Bless Me, Ultima

by Rudolfo Anaya

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Bless Me, Ultima Summary

Bless Me, Ultima is a novel by Rudolfo Anaya, which focuses on protagonist Antonio Marez. Over the course of Antonio's childhood, he struggles with his religion, his personal relationships, and his understanding of death.

  • Ultima, Antonio's grandmother, comes to live with his family. Ultima helps Antonio reconcile his respect for his father with his rejection of traditional Mexican masculinity.

  • Antonio does well in school, but struggles with religion. Though he has faith, he can't understand the need for the bureaucracy of the Catholic Church.

  • One of Antonio's friends drowns. Ultima helps him cope with this death, but, in the end, Ultima dies, too.

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Bless Me, Ultima traces the poignant journey of a young boy named Tony as he navigates the complexities of life and faith in his New Mexican village. Guided by Ultima, a wise curandera, Tony witnesses events that challenge his understanding of morality and spirituality. His story unfolds over the course of several years, marked by loss, discovery, and the questions that shape his coming-of-age.

Arrival of Ultima and Early Innocence

The arrival of Ultima, a healer known as a curandera, heralds a new chapter in Tony's life. Living outside the village of Guadalupe, Tony's world is initially untouched by the harsh realities of life. At just six years old, Tony's innocence is abruptly altered when Lupito, a troubled war veteran, takes the life of the town sheriff. Curious and concerned, Tony trails his father to the river, where a group of villagers confronts and ultimately kills Lupito. This traumatic experience becomes the first of many deaths that Tony will come to witness.

Throughout the summer preceding his first year at school, Tony grows close to Ultima, who helps him make sense of his vivid dreams and the conflicting expectations of his family. As summer wanes, Tony's mother and siblings travel to El Puerto to assist with the harvest, leaving his father behind.

The First School Year: Struggles and Growth

As autumn arrives, Tony embarks on his educational journey, carrying his mother's aspiration for him to attain priesthood. Despite his academic prowess and the regard of his teacher, Tony feels alienated from his peers, who eat different foods and speak primarily English. At school, Tony grapples with the concept of “la tristesa de la vida,” the profound sadness that life can bring:

I wanted to run away, to hide, to run and never come back, never see anyone again. But I knew that if I did I would shame my family name, that my mother’s dream would crumble. I knew I had to grow up and be a man, but oh it was so very hard.

Fortunately, Tony finds companionship among boys from Spanish-speaking families, forming a supportive network to help them all face school challenges.

The return of Tony's three brothers from World War II brings a fresh wave of dreams and disputes. Their father, rekindling his yearning for exploration, clashes with their mother’s dreams for stability and farming. Leon and Eugene soon depart, entrusting Tony with the responsibility of fulfilling their mother’s hopes, while Andrew stays behind to complete his schooling.

By the school year's end, Tony, having excelled academically, is promoted from first to third grade. On the last day, his friend Samuel shares a tale about a mystical entity known as the Golden Carp, sparking Tony's curiosity.

A Summer of Revelations

The summer after Tony's inaugural school year is transformative, marked by encounters that challenge his worldview. Cico, a friend of Samuel's, introduces Tony to the Golden Carp, compelling him to question the doctrines of his mother's Christian faith.

A troubling incident unfolds when Tony's Uncle Lucas becomes cursed after witnessing a gathering of three witches, the daughters of Tenorio Trementina, a local bar owner. Although the town priest fails to lift the curse, Ultima steps in to heal Lucas, with Tony assisting in the mystical process, witnessing Ultima's formidable abilities for the first time.

Upon returning home, Tenorio and his cohorts seek vengeance against Ultima, accusing her of causing his daughter's death. Ultima survives the confrontation by walking through a doorway blessed with a cruciform of holy needles. Despite this, Tenorio's hostility remains unquenched, intensified by the priest’s refusal to provide a sanctified burial for his daughter.

Third Grade and Existential Questions

Now in third grade, Tony finds solace in the company of his friends. A snowstorm on the eve of the Christmas holidays leaves only Tony and his peers to perform a chaotic Christmas play for the younger students, resulting in a humorous mishap.

On his way home, Tony witnesses a violent clash between Narciso and Tenorio outside a local tavern. Tenorio, harboring malicious intent towards Ultima, prompts Narciso to seek out Tony's brother Andrew at Rosie’s establishment. Discovering Andrew's presence in "the house of the sinful women," Tony is dismayed. Despite Narciso’s pleas, Andrew dismisses his warnings, leaving Narciso to alert Ultima alone. Tragically, Tenorio intercepts and kills Narciso, while Tony, who had been following, returns home feverish and is nursed back to health by Ultima. A subsequent encounter with Tenorio solidifies his threat towards Ultima.

In the wake of Narciso's murder, Eugene and Leon make a fleeting visit. Andrew joins them as they leave, burdened by guilt over not heeding Narciso’s warning.

Come spring, Tony embarks on catechism classes alongside Florence, a skeptic whose probing questions force Tony to confront his own doubts about God. During a mock confession session with peers, Tony is pressured into assigning penance but stands firm against it, leading to a confrontation. Florence later acknowledges Tony’s integrity, telling him, “You could never be their priest.” On Easter, Tony’s first communion leaves him unfulfilled, as he anticipates divine answers that do not come.

Final Summer and a Loss of Innocence

As school concludes, Tellez, a man cursed by defending Ultima, seeks her help. Accompanied by Tony and his father, Ultima travels to Tellez’s home and successfully removes the curse.

Driven by Florence's search for meaning, Tony and Cico attempt to share the wonder of the Golden Carp with him, only to discover Florence has tragically drowned.

In hopes of providing Tony solace and routine, his family sends him to work on his uncles' farm. Yet, the peace is shattered when Tenorio's second daughter dies, and he targets Ultima's owl, a symbol of her spirit. Tenorio’s malicious act leads to the owl's death and nearly Tony’s, until his uncle intervenes. With the owl’s demise, Ultima’s life is claimed shortly after, leaving Tony to honor her wishes by burying the owl. Reflecting on the profound change, Tony recalls, “That shot destroyed the quiet, moonlit peace of the hill, and it shattered my childhood into a thousand fragments that long ago stopped falling and are now dusty relics gathered in distant memories.”

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