Bless Me Ultima Self Discovery Essay

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In Anaya’s work Bless Me, Ultima she showcases how religious beliefs can lead to self discovery. Through a series of events one is collided with opposing religions and this leads him to his true identity. Antonio, a devout catholic, begins to question his religious beliefs which leads to self discovery and supports Anaya’s work.
Antonio grew up as a catholic believing in one god. Antonio never questioned God’s power and was truly devoted to him. Anaya proves this by stating, “The power of God is so great”(55). This shows Antonio’s state of mind. Antonio is set on who he wants to believe in and has no question or doubt. Antonio later comes to realize that there are other gods out their. This leads to Antonio questioning God’s power. Anaya shows Antonio’s questioning when he encounter the golden carp, “If the golden caro was a god who was the man on the cross? The Virgin? Was my mother praying to the wrong god?”(81). When Antonio is persuaded that the golden carp is as powerful as God, he begins to question his religious beliefs. This leads Antonio into self discovery and trying to find who he really believes in. …show more content…

He now believes in two different gods, but can’t discover which is more powerful. When a curse is casted among Tellez’s house he assumes that God could get rid of it. However, that was not the case. Anaya shows this with, “So again the power of the priest has failed, I thought. Why can’t the power of God work against evils that beset the family of Tellez” (226). When the priest is unable to cure the cure, Ultima steps in and is able to cure it. Antonio is now at the state of mind that God in not powerful and that other gods are more powerful. He is torn between both religions and finds choosing to be a hard

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