Summary:
In Storyteller, Leslie Marmon Silko provides us with tales passed down through generations of her Laguna tribe, as told to her by her aunt Susie. As in a game of telephone, these stories have undoubtedly changed over the years.
Storytelling has played a vital role in our personal pasts and our cultural histories. Whether through word of mouth or written language, it is how the world today is connected to the world of yesterday.
Through current literature we are exposed to both forms of communication, allowing us to see the strengths and weaknesses of the two. Oral storytelling allows for the evolution of an account, but often presents only one interpretation. Written storytelling provides a more exact account of a story, but does not easily allow room for growth.
In Storyteller, Leslie Marmon Silko provides us with tales passed down through generations of her Laguna tribe, as told to her by her aunt Susie. As in a game of telephone, these stories have undoubtedly changed over the years. The changes may not have been drastic ones, perhaps only minor to fit the growth of a people, but they have changed nonetheless. They have developed as the children have; they have transformed to fit the times and the needs of the storyteller, and all those listening. This is the strength of oral storytelling, this evolution of history.
However, the fact that an oral account is primarily the interpretation of the storyteller may be considered a weakness. As a story is passed on, every person will hear something a little different. The words can be the same, but it is the interpretation that matters most. As each person understands the story in a different way, so they will pass it on in a different way. This progression may be likened to the concept that a film is the product of its director's point of view. In essence, the director is able to control the way the story will be told. In much the similar fashion, a verbal account is the storyteller's idea of the way the tale should be told.
Written storytelling provides another effective form of communication. In this form, stories are able to be passed on with accuracy not common to the oral tradition. Because the tale is written and very tangible, there is little room for variation in the way the story goes. For example, Homer's The Odyssey is a classic epic poem that will never change. As the tale has been enjoyed by generations since its birth, it has remained true to its intended nature. Although slight variations may have occurred in different translations, the essence of the story has remained solid over the years. It will not be changed to add in more modern concepts or relative ideas. It will remain as it should for many years to come
Yet some may in fact consider the lack of growth in a written account to be a weakness. The printing of a story makes change a hesitant thing, thus leaving no room for evolution. Though the written language may be considered a more accurate record of events and stories, many cultures still rely on and prefer oral interpretations. Indeed, cultures were built around tales passed down through word of mouth, long before writing was an option. Part of the appeal of using oral storytelling is that it will continue to grow and develop as it transcends time and generational gaps.
Both forms of storytelling are widely used and a vital part of our history. While both have their strengths and weaknesses, it is what they represent and the purposes they serve that are most important. They are effective ways of bridging the gaps of time. The stories that are passed on are our past, our present and our future. No matter how they get told, they are the ties that bind us.
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