Essay for English

Paul Nguyen
Mr. Ostrovsky
A3 ELA III
1st October, 2013
Bless Me, Ultima Essay
In the novel of Bless Me, Ultima the young protagonist Antonio is pitted against many obstacles. Of the conflicts he encounters, his parents’ were one of the most influential. With the help of Ultima and much guidance, Antonio discovers that he must mediate for the Marez and Lunas.
In the novel, Anaya uses the conflict between the Marez and Lunas to explain the struggle of Antonio and how he copes with them after many years of adapting to the two opposing sides. Most of of the conflict is eternal, in Antonio’s dream, he seeks to understand his blood during a tug-o-war and is told by Ultima during the midst of conflict that he, “has been seeing only parts, she finished, and not looking beyond into the great cycle that binds us all.” (121). Antonio comes to the understanding that he has only simply viewed his mother and father’s contrasting ideas partially. Antonio comes to see that his parents keep each other in check, and so he must choose a path which either does not interfere with them, maintain harmony and balance between the two and ending the feud for good. But even before all of that, many years ago, Antonio began considering his parent’s wishes, yet he could not make a decision as he “stays in bed and listens to their argument” because, “They always quarreled on Sunday morning.” (28). Antonio does not show bias to neither of his parents, because he understands both sides, he indirectly keeps the balance of Lunas and Marez, as he cannot come to the decision, it comes in his dreams. What Antonio does is he remains neutral, no matter how much tension is created from the conflict, he remains neutral, until the day he can make a decision of his own. As Antonio learns, he comes to realize that just like his brother who abandoned his father’s dreams, Antonio would have to do the same for his mother, because he must live his own independent life. Antonio has not made a decision to be a man of learning or a restless one, as he realizes now that they will only work in harmony, there is no need, he must become a person who can maintain this harmony of the cycle as his mentor Ultima taught him. Antonio finally comes into knowledge that the world is wide, he will determine if the fight between the Marez and Lunas will finally be over, that his experiences do not just seclude him to two destinies, but rather he must choose his own based on his beliefs, and not anyone else’s. Antonio began with a deadlock of understanding between his parents, but as time passed, he realizes that the moon and ocean are in harmony, and that his destiny is to not upset that cycle.
Antonio started out only feeling the need to adapt, that in time he would come to realize what his life would bring him to. In some ways that is true but Antonio dealt with these struggles until the coming of Ultima, his destiny maker. At the end of it all, he came to realize that the world as it is, does not need another Marez or Luna, but rather someone to keep the peace.