christianity, cattle, and night swan

P. 62-63 covers the theme of Christianity as a coercive force of assimilation. By what means does this occur and what feelings does it evoke?

Tayo claims that him and Auntie understood one another very well.  This is a very coercive force of assimilation because it is sort of showing two different cultures or races coming together.  Even though Auntie was ashamed of Tayo being a mixed person, she can still relate to him.  This shows that race isn't everything and that even different people can identify with one another.  

"An old sesitivity had descended in her, surviving thousands of years from the oldest times, when the people shared a single clan name and they told each other who they were; they recounted the actions and words and actions each of their clan had taken, and would take; from before they were born and long after they died, the people shared the same consciousness."  (p. 62)

This passage also shows the assimilation of cultures.  It shows how things have changed but also how they have stayed the same.  The would share ideas with one another.  This is how Auntie and Tayo acted toward one another.  It is obvious that Auntie cares for Tayo but it is also obvious that she is ashamed of him.  Christianity in these circumstances is kind of the same way; accepting of some things but critical of others.

We learn of Josiah’s new cattle business and of the almost wild Mexican cattle he buys. What symbolic associations do the Mexican cattle carry? (Consider breeds and breeding, contrast with Herefords, where they go, and relation to nature, fences etc).

Josiah says that when an animal feels like they are lost, they don't usually live for long time after.  The fences have a big significance to this.  The cattle break out of the fence to be free because they do not want to be stuck in one place and feel that they are imprisoned.  On the other hand, these cattle had no other choice than to roam across the land because there was a major drought and they had no other way to get water or food.  There was no grass to eat or water to drink and the cattle could have died either way but had a better chance to escape and survive on their own.  Josiah read a book to help him care for his cattle but realized that maybe the book doesn't help him because it was written by "white men" that haven't been in the conditions that Josiah was in.  He wanted to raise a different kind of cattle and this symbolizes the differences in cultures.  

We are also introduced to Josiah’s Mexican lover, the Flamenco dancer, Night Swan. What do we find out about her? What significance attaches to her character? What’s with all the blue? How does what she tells Tayo connect with elements that come up in other parts of the novel?

Night Swan is Josiah's "grilfriend."  She is an older lady and is portrayed as being smart and sexy.  She is also a mixed individual like Tayo.  She would dance in Flamenco to attract men when she was a younger girl.  She seduces Tayo.  Night Swan is a character in the story that acts sort f as a teacher.  She teaches him of change and that it is alright to have change in your life.  I believe that what she tells Tayo is foreshadowing the rest of the novel.