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Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Counting the Crosses:
In Section 2, Tayo reflects on his relationship with Auntie, Rocky's mother. Auntie takes care of Tayo in the wake of his release from the veteran's hospital. This kindness is unfortunately tinged with derision, as Tayo acknowledges the situational irony of Auntie's caretaking:
[Auntie] had always watched [Tayo] more closely than Rocky, because Rocky had been her own son and it had been her duty to raise him. Those who measured life by counting the crosses would not count her sacrifices for Rocky the way they counted her sacrifices for her dead sister’s half-breed child.
One might expect Auntie to look after her own son, Rocky, with more care than she would attend to her nephew. Ironically, Auntie "always watched [Tayo] more closely than Rocky," not because she cared more for Tayo or didn't care for Rocky, but because of the social capital she could acquire through charity by taking her "poor" nephew under her wing.
Silko's critique of Auntie in this passage extends beyond one character, serving as a general condemnation of Christian hypocrisy and misplaced righteousness. Her motivations are askew, centered on her own benefit rather than the core principle of loving one's neighbor (or nephew) as oneself. Auntie's charity is selfish, hence Tayo and Silko's critique of her "care."
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