How did the death of Lupito affect Antonio?
After he witnesses Lupito's death, Antonio becomes preoccupied with sin, punishment, and the loss of innocence. Antonio's confrontation with ideas of good and evil manifests itself in his use of religion to try to understand the world.
What happened to Lupito in Bless Me, Ultima?
Lupito is shot to death by a mob after he kills the sheriff in a moment of post-traumatic delirium. After seeing Lupito's death, Antonio begins to wonder about sin, death, and hell.
What is the significance of Lupito asking Antonio to bless him before he dies?
Antonio sees his first death, which is a pivotal point in his childhood. The fact that Lupito asks for Antonio's blessing also thrusts the role of "priest" upon his shoulders in a much more sudden and even desperate way than María's fervent dreams for his future do.
Who are the characters in Bless Me, Ultima?
Gabriel MárezAntonio Juan Márez y LunaMaría Luna de MárezNarcisoUltimaBless Me, Ultima/Characters
What are Lupitos last words?
As he crawled out the river and the life left his blood stained body Lupito uttered his two last words to Antonio “Bless Me”.
How did Florence drown?
They arrive at the water where the children swim to find Florence, but the kids are yelling about something being wrong. Florence dived underwater, and he's been down too long. Cico dives down into the water and pulls up poor Florence's drowned body.
What was the plant that Ultima used on Antonio to cure him the night Lupito died?
On their way home they find some manzanilla (chamomile). Ultima tells Antonio of how she treated his brother León when he was born. His mollera (the crown of his head) was sunken in and she cured him with manzanilla.
What does Lupito's death symbolize?
The idea that Lupito's blood was spilled as a result of his sinful actions is now tainting and defiling the purity and sanctity of water could be paralleled to Antonio's innocence defiled and diluted by the horrors he had just witnessed. Arguably, Lupito's death is an unjustified persecution of an ill man.
Who all dies in Bless Me, Ultima?
Antonio witnesses four deaths when all is said and done, but two of them stand apart, because they're murders.
Who kills Tenorio?
Before he can kill Antonio, Pedro shoots Tenorio dead.
How many siblings does Antonio have?
Antonio's Brothers: Andrew, Eugenio, and León.
Why is Ultima called Grande?
Antonio's family calls Ultima "la Grande" because Antonio's mother has high respect for her and it means an old wise woman.
Who is Pedro Luna?
Pedro Luna A brother of María Márez and Lucas Luna. He is Antonio's favorite uncle. He mentors Antonio one summer and kills Tenorio when he tries to shoot Antonio. Prudencio Luna Antonio's maternal grandfather. He is the elderly patriarch of the Lunas.
Who is Eugene Marez?
Eugene "Gene" Márez The third child of Gabriel and María Márez. He also returns from the war and leaves with León to seek their fortune in nearby towns. Deborah Márez The fourth child of Gabriel and María Márez. Deborah has been in school for two years and now speaks only English.
Who is the fifth child in The Last Jedi?
Deborah has been in school for two years and now speaks only English. Theresa Márez The fifth child of Gabriel and María Márez. Theresa is learning English from Deborah. Lupito The World War II veteran who becomes deranged and shoots and kills the sheriff. He is shot and killed in the river near the Márez home.
Who is Antonio's mother?
She mentors Antonio during her final years. María Luna y Márez The mother of Antonio, spouse of Gabriel Márez, and close friend of Ultima. She is a devoutly religious woman with a strong conviction that Antonio should become a priest. She opposes the lifestyle of the cattlemen and seeks the stability and rhythms of farming.
Who is Cico in the movie The Golden Carp?
He is the brother of the Vitamin Kid and one of the magic people. Cico The mysterious friend of Antonio who takes him to the hidden pond where the golden carp lives. He tells Antonio the prophecy of the golden carp and the story of the mermaid at the Hidden Lakes. He is also one of the magic people.
Who is Tenorio Trementina?
Tenorio Trementina The malevolent barkeeper who accuses Ultima of placing curses on his three daughters. He is driven by hatred and revenge. He kills Narciso and Ultima's owl. Samuel A schoolboy friend of Antonio who philosophizes with him and tells him the story about the golden carp.
Who killed Lupito in the head?
The sheriff was sitting and drinking coffee when Lupito walked up and shot him in the head. Chávez wants Gabriel to help him kill Lupito, as Chávez must avenge his brother. Gabriel tries to calm him down but Chávez insists, and they get their rifles and leave.
What does Lupito's death mean?
Lupito's death sets off Antonio's conflict over sin, the fate of the soul after death, and the punishments decreed by religion. Antonio acts as a symbolic priest for the first time here, though he does not yet understand the significance of his prayers. The owl also appears as a symbol of Ultima's comforting presence.
What does Ultima give Antonio?
Antonio enters the house and Ultima greets him gives him some medicine to drink. She tries to soothe his questions about Lupito 's soul, and says he will learn the strange ways of men someday. She washes his cuts with a potion, and Antonio falls asleep.
What does Ultima do in the movie?
Ultima quickly assumes the family's routine, helping with the chores and listening to Gabriel 's frustrated dream of moving to California with his sons and working in the vineyards. Sometimes Gabriel cries when he thinks of how the war and the town have ruined his ambitions. Antonio walks through the llano with Ultima and learns about the beauty ...
What does Antonio do when he hears the song of Ultima's Owl?
Antonio runs away through sharp branches that cut him, repeating the Acts of Contrition – the prayers of a priest for Lupito 's soul. He starts to cry , but is soon comforted when he hears the song of Ultima's owl. He thinks about his family, and the town, and river now stained with blood.
What does Antonio learn from Ultima?
Antonio walks through the llano with Ultima and learns about the beauty of the earth, and the names of herbs and animals, and to no longer fear the presence of river. Ultima's natural role as Antonio's guide begins.
What is the story of La Llorona?
La Llorona is a folktale figure of a woman who killed her children. Sometimes the story goes that she went mad, and often it is told to frighten children into obedience.
What does Ultima teach Antonio about the herbs and roots?
Ultima quickly settles into the family's workday routine but takes sufficient time to teach Antonio about the herbs and roots she uses for her medicines ; she also tells him that his spirit shares in the spirit of all things — including that of the river. Until now, Antonio has been afraid of the soul of the river.
Who is the weeping woman in Farol?
farol a lantern. la llorona the weeping woman; a mythical character alleged to have drowned her children, and not having been allowed into heaven, she is destined to search the river for their souls. Lo mató, lo mató. He killed him, he killed him.
What does Ultima teach Tony?
Ultima understands the philosophy and the morality of the ancient peoples of New Mexico and teaches Tony through example, experience and critical reflection, the universal principles that explain and sustain life. Although she is generally respected in the community, people sometimes misunderstand her power.
What is Ultima's role in the community?
Her role in the community is as mediator.
What does Tenorio do to Ultima?
By the end of the novel Tenorio has figured out the connection between Ultima and her owl. By killing Ultima's owl, Tenorio destroys Ultima's soul and life force, which leads quickly to her death. Antonio takes on the responsibility of burying the owl and realizes that he is really burying Ultima.
Where was Ultima filmed?
The Vortex Theatre in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in partnership with the National Hispanic Center, produced a full stage production of the show from March 26, to April 25, 2010. It was directed by Valli Marie Rivera and again adapted by the author himself. Juanita Sena-Shannon played Ultima to rave reviews.
Who is the most widely read author in Hispanic communities?
The New York Times reports that Anaya is the most widely read author in Hispanic communities, and sales of his classic, Bless Me, Ultima (1972) have surpassed 360,000. After Quinto Sol's initial publication of Bless Me, Ultima in 1972, critics by and large responded enthusiastically.
Who is Linda Varvel?
Linda Varvel is an English teacher who used Bless Me, Ultima for her students. Her essay on the censorship and the provoking aspects of the novel provide an opinion on why the novel caused issues within various school districts. She believes the novel should stay as a beneficial source of education to students. The book may utilize a critical lens of Catholicism, the overall theme of a child coming to terms with the world around him and forming opinions is a valuable story for all children and parents: "The deeper message is one that many readers who would censor this novel must also believe: no one but God is all-powerful, and the mystery of life cannot be known entirely by human beings. This message might be the common ground to initiate any discussion around this kind of censorship challenge".
Who is Tenorio Trementina?
Tenorio Trementina and his three daughters – Tenorio is a malicious saloon -keeper and barber in El Puerto. His three daughters perform a black mass and place a curse on Antonio's uncle Lucas Luna. Tenorio detests Ultima because she lifts the curse on Lucas and soon after she does so, one of Tenorio's daughters dies.
Who is the elderly woman in Ultima?
A kind, elderly curandera (healing-woman) who comes to live with the Márez family. Ultima has strange powers and shares a deep connection with the earth. She befriends Antonio and becomes his mentor and guide. Ultima… read analysis of Ultima
Who is the antagonist in the novel El Puerto?
Tenorio Trementina. The antagonist of the novel, Tenorio owns a saloon in El Puerto. It is implied that he practices witchcraft, and his daughters are brujas (witches). When Ultima turns their own curse against them he vows… read analysis of Tenorio Trementina.
Who is Antonio's father?
Antonio 's father, a former vaquero (cowboy) of the llano. Gabriel prizes freedom above all else, and is often bitter against the town and his wife for taking him from the llano. He drinks whiskey… read analysis of Gabriel Márez
Who killed Narciso in the movie?
He has a special power of making plants grow and is a force of goodness in Antonio 's world, protecting the family and defending Ultima until he is killed by Tenorio .
What does Ultima ask Antonio to do at the end of the book?
At the end of the novel, on her deathbed, Ultima treats Antonio as her spiritual heir, asking him to bury the owl that has symbolized her life force throughout the book. Though Ultima dies, her spirit and her influence will guide Antonio throughout his life. Previous section Antonio Next section Gabriel.
What does Ultima try to instill in Antonio?
Ultima tries to instill in Antonio the same tolerance, independence, and open-mindedness that define her faith and outlook. This view compels Ultima to treat Antonio with understanding and respect, even when he is a small and obedient child.
What is the relationship between Antonio and Ultima?
Antonio’s relationship with Ultima is the most important bond in the novel. Ultima acts as Antonio’s mentor and helps him cope with his anxieties and uncertainties. Ultima claims a spiritual connection to Antonio that manifests its power in Chapter 1, when Antonio dreams of Ultima burying his afterbirth to keep his destiny secret from ...
Does the Catholic Church recognize Ultima?
She understands that life and spirituality can be viewed in many different and equally valid ways. Although the Catholic church does not recognize her mystical powers, Ultima respects the wisdom of the Catholic faith and attends mass regularly.
Overview
Plot summary
Set in the small town of Guadalupe, New Mexico, just after World War II, Antonio Márez y Luna (Tony) tells his story from the memories of his adult self, who reflects on his growing up. The novel opens as the protagonist, Antonio, approaches the age of seven when his family decides to house Ultima, an elderly curandera. Ultima, known as “La Grande” in the Márez household, embodies the wisdom of her ancestors and carries the powers to heal, to confront evil, knowled…
Creation and purpose as an autobiography
Bringing Bless Me, Ultima to fruition took Anaya six years and an additional two years to find a publisher. From 1965 to 1971, Anaya struggled to find his own "voice" as the literary models he knew and had studied at the University of New Mexico (BA English, 1963) did not fit him as a writer. He has also remarked on the unavailability of many authors at that time who could serve as mentors for his life experience as a Chicano. Anaya says that the great breakthrough in finding h…
Historical context
Bless Me, Ultima focuses on a young boy's spiritual transformation amidst cultural and societal changes in the American Southwest during World War II. Anaya's work aims to reflect the uniqueness of the Hispano experience in the context of modernization in New Mexico—a place bearing the memory of European and indigenous cultures in contact spanning nearly half a millennium. The relationship between Anaya's protagonist, Antonio, and his spiritual guide, Ultim…
Literary interpretations
After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the state officially constructed a Mexican national identity policy on the proposition that Mexicans are the product of a creative mixing of Indians and Europeans—that is, about a fusing together of cultures. This doctrine is expressed in official rhetoric, mythology and public ceremonial. In practice, however, the emphasis on culture gets conflated with the biological mixing of races, mestizaje in Spanish. The Revolution's goals includ…
Reception and legacy
As of 2012 , Bless Me, Ultima has become the best-selling Chicano novel of all time. The New York Times reports that Anaya is the most widely read author in Hispanic communities, and sales of his classic, Bless Me, Ultima (1972) have surpassed 360,000.
After Quinto Sol's initial publication of Bless Me, Ultima in 1972, critics by and l…
See also
• Apocalypse
• Bildungsroman
• Book Censorship in the United States
• Bricolage
• Esotericism
External links
• Ecstasy Ecstasy (emotion) retrieved April 9, 2012.
• Bless Me Ultima Themes.[22] retrieved April 1, 2012.
• Jack Komperda.(2008, August 1). Latino culture focus of reading program. Daily Herald,5. [23] Retrieved January 8, 2012, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1616340911).