Dramatic Elements in American Indian Ceremonials 21 



corned}^ Dr. Matthews described in part, coming at the close of the 

 Ninth Dance, demonstrates this. It does not take a great reach of 

 the imagination to recognize in this scene parts analogous to the 

 roles of Launcelot and Gobbo in the otherwise more or less tragic 

 atmosphere of " The Merchant of Venice." 



GREAT PLAINS RITUAL PERFORMANCES 



From the more developed representations of pueblo peoples — 

 developed, that is, from the standpoint of theatrical technique, 

 especially in regard to scenic effects and recognized impersonations 

 — let us turn to the less highly colored, purely religion-dominated, 

 ceremonial of the great plains tribes. They cannot compete with 

 the pueblo tribes in general standard of living perhaps ; yet for 

 all their cruder wandering, hunting life, in the profound moments 

 of their religious expression, these plains tribes seem to strike an 

 even more genuinely dramatic chord. With them, however, the 

 human audience is of an entirely different sort. Though present 

 at most ceremonials of a tribal nature, the tangible audience is 

 little considered by those performing. With the exception of a 

 privileged few, many of the religious pageants take into account 

 only a divine audience. The resulting element of mystery, how- 

 ever, would seen to hold the more firmly the unquestionably sym- 

 pathetic band of human spectators, so strong is the common bond 

 of tribe and of religion. Be it of distinctly communal or individ- 

 ual purport, so long as a religious performance bears the stamp 

 of tribal interest, this audience is assured. Thus is guaranteed to 

 the great plains performances one of the inalienable essentials of 

 dramatic art. 



In all such ceremonials, symbolic ritual prevails. This is true 

 of the largely communal observances, such as the Hako of the 

 Pawnee; it is likewise true of the individual rites, such as those 

 observed among the Omaha. As will be seen upon investigation, 

 each of these two sets of rituals come close to the soul of man of 

 any race and of any time. Both pertain to the dearest pledge of 

 all mankind — the child, the desire and the hope of the individual 

 as well as of the whole tribe. " The relation of parent to child," 

 Mr. Mooney affirms, " brings out all the highest traits of Indian 



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