Maturation in Bless Me, Ultima Essay - 714 Words

In Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya defends the assertion, â€Å"for in much wisdom there is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow,† from Ecclesiastes. Tony endures many trials throughout the novel, therefore increasing his knowledge of life but also increasing his grief and sorrow. After witnessing Lupito’s death, Tony realizes that people are not always what they appear to be. Tony also begins to question his religion because of trials in the novel, some of which include Lucas’ cure and the sighting of the golden carp. In his trek during the blizzard, Tony learns of his brother’s sinful doings and he witnesses the death of a good man. Tony gains much knowledge in these scenes, but, unfortunately, with this†¦show more content†¦The people in the mob, who Tony knows as typically peaceful people, become violent. They show no mercy towards the war-sick Lupito, who shot the sheriff. Tony is emotionally affected because he believes that his father participated in the act and could have been one of the men on the bridge who shot Lupito. Tony also learns how much sorrow World War II has caused. The families of soldiers are broken because their sons are at war. And now the horrors of the war have claimed two more deaths. Tony begins to question his belief in God after Ultima cures his Uncle Lucas and Tony sees the beauty of the golden carp. Tony witnesses Ultima cure his uncle after the Trementina daughters put a curse on Lucas. Ultima’s special power is the only thing that can heal the ailing man. Not even the Church can reverse the Trementina’s curse. After Ultima’s work is done, Tony questions the power of the Church and God. If they are so powerful, why could they not rid Lucas of the evil in him? Tony questions his religion even more following the sighting of the golden carp. He has never seen God, but he has seen the beauty and splendor of the golden carp. Tonyâ€⠄¢s â€Å"questions and worries evaporate† at the sight of the pagan god. When Tony sees the golden carp, he feels the way he had hoped to feel at his First Communion. The golden carp, not the power behind the Church, is Tony’s idea of a God. Tony gains the most wisdomShow MoreRelated Summary of Bless Me, Ultima Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesSummary of Bless Me, Ultima Bless Me, Ultima is a story about the maturation of a young Mexican-American boy, Antonio M’arez, struggling with many questions about his destiny, life and death, and good and evil. Ultima who comes to live with Antonio becomes his caretaker and his teacher. Antonio learns there are powers in the world that differ from his beliefs in the Catholic faith. Ultima teaches Antonio â€Å"that the tragic consequences of life can be overcome by the magical strength thatRead MoreBless Me, Ultima, By Rudolfo Anaya960 Words   |  4 Pageswhat shape their future, making them evolve both mentally and spiritually. In Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, Antonio’s system of beliefs is greatly influenced by the perception of God that is instilled in him mainly by his mother. His understanding of God is forced to evolve as Antonio goes through many experiences throughout the course of the novel, including the tragedies that befall Narciso, Florence, and Ultima and his exposure t o these characters. God is a being that is characterized byRead MoreCultural, Religious and Language Conflicts in Bless Me, Ultima1732 Words   |  7 PagesCultural, religious and language conflicts in Bless Me, Ultima Bless Me, Ultima, written by Rudolfo Anaya and published in 1972, has become one of the most widely read as well as critically acclaimed novels in the Chicano literature. It is first in the trilogy of novels by Anaya, with Heart of Aztlan (1976) and Tortuga (1979) following it. This novel can be viewed from many angles as well as layers, as it intertwines issues or themes of psychological maturation, social changes, identity crisis and importantlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Bless Me Ultima 1918 Words   |  8 Pagesparticular. Abraham Maslow, a highly celebrated psychologist, has dissected this topic and created a theory of self-actualization where he outlines a pyramid through which one ascends and achieves specific needs until he reaches an actualized state. Bless Me Ultima is a bildungsroman novel where Rudolfo Anaya stresses the way in which Antonio, the protagonist, finds his place in the world and learns about his beliefs as an individual through hardships, love from those close to him, and exposure to new cultures