Harry Hansen
Ms. Fredregill
Accelerated English and Language Arts III
9 January 2023
Bless Me Ultima or the Bless of Death
Bless Me Ultima by Rodolpho Anaya is an incredibly violent novel that represents the hypocrisy of the catholic church through death. On numerous occasions with essential characters such as, Lupito, Narciso, and Ultima herself we witness the backwards nature of God, along with the lady of Guadalupe. These characters are all witnessed to horrific fates over the course of a tale, this all followed by the duplicity of heaven itself. Rodolpho Anaya wrote the story to prove the relation between death and God. He proves that when religion cheats death moral questions often follow. Lupito, the town oddball led an intriguing
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always have the strength to live. love life, and if despair enters your heart, look for me in the evenings when the wind is gentle, and the owls sing in the hills. I shall be with you. (Anaya 261)
Ultima reminds Antonio that he has the strength to get through the challenging times. Ultima reminds him that his battle is not going to be fought alone. 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. Those being, Lupito, a mindless person who committed the sin of murder without being in complete control of himself. Narciso, a man who drank and died a hero trying to save Ultima from Tenorio’s wrath. Finally, Ultima, the one with nature, she died from the strength of evil, from a bullet of Tenorio’s gun. All these characters posed questions to Antonio. Why would a good god cause so much pain? Furthermore, why would a good god let Tenorio go to heaven having committed moral sins? Anaya proves to the reader that when religion cheats death moral questions often