Bless Me Ultima Dialectical Journal
Bless Me, Ultima Dialectical Journal
Passages from the text and References:
Commentary:
1. “The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth pressed its mystery into my living blood” (1.1).
(P) This thought that Antonio has builds up the possibility that he will later form a deep connection and bond with the earth and nature.
2. “ The war sucks everything dry,” my father said solemnly, “it takes the young boys overseas, and their families move to California where there is work” (3.2).
(C) Antonio’s father Gabriel shares the belief that is found in this time period that abundance and prosperity were to be found in the lush lands of California, such as are emphasized in John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath.
3. “My father’s dream was to gather his sons around him and move westward to the land of the setting sun, to the vineyards of California. But the war had taken his three sons and it had made him bitter” (14.3).
(Q) While Antonio’s father expects him to become a man of the llano and to be a man of the land and Antonio’s mother expects him to become a scholarly priest, which of these dreams, if either, will become reality, and will this result reflect either matriarchy or patriarchy?
4. “A priest could have saved Lupito. Oh why did my mother dream for me to be a priest! How would I ever wash away the stain of blood from the sweet waters of my river!” (23.3).
(R) Antonio’s thoughts reflect the responsibility which he feels to live up to his mother’s expectations, even amidst the struggles of a desensitizing experience as he witnesses Lupito’s death. He displays a high level of maturity and experience as he thinks not just of the horror of the event, but also of the consequences and repercussions of this death.
5. “Today it was all the vivid images of what had happened at the bridge last night. I thought of Chávez, angered by the death of his brother, seeking revenge. I thought of Narciso, standing alone against the
Passages from the text and References:
Commentary:
1. “The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth pressed its mystery into my living blood” (1.1).
(P) This thought that Antonio has builds up the possibility that he will later form a deep connection and bond with the earth and nature.
2. “ The war sucks everything dry,” my father said solemnly, “it takes the young boys overseas, and their families move to California where there is work” (3.2).
(C) Antonio’s father Gabriel shares the belief that is found in this time period that abundance and prosperity were to be found in the lush lands of California, such as are emphasized in John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath.
3. “My father’s dream was to gather his sons around him and move westward to the land of the setting sun, to the vineyards of California. But the war had taken his three sons and it had made him bitter” (14.3).
(Q) While Antonio’s father expects him to become a man of the llano and to be a man of the land and Antonio’s mother expects him to become a scholarly priest, which of these dreams, if either, will become reality, and will this result reflect either matriarchy or patriarchy?
4. “A priest could have saved Lupito. Oh why did my mother dream for me to be a priest! How would I ever wash away the stain of blood from the sweet waters of my river!” (23.3).
(R) Antonio’s thoughts reflect the responsibility which he feels to live up to his mother’s expectations, even amidst the struggles of a desensitizing experience as he witnesses Lupito’s death. He displays a high level of maturity and experience as he thinks not just of the horror of the event, but also of the consequences and repercussions of this death.
5. “Today it was all the vivid images of what had happened at the bridge last night. I thought of Chávez, angered by the death of his brother, seeking revenge. I thought of Narciso, standing alone against the