Bless Me Ultima By Rudolfo Anaya

Davian Hart AP Literature
Bless Me Ultima LAP
As a young individual evolves into their further seniority; one is challenged with an avalanche of worldly complications. Everyone handles their particular predicaments differently, however it’s known that no one person can transcend their problems alone. Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a novel that replicates this scenario thoroughly. The supporting character of the novel Ultima proves to be a living guidance to the protagonist Antonio Marez who attempts to overcome his inner conflictions with spiritual and secular thought. Under Ultima’s careful wisdom Antonio’s smokescreen lens at life becomes gradually unblemished.
With every obstacle Antonio faces, Ultima is right there to

This was the event where readers could conclude that Toni lost his innocence. After watching Lupito die he begins to become inquisitive of God on why he would let such a thing occur. Page 23 Did God listen? A priest could have saved Lupito. Oh why did my mother wish for me to be a priest! How would I ever wash away the stain of blood from the sweet waters of my river! This incident marked the first occurrence of Antonio’s religious vs. secular confliction. It’s interesting to evaluate Toni’s psyche here; he blames himself for Lupito’s death even despite the fact that he did nothing wrong. The idea of six year old Antonio losing his innocence cultivates a sense of empathy from the reader. He has numerous questions with no answers and feels that the whole world is closing in on him. Then, minutes later just the hooting of Ultima’s owl brought Toni into an instant feeling of relaxation. Ultima’s spirit bathing Antonio in its strong resolution is the model reason for why Ultima plays such a significant role in not only the growth in Antonio as a person but as well as the wellbeing of his

Initially it’s evident that Antonio is a product of his parents, but how much does Ultima fill that gap in later? The reoccurring theme of Antonio’s transition to manhood is presented, yet his own father didn’t necessarily play the biggest factor in his transition. In a machismo culture, an active father not teaching his son how to be a man might play a factor on a child’s psyche. Ultima marks the rise of all conflict in the Marez household, yet she is the one who indirectly answers all of Antonio’s religious and secular conflictions. She taught Toni many things and one was to be deliberate by waiting for an answer. Teaching him by not answering his questions is like a staircase to higher learning; her giving Toni half of what he wanted to know created mystery and that was a key in the development of Ultima’s role with Antonio. Page 56 “Oh please tell me what my son will be” my mother begged. “He will be a man of learning” Ultima said. This line reference from the novel is so riveting because Ultima says he will be a man of learning; on the contrary Maria (Antonio’s mother) wants Toni to be a priest because preaching is the opposite of learning. Ultima’s statement was backed subsequently when Toni passed from first to third grade due to his academic