It is common for parents to want what is better for their child, but in order for the child to grow to be a well-rounded and happy person, it is essential for the child to make their own decisions in life. In Bless Me, Ultima, Tony’s life lies on two sides of the river, on the far side are the wild spirited vaqueros who live off the land and have a careless and laid back attitude. On the other side is the Luna family, farmers are portrayed as poised and has a quiet attitude to them. Living in a reality of complete opposites drives Tony to have to choose between the life of the Luna and the life of the Marez. Fortunately for Tony, there is Ultima, a kind spiritual healer and grandmother figure, who has a more spiritual approach towards life
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After young Tony, also known as Antonio, witnesses the murder of Lupito, he is caught between yet another disagreement between his parents and his mother suggested, “Just think the honor it would bring our family to have a priest” (Anaya 31). Maria Luna, is a religious daughter of farmers is someone who has high hopes for her son’s and pray one will become a man of faith, however her eldest has other dreams. Therefore, this explains why she focuses all of her energy onto Antonio, to make up for the failure of her elder sons. For instance, she believes in,“a community of farmers ruled over by a priest, is the right way to live” (Anaya 29). Growing up in El Puerto with her family of farmers and having Tony spend time with them allows Tony to understand the meaning of hard work and to work towards redemption. This idea of living, and the idea of becoming a priest, would supposedly cleanse Tony’s soul and lead him to salvation. Being a devoted Catholic and determined mother, Maria’s dream is to mold Tony into a man of faith. This faith or lack thereof affects Tony greatly after the terrible atrocities that he witnesses.With his mother, it seems to Tony that there is only one path to choose, but other people such as Ultima gives him a middle ground of both Luna and vaquero aspects of
After young Tony, also known as Antonio, witnesses the murder of Lupito, he is caught between yet another disagreement between his parents and his mother suggested, “Just think the honor it would bring our family to have a priest” (Anaya 31). Maria Luna, is a religious daughter of farmers is someone who has high hopes for her son’s and pray one will become a man of faith, however her eldest has other dreams. Therefore, this explains why she focuses all of her energy onto Antonio, to make up for the failure of her elder sons. For instance, she believes in,“a community of farmers ruled over by a priest, is the right way to live” (Anaya 29). Growing up in El Puerto with her family of farmers and having Tony spend time with them allows Tony to understand the meaning of hard work and to work towards redemption. This idea of living, and the idea of becoming a priest, would supposedly cleanse Tony’s soul and lead him to salvation. Being a devoted Catholic and determined mother, Maria’s dream is to mold Tony into a man of faith. This faith or lack thereof affects Tony greatly after the terrible atrocities that he witnesses.With his mother, it seems to Tony that there is only one path to choose, but other people such as Ultima gives him a middle ground of both Luna and vaquero aspects of