Bless Me Ultima Gender Analysis
Rachael Journey
Ms. Kollen
Humanities
5/17/11
Gender Roles in Bless Me, Ultima
In Bless Me, Ultima Antonio understands gender as a very black and white issue. Just as he struggles with the ideas of religion, good and evil, death, and nature. Antonio struggles with how gender affects his life, and how he eventually must become a man. The most obvious example of Antonio’s perspective on gender roles comes with his view of the Virgin and God. “God was not always forgiving. He made laws to follow and if you broke them you were punished. The Virgin always forgave…The Virgin was full of a quiet, peaceful love…she was a woman…Her voice was sweet and gentle…” (44). Antonio believes firmly that The Virgin is the most pure form of woman. He prays at her feet every night in his living room. At one point, he …show more content…
His mother is worried, and his father is counting down the days. But no one seems to be giving him much of a choice. He will be educated, he will be a priest, he will be a farmer, he will be a Luna, he will be a Márez… “My man of learning!... My baby will be gone today,” she sobbed. “He will be all right,” Ultima said. “The sons must leave the sides of their mothers,” she said almost sternly and pulled my mother gently.” (53). Antonio is never allowed to be anything but a man of learning. Even in his times of struggle with the issue of becoming a man, Ultima is there to help him. She has no doubt that he will become a good man in time. At one point in the book, Antonio’s mother tells him it is a sin that he become a man, and yet she is also telling him that he must become a man. Her contradicting statements do not help Antonio with this struggle at all. His older brothers are also a bad influence. All they value is booze, money, and women, and they choose to go wander through foreign cities. Antonio sees the effect this has on everyone, and decides early on that he won’t be like
Ms. Kollen
Humanities
5/17/11
Gender Roles in Bless Me, Ultima
In Bless Me, Ultima Antonio understands gender as a very black and white issue. Just as he struggles with the ideas of religion, good and evil, death, and nature. Antonio struggles with how gender affects his life, and how he eventually must become a man. The most obvious example of Antonio’s perspective on gender roles comes with his view of the Virgin and God. “God was not always forgiving. He made laws to follow and if you broke them you were punished. The Virgin always forgave…The Virgin was full of a quiet, peaceful love…she was a woman…Her voice was sweet and gentle…” (44). Antonio believes firmly that The Virgin is the most pure form of woman. He prays at her feet every night in his living room. At one point, he …show more content…
His mother is worried, and his father is counting down the days. But no one seems to be giving him much of a choice. He will be educated, he will be a priest, he will be a farmer, he will be a Luna, he will be a Márez… “My man of learning!... My baby will be gone today,” she sobbed. “He will be all right,” Ultima said. “The sons must leave the sides of their mothers,” she said almost sternly and pulled my mother gently.” (53). Antonio is never allowed to be anything but a man of learning. Even in his times of struggle with the issue of becoming a man, Ultima is there to help him. She has no doubt that he will become a good man in time. At one point in the book, Antonio’s mother tells him it is a sin that he become a man, and yet she is also telling him that he must become a man. Her contradicting statements do not help Antonio with this struggle at all. His older brothers are also a bad influence. All they value is booze, money, and women, and they choose to go wander through foreign cities. Antonio sees the effect this has on everyone, and decides early on that he won’t be like