depending on whether it occurs within a complete system or in isolation, whether it is performed at one occasion or another. However, all rites which include the act of cutting, on the one hand, and of tying, on the other, hardly present material for discussion. The author explains circumcision as a rite of separation. According to him, in the rites of incorporation there is widespread use of the “sacred bond”, the “sacred cord”, the knot and of analogous forms such as the belt, the ring, the bracelet, and crown. These are common in the rites of marriage and enthronement. In chapter ten of this work which tries to conclude the ideas brought up in this work. After this research about ceremonies, we have seen that an individual is placed in various sections of society, synchronically in succession; in other to pass from one category to another to join individuals in sections, he or she must submit, from the day of his or her birth to that of his/her death to ceremonies whose forms often vary but whose function is similar.

My critique of this book is that it does a very fine job explaining the different forms and degrees of rites of passage. I personally did not know very much about rites of passage and had a misconception that they were feats that had to be done to prove worthiness. Now knowing what I know about rites of passage, I understand that it is much more complex than just that. I did not know many of these things were considered rites of passage, such as funerals and childbirth. I feel like the author did a very good job of explaining the different categories that rites are divided into and explaining the distinctions between them. The background of Van Gennep is that he was an ethnographer, meaning he studied people and culture. Knowing this information explains how he was able to know so much about the different rites of different cultures. He spent a long time studying these various rites, and it paid off considering that The Rites of Passage is considered his best work. I agree with most of his ceremonies listed as rites of passage, as they do celebrate the transition between two “worlds.” Some of them however I personally do not find to be as symbolic, such as a girl’s marrying age, or a child’s first bath, haircut, tooth, etc. Understanding the meaning behind rites of passage, it makes sense, but in my opinion I just don’t feel that they are symbolic enough to be considered a rite of passage. In general, Van Gennep’s Rites of Passage, is very influential, and I can see how it influenced many other writers such as Joseph Campbell. This book was very educational, and also very interesting, as learning about the different types of rites observed in different cultures was very interesting. We as Americans already know that diversity is everywhere, and no two cultures are the same, so s