House Made of Dawn

Momaday bookends House Made of Dawn with a scene in which Abel is running. While the author doesn’t clarify why at the beginning of the novel, Abel is taking part in the race of the dead, a traditional ceremony in which people from Jemez wake up at dawn and run across the vast, empty plains. Throughout the novel, Francisco recalls participating in this ceremony on several occasions. He remembers winning the race and the blissful feeling of breaking through his body’s pain barriers. To Francisco, the race has deep symbolic meaning. He has spent more time learning about the history and culture of his people than most of the novel’s characters, so he understands the ceremonial and spiritual significance of the race. To him, running in the race is a way to continue his people’s traditions and integrate himself into a wider cultural heritage that is in danger of being lost. The symbolism of the race transcends traditional meaning for Francisco; by taking part, he’s helping preserve his culture.

Francisco’s attempts to educate Abel about the race of the dead illustrate the challenge of preserving a culture that the now-dominant white population considers irrelevant and even offensive.