Bless Me, Ultima Literary Analysis
tSam Ennis
Period #4
20 September 2012
“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya Literary Analysis
Throughout the context of “Bless Me Ultima,” it is evident that there are many motifs and examples of dichotomy. I believe that Anaya uses the previously mentioned elements of literature in order to provoke his readers’ thinking and help embody a struggle of understanding the world we live in. Motifs in this novel include: family, dreams, religion, education, and the list continues. For examples of dichotomy, the idea of good versus evil is the most vivid in this novel. An important motif in “Bless Me, Ultima” are Antonio’s dreams. His dreams foreshadow major events and make him question his beliefs, especially revolving around religion. The dream that Antonio had subsequently following his witnessing of Tenorio killing Narciso, best shows why Anaya corporates them in his novel. In this dream Antonio’s guilt and young principles take over. Evil, revenge, and sin lead the end of the world as Antonio views it. At the bottom of page 176 it reads, “A new sun to shine its good light upon a new earth.” (Anaya, Page #176). Based on this text and knowledge from reading the book, we can conclude that after the earth has been destroyed and the golden carp swallows all that is good and evil, a new world is produced. Dichotomy is defined as the contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different. What is more contradictory than good and evil? Although these terminologies are very different they are often used in identical context. In the middle of page 260 Ultima says, “With the passing away of Tenorio and myself the meddling will be done with, harmony will be reconstituted.” (Anaya, Page #260). Because Ultima embodies all that is good and Tenorio embodies all that is evil, they express how the two terms lay hand in hand and clash in every possible opportunity. Ultima cannot live while Tenorio is dead because it will throw off the
Period #4
20 September 2012
“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya Literary Analysis
Throughout the context of “Bless Me Ultima,” it is evident that there are many motifs and examples of dichotomy. I believe that Anaya uses the previously mentioned elements of literature in order to provoke his readers’ thinking and help embody a struggle of understanding the world we live in. Motifs in this novel include: family, dreams, religion, education, and the list continues. For examples of dichotomy, the idea of good versus evil is the most vivid in this novel. An important motif in “Bless Me, Ultima” are Antonio’s dreams. His dreams foreshadow major events and make him question his beliefs, especially revolving around religion. The dream that Antonio had subsequently following his witnessing of Tenorio killing Narciso, best shows why Anaya corporates them in his novel. In this dream Antonio’s guilt and young principles take over. Evil, revenge, and sin lead the end of the world as Antonio views it. At the bottom of page 176 it reads, “A new sun to shine its good light upon a new earth.” (Anaya, Page #176). Based on this text and knowledge from reading the book, we can conclude that after the earth has been destroyed and the golden carp swallows all that is good and evil, a new world is produced. Dichotomy is defined as the contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different. What is more contradictory than good and evil? Although these terminologies are very different they are often used in identical context. In the middle of page 260 Ultima says, “With the passing away of Tenorio and myself the meddling will be done with, harmony will be reconstituted.” (Anaya, Page #260). Because Ultima embodies all that is good and Tenorio embodies all that is evil, they express how the two terms lay hand in hand and clash in every possible opportunity. Ultima cannot live while Tenorio is dead because it will throw off the