Literary Analysis: "Bless Me Ultima"

The first novel I have decided to do a Literature Analysis on, is Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya.

1. The story revolves around young Antonio Marez. Set in Guadalupe, New Mexico, around the end of WWII. At only the age of seven, Antonio is already learning a great deal about the world around him, but with all this knowledge comes some difficult and tiring questions that he cannot grasp. His father, Gabriel, a cowboy, would like to see his son grow up and follow in the same path that he did, but Antonio's mother, Maria (a devout catholic), would like Antonio to become a priest. Antonio himself has no idea what he want's to do, until a highly regarded healer, Ultima, comes to stay with the family. She teaches Antonio about the earth around him, and answers many of his troubling questions. Her lessons always have the theme of following ones own morals, or "heart", and to not be influenced by others. Through many traumatic events, Antonio is faced with intense self conflict, that affects him not only physically, but mentally by challenging his beliefs he is taught to uphold dearly. After watching Tenorio shoot Ultima's owl, her spiritual guardian, Ultima herself begins to die. She asks Antonio to bury her owl, and he does so in honor of Ultima. In the end we see Antonio has developed the demeanor that Ultima has taught him.

2. A theme that seemed to be most obvious in the novel was, that when it come's down to a decision, you should base it off what your morals tell you, and to not be influenced by anyone else.

3. Anaya seemed to have a very, curious and enticing tone in his writing. Through many passages i found him questioning actions, and writing sentences that kept you reading more and more. For example:

"I could not lie. I knew he would find the lie in my eyes if I did. But maybe there were other gods? Why had the power God failed to cure my uncle?"

"'But you allowed Tenorio to pass judgement on Ultima,' I said, 'and if it had not been for Narciso he would have carried out his judgement. Is that fair?'"

-"You mean i can go out and sin,.....and when i'm about to die I just got to confession and take communion, and i go to heaven?"
-"Yes, i said, if you're sorry that you sinned....."


4. Anaya had very interesting literary elements, as well as techniques, that he used in his writing. He used contemporary diction by using slang term's, he also had vivid and interesting imagery to go along with the actions of his characters, he used direct characterization when describing someone, and most prominent in his writing was his use of symbolism. For example:

Diction: "I'll be sorry! Chingada I will! I can be the worst cabron in the world, and when I'm ninety-nine I can be sorry for being such a culo!..."

Imagery: "We listened to the howl of the cold wind outside and could hear at intervals the bitter bark of a coyote. In the corral the penned animals milled nervously. Evil was in the autumn air."

Characterization: "...i saw him lay there, his dark beard stained with hot blood, he was known in this town as the drunk, but never before had i seen the man..."

Symbolism: The golden carp mentioned in the novel was a perfect example of symbolism. It was said to appear to those who where believers and followed the church earnestly. However, it appeared to both Cico and Antonio, with Cico being a NON believer and Antonio, undecided.