ipl-logo

Summary Of Bless Me Ultima By Roberto Anaya

1210 Words5 Pages

“It is because good is always stronger than evil” (Anaya). The author of Bless Me, Ultima, Roberto Anaya was born October 30, 1937, in Pasturas, New Mexico. The first book this American author wrote was Bless Me, Ultima. “In 2015, he was awarded a National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama” (Rudolfo A. Anaya). He specializes in Chicano Literature, but the novel includes mystery, drama, and tragedy. The work is essential as Chicano literature because it explains, explores, and exposes people to the Chicano culture. Antonio’s exposure to different people’s beliefs creates a religious doubt/conflict. Antonio (Tony) is a seven-year-old boy lives with his family; his father Gabriel Marez, mom Maria Luna, and his two sisters Theresa and …show more content…

According to the dictionary, a Chicano is a person of Mexican origin or descent. In Bless Me, Ultima Chicano culture can be seen through the traditions, expectations, and beliefs of Antonio’s family. For example, his mom is very serious about the Catholic religion and expects the whole family to be apart of it. Another example is the language that is spoken at home by the family is mainly in Spanish which is also the language spoken in Mexico. Lastly, is the importance of family. When uncle Lucas was ill, the Luna family did everything possible to save him from an unfair death. There is no right way to be a Chicano, but there are certain expectations a Chicano must follow. The two main characters throughout the book are Antonio and Ultima (Grande). As a seven-year-old boy, Antonio is respectful, curious, and brave. He is mainly brave because he goes through the tragedy of witnessing a murder, bullying at school, and stress from deciding between his parents' different wishes for him he tries to stay true to himself. The curiosity comes from Ultima’s mystery curing abilities. For example, the only people in the room with the ill uncle Lucas were Ultima and Antonio. He was the only person who observed Ultima performing the ‘miracle’ cure of his uncle Lucas, and he was

Show More
Related
741 Words | 3 Pages

For this book review, I am going to be talking about David Montejano’s book entitled Quixote’s Soldiers, A local history of the Chicano Movement, 1966-1981. The author’s purpose is very well explained and it is not hard to understand. The author clearly tries to explain different ideologies, individuals and organizations located in one of the Southwest’s major cities, San Antonio, Texas, during the late 1960s and early 190s. All these varieties mentioned above made possible that a movement was created called Chicano Movement, a group that David Montejano provides a deeply understanding and description of the movement during the reading of the book. Since, the city was governed by a tough Anglosocial elite that was firmly convinced in the way

Read More
638 Words | 3 Pages

This book took place during the Renaissance. The renaissance were considered to be the cultural rebirth of Europe. The many arts of life were important including, painting and literature. This really shows in the book because it is very focused on painting and art. Juan expresses many times that painting is interesting to him, but never was supposed to do it, due to slavery.

Read More
290 Words | 2 Pages

In the movie "La misma luna," multiple themes are presented. The film revolves around a young boy, Carlitos, trying to travel from Mexico to Los Angeles to find his mother, Rosaria. Two of the main themes that are shown in the movie are courage and determination. Throughout the film, the theme of courage is displayed in multiple instances.

Read More
788 Words | 4 Pages

Bobrow-Strain asks viewers to connect with the cultural subtleties and linguistic variety that are essential to Latino identity by subtly incorporating Spanish into the story. The book is an effective tool for enhancing reader comprehension of the Latino/Latina/Latinx cultural environment. The book highlights the lived realities of Latinx people while providing insight into their real-life hardships and perseverance. Through Aida's story, readers gain a greater understanding of the social, political, and economic elements that affect Latinx people's lives.

Read More
1756 Words | 8 Pages

The hero’s journey is a common theme in many mythological novels that convey the adventures the protagonist experiences as they resolve their conflicts in attempt to become their own savior. As the novels go about the hero’s decisive crisis and victories, the protagonist is often subjected to develop as he grows mentally from learning from his problems. In the novel, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya, the story of Antonio exhibits how coming of age can be difficult. As Antonio grows older, he learns that there are many obstacles he must face and surpass, and to aid him with these challenges is his mentor, the curandera, as she brings about the mythical aspects.

Read More
1955 Words | 8 Pages

In her analysis of the Mexican American epic, Chicana feminist cultural theorist Rosa Linda Fregoso argues that the images of the poem of “Yo Soy Joaquin” portray a “collective” cultural identity that is male-centered. The Chicano identity also does not embody the complete Latino population; rather it focuses on Mexican Americans. Mexicans compose a majority of the Latino population in the United States. However, there are other Latino groups such as Guatemalans, Salvadorians, and Hondurans that have been through similar struggles as Chicanos in the United States. There is a limitation of who can claim the Chicano identity, because certain individuals may not have participated in social activism on behalf of the Mexican-American community or because they may not be Mexican-American.

Read More
102 Words | 1 Pages

Gloria Anzaldúa, in the essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” (1987), claims her experiences as a Chicano taught her that her culture was not looked at highly in comparison to the English language. Anzaldúa argues her view about her Chicano language by giving examples of both cultures Chicano Mexican and American cultures. Anzaldúa’s purpose is to inform her audience on how it is to grow up in a Chicano speaking family. Anzaldúa writes in a frustrating tone throughout the story of her life experiences. Thesis: Anzaldúa use of her personal experiences, and Music, Film and Literature are relevant sufficient and

Read More
1165 Words | 5 Pages

A Lesson on Life Life: a present with an unknown expiration date given to people so that they can gain knowledge and experience. The true definition of life can not be determined by just one person; however, this definition is sufficient enough for the novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. This novel is about a young boy named Antonio (a.k.a. Tony) and his life during the time when Ultima, a curandera, came to stay with his family. During this time, Antonio learns many things about life from the church and school; however, Tony is taught the most about life and its endeavors from the informal lessons of his friends and family.

Read More
938 Words | 4 Pages

The immigrants entering the United States throughout its history have always had a profound effect on American culture. However, the identity of immigrant groups has been fundamentally challenged and shaped as they attempt to integrate into U.S. society. The influx of Mexicans into the United States has become a controversial political issue that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their cultural themes and sense of identity. The film Mi Familia (or My Family) covers the journey and experiences of one Mexican-American (or “Chicano”) family from Mexico as they start a new life in the United States. Throughout the course of the film, the same essential conflicts and themes that epitomize Chicano identity in other works of literature

Read More
1297 Words | 6 Pages

BLESS ME, ULTIMA RUDOLFO ANAYA ARAMI CASTRO PD.3 MR. AMOROSO “If you believe in your dreams, they’ll come true.” Is this true? Now for Antonio in the novel Bless Me, Ultima, has sueños (dreams) about his life and family. His dreams portray a glimpse of what is to come in the near future but still leave Antonio wondering which take the role of him losing his innocence, religious ambivalence and transitioning into manhood.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

In the Hispanic culture men are described as strong, unfaithful, and dominant in order to show their masculinity. However, the main character Oscar Wao masculinity was different from the norm. Oscar Wao was a nerdy kid who was fat and loved comic books and fantasy novels. All of his friends and family will bullied him about his lack of interest in girls,sports,and his body because it was against the stereotype of a real Dominican man. Oscar was expected to

Read More
767 Words | 4 Pages

The main driving point is Bless Me Ultima is Antonio’s coming of age. In the novel, Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya, Antonio is spiritually and religiously tested which leads him to a bildungsroman. Throughout the novel, Antonio encounters religious doubts like the golden carp and spiritual events like the deaths of others. Although Antonio’s purpose in the story is to fulfill his prophecy, along the way he experiences life changing grows more as a spiritual and religious person. Antonio spiritually grows when he experiences the deaths of Lupito and other dear friends.

Read More
1414 Words | 6 Pages

Through Antonio and Ultima, readers identify the creation of a culture that has been forge by war, discrimination, and common hardships. With Ultima being a powerful curandera, the story shows the importance of the female character within Mexican culture. Today, this is prevalent in many Mexican-American households, as the elderly women are held in the highest respect. Another aspect of Mexican-American Culture is masculinity, which is shown in Bless Me, Ultima when Antonio’s father says, “a man of the llano does not run from a fight” (Anaya, 1999, p.37). There are countless examples of Mexican-American masculinity in this novel, like when it mentions that Gabriel’s two eldest sons are fighting in WWII.

Read More
898 Words | 4 Pages

Ultima will always be with him. She knows of Antonio’s struggles. Antonio’s next fight will be within, which religion to choose. Rodolpho Anaya’s tale, Bless Me Ultima, is a tragic tale of one losing their faith. Evident as it is throughout the novel, we witness the deaths of multiple good-hearted people.

Read More
585 Words | 3 Pages

To many people “I am Joaquin” is more than just an epic poem, it is the anthem of the Chicano movement which embodies our peoples struggles and culture. What made the work become the Chicano Movements anthem is the fact that it is a piece that seems to evaluate the Chicanos and their history from the good to the bad. It also seems to emphasize the Chicanos search and struggle for identity starting from the beginning of the Spanish conquest to our modern times. Basically this poem has become such an iconic work because it attempts and succeeds in encompassing as much Chicano history into it and makes no bias choice as it has both positive historical moments and negative, but they all tie back to Chicanos and their history. One of the main aspect that makes “I am Joaquin” an interesting piece of work and an icon for the Chicano movement is how the work seems to

Read More

More about Summary Of Bless Me Ultima By Roberto Anaya

Open Document