Being exposed to different cultures can shape a person’s identity by opening up their perspectives and giving them the awareness of different beliefs and customs. In the novel, Bless Me Ultima, by Rodolfo Anaya, it’s about how Antonio, the main protagonist, explores his spiritual and cultural journey through the guidance of his mentor, Ultima. Antonio learns the difference between good and evil, and his own conscience about his religion. The protagonist, Antonio Marez, is impacted by many cultural conflicts such as his maturation against different events in his life, his willingness to forgive, and his responsibility to be an upstander instead of a bystander. All of these conflicts lead to Antonio’s importance of accepting that all life’s questions …show more content…
Gabriel exclaims toward the men, ““You call me by my name, you walk upon my land! I want to know who speaks!”..Then my father extended his arm and Tenorio went flying.””(130-131 Anaya). As Gabriel protects his family, he becomes a role model and an example towards Antonio. This shows what Antonio should be enacting to protect his values and beliefs. Antonio learns that he should fight for what he wants to achieve and not be a coward like his Uncle. In the end, Antonio requires the knowledge to know when he should stand up for the people he loves and how it impacts his identity when becoming a young man. In conclusion, Antonio is heavily impacted by the internal conflicts he endures during the novel Bless Me Ultima. He contemplates his journey through manhood, and walks through life witnessing death and religious confusion. As he journeys through life’s complexities of growing up too fast, learns the importance of forgiveness, and the value of being an upstander, this is how Antonio evolves and embraces his true presence in the world. All in all, Antonio’s internal experiences are essential for his growth and
Emely Maldonado AP Lit /Period 3 Mr. Amoroso Bless Me, Ultimo By: Rodolfo Anaya The tactile sense of understanding is experiencing, I take her hand, me dice… ¿Que deseas saber tú de la vida? Rudolfo Anaya’s novel Bless Me, Ultima, exploited the Spanish, Mexican and Native American teachings. Amidst it, a child becomes consumed by a world beyond his years. New Mexican culture is established by religion and driven by pure legacy of faith. The Catholicism that New Mexico originated from is guided
encountered by most 6 year old kids are for the most part joyful and fun, but Tony’s childhood was like no other due to the hardships he had to experience at such a young age. Rodolfo Anaya’s “Bless Me, Ultima” is about the development of Tony’s moral independence while dealing with culture and religion as he is introduced to Ultima, a well known “curandera”, who also becomes his confidant, which helps the reader develop a better understanding of Tony’s struggles. One of the main focuses in Freud’s theory
In Rodolfo Anaya 's novel, Bless Me, Ultima the author uses different settings in order to develop Antonio 's sense of good and evil. An example of this would be Rosie 's, the local whorehouse. To Antonio, Rosie 's tempted his brothers and was the cause of their sins. In one of Antonio 's dreams, three figures "silently beckoned" (pg. 65) Antonio into the "house of the sinful women" (pg. 156). Antonio saw his brothers entering and he told Andrew, the last of the three to go in, not
In all the novels provided throughout the history of man are aspects which they must follow. These aspects include characters, symbols, central themes, subthemes etc. Rodolfo Anaya’s novel “Bless Me, Ultima,” is one of the many novels that includes these characteristics. While reading this novel, one is able to put forth the depth and significance of these literary features. The structure of this novel can be divided in two types- internal and external. The external view of the novel can be seen
In the novel, "Bless Me, Ultima," by Rodolfo Anaya, the main character, Antonio Luna Marez, is on a quest to understand all of the issues present in his life, and gain the wisdom necessary to make important decisions regarding his future. It described the hardships of a young child and how these lessons helped him to begin to understand life. There were many characters within the novel I felt aided in the spiritual development of Antonio, but the one that stands out the most is Ultima, who came to