
He hopes to integrate his beliefs into theirs as much as possible.
He is performing last rites for Teofilo without the knowledge of Teofilo's family.
He is curious about the funeral customs of the Pueblo people.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
In the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko's story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds," it can be inferred that Father Paul's motives for going with Leon to sprinkle holy water on Teofilo's grave are to integrate his beliefs into theirs as much as possible. This can be understood from Father Paul's actions of using holy water to perform a ritual at the grave site of Teofilo, a Pueblo man. By participating in this traditional Pueblo ritual, Father Paul is showing respect for the indigenous beliefs and customs of Teofilo and his family. Father Paul's actions of sprinkling holy water on the grave, despite the water disappearing almost instantly, demonstrate his attempt to bridge the gap between his Christian beliefs and the Pueblo traditions. This indicates a gesture of understanding and acceptance of Teofilo's culture and spiritual practices. Therefore, the inference that Father Paul hopes to integrate his beliefs into theirs as much as possible aligns with his actions in the story and reflects a sense of cultural sensitivity and openness to the customs of the Pueblo people.

Other Questions