The Man to Send Rain Clouds: Contemporary Stories by American Indians

In literature, dramatic irony occurs when a reader understands more about a situation than its characters. Typically, dramatic irony is used to underscore tension and conflict between characters.

In “The Man to Send Rain Clouds,” Silko uses dramatic irony to set the tone for Leon and Father Paul’s relationship. When Silko first introduces Father Paul, he instructs Ken and Leon not to “allow [Teofilo] to stay at the sheep camp alone” (2). In reply, Leon tells Father Paul, “No, he won’t do that any more now” (2). Unlike Father Paul, the reader knows that Teofilo will not be staying at the sheep camp alone anymore because he has passed away. Father Paul, however, is in the dark, and departs after encouraging Leon to bring Teofilo to church. This example of dramatic irony places the reader and Leon on the same page, while Father Paul remains unaware of Teofilo’s death. In this manner, Silko foreshadows the religious conflict between Father Paul and Leon. Through their relationship, she is better able to illustrate the schism between Pueblo customs and Christianity.