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ritual-of-exclusion
The Ceremony for the Lost is used to symbolically remove individuals like Molly from the community, masking exile or death as a ritual.
1 chapter across 1 book
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang (1976)Kate Wilhelm
Chapter 16
In this chapter, Molly is isolated due to her psychological condition, which alienates her from the communal unit and her sisters. Ben and his brothers debate how to handle her situation, ultimately deciding to seclude her in the old Sumner house under the guise of the Ceremony for the Lost, while Ben intends to study her condition to prevent future occurrences. The chapter explores the tension between individual needs and the community's demands, highlighting the harsh treatment of breeders and the emotional cost of conformity.