Character Analysis: Bless Me Ultima

1. A curandera, “is a healer in the tradition of native New Mexican healers” (pg.x). Curanderas use ancient methods learned by the Native Americans in order to heal people and help them. One of the main characters in the story “Bless me Ultima” acts as a curandera; her name is Ultima. Ultimas role in the pueblo communities of New Mexico was to basically be the doctor that the people didn 't have. Curanderas made people teas, cured broken bones, mixed medicines, and healed illnesses, but Curanderas were most known for “bringing harmony to the fragmented soul.”
2. As Antonio tells the story, he tries to make sense of the conflicts he encounters by relating them to his religion. Antonio 's mother always tells him about the future as a priest so he grows up being a “Luna,” on his mom 's side. His father and his …show more content…
There are many cases of dichotomy in the story “Bless Me Ultima.” Antonio first experienced this at school. At school, all of the kids spoke English; he grew up speaking Spanish. He became intimidated because he had to learn a whole new language with kids hat he had never met before. He succeeded at school with hard work and this was his first case of dichotomy. Another case of dichotomy is antonios lifestyle. His mother is a “Luna” and her family is devoted to Christ and peaceful farming. His Mother always makes comments such as, “if only he could become a priest,” to show just how much she wants her son to be a priest (pg.31). His father, on the other hand, grew up from a family that were known to be “Vaqueros.” These people believe in the God of the land and harsh live. These are two cases of dichotomy. First, Antonio must either choose to live life as a priest or as a vaquero; Second he must choose whether he believes in God or that he land is his God. These are factors that truly impact Antonio’s identity. These are two completely different life styles that would affect his future greatly… He would either have a peaceful life or one of the cow