Bless Me Ultima Analysis

It is human nature to be fascinated by the concept of life and concerned of death. Almost everyone has thought about their life and if they have lived it satisfactory enough to rest in peace. In Rudolfo Anaya’s novel, Bless, Me Ultima, Anaya uses the motif of death to develop the main character, Antonio. The passing of characters takes a toll on young Antonio, but also makes him aware that life needs to be savored and lived to it’s fullest. The deaths of Lupito, Ultima's owl, and Ultima assist Antonio in fully understanding and appreciating life which ultimately makes him grow as a character. One Saturday night, Jason’s father, Chavez, came running into Antonio’s house asking for his father's help because his brother had been murdered by Lupito. It had been said that the war made him crazy and because of that he murdered Chavez’s brother in cold blood. When Chavez, Antonio’s father, and other men from the town went to hunt down Lupito, Antonio snuck out and went to see the men find Lupito. While Antonio was watching the men hunt down Lupito, he witnessed them shoot him multiple time which resulted in his death. When Antonio saw the men kill Lupito he worried about his soul, and how his actions before his death would contribute to
He then has a vision of Tenorio, a drunk saloon and barber, killing Ultima by murdering her “night-spirit.” These dreams truly start to affect Antonio and Ultima suggests he go to work with his uncles in El Puerto because they can teach him about growing life and also appreciating it. On his way there, Antonio asks his father, “can a new religion be made.(Anaya, 460)” When asking this, it signifies he is trying to break free of all the opposing forces around him, and grow as a