Analysis Of Bless Me Ultima By Rudolfo Anaya

“Understanding come with life. As a man grows he sees life and death, he is happy and sad, and he works, plays, and meets people”, says Rudolfo Anaya, the author of Bless Me Ultima. In the novel, we are first introduced by Antonio to his childhood. Antonios mother is a staunch catholic while his father is the son of a vaquero. His father want him to become a cowboy, however his mother want shim to become a priest. This is when Antonio begins to question his destiny. (insert when Anotnio asks is it possible to be both) In chapter one, Ultima comes to live with the Marez family. Ultima is a curandera, a healer who uses folk remedies. Ultima is more like Antonios mentor. “I felt more attached to Ultima than my own mother,” said Antonio. (123)
She teaches him how to respect nature. In chapter fiour, Ultima and Antonio takes a walk in the llano to look for herbs. As the two walks, Ultima tells him to observe the plants, to touch the plants, and to talk to the plants. She also tells him what each and every plants means and why she uses it. As Antonio gets older, he suffers with many inner turmoils. Catholics believe in the seven sacraments, which parallel the phases of life. These Sacramemts are birth, adolescence, marriage, and preparation for death. Antonio goes questions each of these phases through the novel. Antonio questions his destiny, life and death, good and evil, and his religion. Antonio is only seven years old when he witnesses the death of Lupito, in chapter two, and starts to be concerned about Lupitos soul and his salvation.
He thought that the river was going to be forever stained with Lupitos blood. He did not know if Lupito was going to go to heaven or hell. The boy also witnesses the death of the innocent Narsico. After the deaths he begin to wonder why God was not a forgiving god. He knows the Virgin Guandalupe would forgive Narciso but he did not know if God will. The virgin is the personification of the virtue of faith, devotion, and forgiveness. He questioned why Narsico even had to die and he was so innocent. He also starts to wonder about sin and death. It is all so confusing to him and difficult to understand. Ultimas healing powers helps Antonio not just physically but emotionally. Antonio ran home crying when he seen the death of Lupito and as he ran he heard the owls cry, which right after he hears it loses his fear. In Native American culture the owl is seen as a protector, summoning spirit, or as a reincarnation of the virtuous. The owl sends out warning calls that means that danger is near. It also protects Ultima from Tenorio by blinding him in one eye. Antonio did not understand the meaning of the owl and why it was always around until chapter twenty two when he realizes that the owl is Ultima’s soul. “It is the owl that sends out the spirit of the old witch,” says Tenorio. (256) Tenorio kills the owl Ultima also dies. Samuel introduces Antonio to the legend of the Golden Carp. Antonio begins to wonder if the Golden Carp is his god and if he should believe in it instead of the catechism that his mother believes in. The Golden Carp is a symbol of folklore because it is a fish and fish symbolizes the goodness of Earth and nature. It also symbolizes Christian belief because it is symbolic for the great flood from the Old Testament. This is also a biblical allusion. This is one way that the Christian allusions and
native Mexican folklore dovetail. Florence, who thinks that God have sinned against him adds to the confusion of Antonio’s religion. The priest of the church made him stand in the middle of the church with his hands out which represents crucifixion. When Florence dies he drowns in the river. When Antonios uncle was sick from the curse of Tenorios daughter no one was able to help them not even God. Only Ultima had the power to do so. Antonio was only challenged by the supernatural. Morality equals identity. Although Antonio is confused about the good and the bad he does not let it get the best of him. (Insert where Ultima say Tony is a man of learning). The more he understands that he must make his own choices the more he becomes a man. He believes that his destiny must unfold just like Ultima tells him. As Antonio begins to understand he realizes that there are more than one religions in the world and not everyone believes in the same person. He also realizes that religion changes and it is not a must that he believe in one God. In the next decade there may not even be religion. The relationship between Catholicism and folklore all comes together. Antonio can believe in both if he wants. He may make his own religion and believe his own religious beliefs. “Take the llano and the river valley, the moon and the sea, the God and the Golden Carp- and make something new,” Antonio told himself. (247)