Some people believe destiny is a predetermined event that is bound to occur in one’s life while others make choices that shape their own destiny. Just like how life is what one makes it, destiny is molded by one’s choices and what he or she wants to become. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya recounts the journey of Antonio Marez as he faces many obstacles while growing up in order to achieve his destiny. On the same note, Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera shows a young girl named Paikea Apirana struggling to reach her destiny because koro disregards the fact that she has potential to become the leader that he has always wanted. Both Antonio’s and Paikea’s destinies are influenced by their births, mentors, and sacrifice for the people. After studying
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Antonio learns first hand from Ultima by helping her in the llano while she gathers herbs for her medicines. The first time that Ultima came to stay with the Marez family “the beauty of the llano unfolded before [Antonio’s] eyes” and he saw the plain in a new perspective while the “gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the turning earth” creating a beautiful harmony in nature. Antonio also learns the uses of special herbs and how to ask for the plant’s medicine before pulling the roots. Ultima teaches Antonio to respect nature and the magic that it provides to the people. Though Antonio thinks that he has all these dreams from his parents that he must fulfill, “Ultima says that a man’s destiny must unfold itself like a flower, with only the sin and the earth and water making it blossom, and no one else meddling in it --” (Anaya 223). This quote states that as Antonio grows up, his destiny will come naturally to him and he will know what he is meant to be when the right time comes. When Antonio witnessed the death of Florence, he started having terrible nightmares to which Ultima suggested a stay at El Puerto where Antonio will be away from the terrible events that had occurred. Ultima assures Antonio that part of life is the sadness and pain that comes along with it and that Antonio must not give up even in the toughest of times, but rather he should “gather strength to sustain [him]” (Anaya 245). While Antonio gets encouragement from Ultima to do what he believes is right, Paikea learns from koro in a different way. Koro does not believe that Paikea has the potential to be leader because of her gender, however that does not mean that koro hates his granddaughter. Through koro’s teaching, Paikea learned about how the rope symbolizes the strength of the ancestors joined together by “[weaving] together the threads of
Antonio learns first hand from Ultima by helping her in the llano while she gathers herbs for her medicines. The first time that Ultima came to stay with the Marez family “the beauty of the llano unfolded before [Antonio’s] eyes” and he saw the plain in a new perspective while the “gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the turning earth” creating a beautiful harmony in nature. Antonio also learns the uses of special herbs and how to ask for the plant’s medicine before pulling the roots. Ultima teaches Antonio to respect nature and the magic that it provides to the people. Though Antonio thinks that he has all these dreams from his parents that he must fulfill, “Ultima says that a man’s destiny must unfold itself like a flower, with only the sin and the earth and water making it blossom, and no one else meddling in it --” (Anaya 223). This quote states that as Antonio grows up, his destiny will come naturally to him and he will know what he is meant to be when the right time comes. When Antonio witnessed the death of Florence, he started having terrible nightmares to which Ultima suggested a stay at El Puerto where Antonio will be away from the terrible events that had occurred. Ultima assures Antonio that part of life is the sadness and pain that comes along with it and that Antonio must not give up even in the toughest of times, but rather he should “gather strength to sustain [him]” (Anaya 245). While Antonio gets encouragement from Ultima to do what he believes is right, Paikea learns from koro in a different way. Koro does not believe that Paikea has the potential to be leader because of her gender, however that does not mean that koro hates his granddaughter. Through koro’s teaching, Paikea learned about how the rope symbolizes the strength of the ancestors joined together by “[weaving] together the threads of