Bless Me, Ultima is a beautifully written novel that connects the audience to the characters and paints a wonderful picture, immersing readers into the story. This story is set in the desert plains town of Las Pasturas, New Mexico during the 1940s, around World War II. The main character, Antonio, lives with his mother, father, and two sisters, Deborah and Theresa, in a house in the llano, the open plain. When Antonio is almost seven years old, his mother and father send for the curandera, Ultima, to come and live with them, as she has helped their family throughout the years and they are obligated to give back to her in some way.
The overall setting is rather homely, but still feels a bit lonely, as it is set in a desert. It is implied that …show more content…
These are the personal and relatable things, like the characters' attachment to their beautiful hometown, and the struggle with beliefs that everyone faces in their life. Along with this, he drops in the occasional bit of Spanish, which really creates the feeling that you are there with the characters. He keeps it at a level that English speakers can understand, which makes the writing retain its relatability. He uses all the senses to set the story in a rather nostalgic and fantastic way. Some examples include sight, "Around me the moonlight glittered on the pebbles of the llano, and in the night sky a million stars sparkled.", touch, "I felt hot and uncomfortable under the weight of the jackets.", taste, "I ate the golden carrot. I had never eaten anything sweeter or juicier in my life.", hearing, "The trickle of water in the river bed was quiet, not singing as in the summer.", and smell, "She (Ultima) smelled sweet with incense." All of these pieces provide an inviting setting. They really add to the story, almost in a way that makes it seem like Antonio is recounting his past while the audience is gathered around a fireplace.
Overall, Bless Me, Ultima is an amazing novel that uses unique and descriptive imagery to set a nostalgic story in 1940s New Mexico. The use of Spanish language and vivid depictions of the land helps readers delve into the story and to not just read it from an observant perspective. A realistic setting with magical and fantasy characters and themes draws the audience in and sparks
The overall setting is rather homely, but still feels a bit lonely, as it is set in a desert. It is implied that …show more content…
These are the personal and relatable things, like the characters' attachment to their beautiful hometown, and the struggle with beliefs that everyone faces in their life. Along with this, he drops in the occasional bit of Spanish, which really creates the feeling that you are there with the characters. He keeps it at a level that English speakers can understand, which makes the writing retain its relatability. He uses all the senses to set the story in a rather nostalgic and fantastic way. Some examples include sight, "Around me the moonlight glittered on the pebbles of the llano, and in the night sky a million stars sparkled.", touch, "I felt hot and uncomfortable under the weight of the jackets.", taste, "I ate the golden carrot. I had never eaten anything sweeter or juicier in my life.", hearing, "The trickle of water in the river bed was quiet, not singing as in the summer.", and smell, "She (Ultima) smelled sweet with incense." All of these pieces provide an inviting setting. They really add to the story, almost in a way that makes it seem like Antonio is recounting his past while the audience is gathered around a fireplace.
Overall, Bless Me, Ultima is an amazing novel that uses unique and descriptive imagery to set a nostalgic story in 1940s New Mexico. The use of Spanish language and vivid depictions of the land helps readers delve into the story and to not just read it from an observant perspective. A realistic setting with magical and fantasy characters and themes draws the audience in and sparks