Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me Ultima

Bless me Ultima is a book that talks about the search for religious footing, family obligations, friendships, malice and revenge. The title speaks religious volumes, as though the persona seeks the favor of the one they are addressing. Ultima is a name with Spanish connotations. The author of the book is Rudolfo Anaya. He was born in New México, whose culture influenced much of his older life. His family moved to Albuquerque, where he attended high school. He got a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and proceeded to acquire two masters’ degrees. Bless Me Ultima was his first book, but he faced difficulty in finding a publisher because most houses only took in English-writing authors. His book was eventually published by Quinto Sol publishing …show more content…
The story is given by Antonia, also referred to as Tony. He is growing up in a community that has a lot of myths that sometimes blur the lines between what is right and wrong. From a child’s perspective, it is difficult to make sense of things when there are two conflicting religions; paganism and Roman Catholicism. It begins when Tony’s parents invite Ultima to live with them. Ultima eventually becomes Tony’s anchor in a world that does not seem to make sense. He witnesses several deaths, causing him to question the authority of people taking other people’s lives. From birth, his parents have struggled to gain control over his destiny, but eventually, Ultima takes charge. Throughout the novel, Antonio’s disillusionment with matters religion is evident. He is quoted as saying, “Take the Illano and the river valley, the moon and the sea, God and the golden carp- and make something new… papa, can a new religion be made?” He tries to merge the different religious aspects within his community, as leaning towards one only creates unnecessary conflict. This conflict seems to arise from the differences in his parents’ beliefs and backgrounds; their families and religions are different. He questions the validity of the rituals that accompany the services of the Catholic Church, which his mother’s values represent. His father and brothers are majorly sensual and more inclined to violence and extreme lawlessness. …show more content…
Spiritual issues are identified as being able to cause distress to people, especially young children who are just beginning to understand the differences between right and wrong. Issues pertaining to morality are believed to be attached to religion. However, it is evident that Antonio, who has no specific religious inclination, has the ability to differentiate between the two, especially after witnessing a murder. Aside from seeking spiritual guidance, Antonio is also trying to find himself in a world where his parents come from two different parts of the world. It gives a question as to how his parents met in the first