Bless Me Ultima
LAP #1
Prompt #4
Ivan Jimenez
Period 3
AP Literature and Composition
9/25/17
LAP #1 Bless Me Ultima
Prompt 4 Religion is one of the most influential forces in the entire world. It has had a massive role in shaping the mindset of billions of people. No matter what your beliefs are the very institute of religion has affected everyone in a unique way. The large diversity of beliefs is why we have the religiously ambivalent who despite adhering to a single religion often find themselves conflicted and questioning it’s way of thinking. In particular, Bless Me Ultima written by Rudolfo Anaya takes an unprecedented approach to such a sensitive subject. The protagonist Antonio Marez is a child who has grown up in a devout Catholic …show more content…
The man who he saw die was Lupito. Through this, Antonio didn’t turn away from his Catholic teachings. As Narciso spoke he prayed Lupito would listen to his words so he wouldn’t have to die and so the armed men who wanted his life wouldn’t commit mortal sin. Nevertheless Lupito cried hearing Narciso’s words and having what seemed like a death wish shot his gun up in the air and this provoked the men into killing him. As he crawled out the river and the life left his blood stained body Lupito uttered his two last words to Antonio “Bless Me”. Granting him his last wish as Antonio ran from the site he was praying the first of many blessings to come “I had started praying to myself from the moment I heard the first shot, and I never stopped praying until I reached home. Over and over through my mind ran the words of the Act of Contrition.”(Anaya 23). This death was the catalyst for Antonio’s religious ambivalence. Antonio no longer had complete faith in God anymore now he truly began to wonder whether his words meant something and his questioning of God only proves he had doubts on his perfection. It is also revealed that despite him fulfilling Lupito’s dying wish he felt an incredible amount of guilt for what happened. In his own words “Did God listen? Would he hear? Had he seen my father on the bridge? And where was Lupito's soul winging to, or was it washing down the river to …show more content…
Despite being seen as the town drunk the Marez family had always seen him as a friend, especially to Gabriel. Narciso, for the second time, was going to go warn Ultima of the imminent threat that was Tenorio. Tenorio ambushed him on the way to the Marez household. Antonio had pursued him and saw their conflict unfold. Narciso was murdered in cold blood by Tenorio and if he hadn’t run out of bullets Antonio would have experienced death that day as well. As Narciso died and blood poured from his wounds Antonio prayed for him and for the first time in his life heard someone confess their sins to him. Narciso’s death left Antonio emotionally traumatized. Now Antonio tried to avoid interaction as much as possible to hide his frailty but his religious ambivalence was now clear and empowered. Instead of questioning merely what God could observe now Antonio questions God's actions in the face of injustice. This is only strengthened by the fact that Narciso was a good man who had attempted righteousness but whose death was entirely unjustified. It is proven as Antonio thinks to himself “I could not understand why Narciso, who did good in trying to help Ultima, had lost his life; and why Tenorio, who was evil and had taken a life, was free and unpunished. It didn't seem fair. I thought a great deal about God and why he let such things happen.”(Anaya 186). Antonio continues to try and get some closure by questioning divine
LAP #1
Prompt #4
Ivan Jimenez
Period 3
AP Literature and Composition
9/25/17
LAP #1 Bless Me Ultima
Prompt 4 Religion is one of the most influential forces in the entire world. It has had a massive role in shaping the mindset of billions of people. No matter what your beliefs are the very institute of religion has affected everyone in a unique way. The large diversity of beliefs is why we have the religiously ambivalent who despite adhering to a single religion often find themselves conflicted and questioning it’s way of thinking. In particular, Bless Me Ultima written by Rudolfo Anaya takes an unprecedented approach to such a sensitive subject. The protagonist Antonio Marez is a child who has grown up in a devout Catholic …show more content…
The man who he saw die was Lupito. Through this, Antonio didn’t turn away from his Catholic teachings. As Narciso spoke he prayed Lupito would listen to his words so he wouldn’t have to die and so the armed men who wanted his life wouldn’t commit mortal sin. Nevertheless Lupito cried hearing Narciso’s words and having what seemed like a death wish shot his gun up in the air and this provoked the men into killing him. As he crawled out the river and the life left his blood stained body Lupito uttered his two last words to Antonio “Bless Me”. Granting him his last wish as Antonio ran from the site he was praying the first of many blessings to come “I had started praying to myself from the moment I heard the first shot, and I never stopped praying until I reached home. Over and over through my mind ran the words of the Act of Contrition.”(Anaya 23). This death was the catalyst for Antonio’s religious ambivalence. Antonio no longer had complete faith in God anymore now he truly began to wonder whether his words meant something and his questioning of God only proves he had doubts on his perfection. It is also revealed that despite him fulfilling Lupito’s dying wish he felt an incredible amount of guilt for what happened. In his own words “Did God listen? Would he hear? Had he seen my father on the bridge? And where was Lupito's soul winging to, or was it washing down the river to …show more content…
Despite being seen as the town drunk the Marez family had always seen him as a friend, especially to Gabriel. Narciso, for the second time, was going to go warn Ultima of the imminent threat that was Tenorio. Tenorio ambushed him on the way to the Marez household. Antonio had pursued him and saw their conflict unfold. Narciso was murdered in cold blood by Tenorio and if he hadn’t run out of bullets Antonio would have experienced death that day as well. As Narciso died and blood poured from his wounds Antonio prayed for him and for the first time in his life heard someone confess their sins to him. Narciso’s death left Antonio emotionally traumatized. Now Antonio tried to avoid interaction as much as possible to hide his frailty but his religious ambivalence was now clear and empowered. Instead of questioning merely what God could observe now Antonio questions God's actions in the face of injustice. This is only strengthened by the fact that Narciso was a good man who had attempted righteousness but whose death was entirely unjustified. It is proven as Antonio thinks to himself “I could not understand why Narciso, who did good in trying to help Ultima, had lost his life; and why Tenorio, who was evil and had taken a life, was free and unpunished. It didn't seem fair. I thought a great deal about God and why he let such things happen.”(Anaya 186). Antonio continues to try and get some closure by questioning divine