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If the reader wanted to, they could simplify the plot of Bless Me, Ultima down to a straightforward story about a boy named Antonio who lives in a house in New Mexico. He meets an old lady with a strange owl, visits a shiny fish in a pond, and unfortunately, is forced to be with several of his closest friends as they die. The reader could be content with this and close the book, put it back on the shelf, and move on to something else, but this would defeat the point of reading. The reader is meant to look beyond the words on the page and consider the deeper meanings of what the author is trying to say. This is true in Bless Me, Ultima, for several aspects of Antonio’s life have much more significance than they seem. Rudolfo Anaya uses the symbols of his castle, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Moon, and the Seas to convey the emotional and spiritual struggles that Antonio faces as he grows up, and shows the deeper meaning behind what is happening in his world.
In Bless Me, Ultima, the castle of Antonio’s dreams represents the life he wants for himself and his family. As its state changes in his dreams, so does his perception of his what is actually happening in reality.
“Father says that the town steals our freedom; he says that we must build a castle across the river, on the lonely hill of the mockingbirds.” (pg. 27)
Rudolfo Anaya uses symbolism at this point in the novel to introduce the concept of this perfect castle that Antonio is dreaming of, and how it parallels his home in real life. Antonio’s actual home quite literally is the castle described in this dream, for it was built by his father and brothers, on the hill across the river where the mockingbirds live. The fact that Antonio dreams of his house as a castle tells the reader a lot about how he sees his house life and what he wants it to be. Especially for children, castles are often thought of as places that are strong, safe, and stable. The fact that Antonio is dreaming of this version of his home shows us what he is hoping his family life will grow into, a place that is strong, safe, and stable. This trend of the castle representing the perfect life that Antonio desires is something that Anaya wants the reader to notice and remains a very prevalent symbol throughout the novel.
“My three brothers were back and our household was complete. My mother cared for them like a mother hen cares for her chicks, even though the hawk of war has flown away. My father was happy and full of life…” (pg. 67)
In this passage, Anaya gives the reader more information on what the castle means to Antonio by explaining the impact of his brothers’ return from war on his family and the atmosphere of their house. The brothers’ homecoming was very important to Antonio because he had always viewed them as strong “giants” who could relieve him of the responsibilities that had been forced on him. He states that they made his household “complete,” thus showing that having a stable home is part of his dream. In this situation, Anaya does a very good job of establishing the connection between Antonio’s dreams and reality, thus giving the reader further insight into what he wants his life to be like, and how his experiences affect his goals.
“The wicked people burned our castle on the hill. My father and mother and my sisters perished in the flames. They killed the owl and made Ultima powerless, then they beheaded her and drank her blood .”
(pg. 183)
Anaya’s use of symbolism in this passage gives the reader insight into Antonio’s fears and insecurities without having to openly state them. This passage occurs just as Antonio’s life begins to spiral out of control. His brothers are leaving, his father is bitter and angry, and he had just watched Narciso die. These events perfectly coincide with the transformation of Antonio’s once safe and happy castle into a pile of rubble This clearly demonstrates the parallels between Antonio’s life and the castle of his dreams, but is also able to show what is going on in his mind at this point in his life. All of the horrible things that happen in his dream reflect the fears that have spawned because of the turmoil in Antonio’s reality. As to be expected from a young child, Antonio is afraid of losing even more of the people closest to him because he doesn’t want to become even more alone and helpless. Antonio is too mature of a character to openly rant about his feelings, but Anaya can use this symbol to express his feelings without having to go against the basic traits of the character.
“I waved goodbye to them with some misgivings. I wondered if I would ever really know my brothers, or would they remain but phantoms of my dreams.” (pg. 194)
Although the castle was not directly referenced, Anaya uses this passage to elaborate on what Antonio is feeling by comparing his internal struggles with those of his “dreams.” Up until this point, the state of the castle had reflected the ups and downs of Antonio’s emotional struggle over what his life was like and what he wanted it to be, but now, his brothers, an integral part of his dream, were leaving for good. Antonio wanted them to stay so they could help him achieve his dream of a stable, happy family, but they decided to live their own lives, not his, and left. Antonio’s allusion to the decaying state of his “dreams” shows the reader that he is starting to realize that his dream has died, and that the people, who were once what fulfilled them, have left him with nothing more than the “phantoms” of memories. Symbolism, or in this case, a reference to a symbol, acts as an outlet with which both the character and reader can come to terms with facts that they struggle to accept when presented bluntly.
Rudolfo Anaya uses symbolism at this point in the novel to introduce the concept of this perfect castle that Antonio is dreaming of, and how it parallels his home in real life. Antonio’s actual home quite literally is the castle described in this dream, for it was built by his father and brothers, on the hill across the river where the mockingbirds live. The fact that Antonio dreams of his house as a castle tells the reader a lot about how he sees his house life and what he wants it to be. Especially for children, castles are often thought of as places that are strong, safe, and stable. The fact that Antonio is dreaming of this version of his home shows us what he is hoping his family life will grow into, a place that is strong, safe, and stable. This trend of the castle representing the perfect life that Antonio desires is something that Anaya wants the reader to notice and remains a very prevalent symbol throughout the novel.
“My three brothers were back and our household was complete. My mother cared for them like a mother hen cares for her chicks, even though the hawk of war has flown away. My father was happy and full of life…” (pg. 67)
In this passage, Anaya gives the reader more information on what the castle means to Antonio by explaining the impact of his brothers’ return from war on his family and the atmosphere of their house. The brothers’ homecoming was very important to Antonio because he had always viewed them as strong “giants” who could relieve him of the responsibilities that had been forced on him. He states that they made his household “complete,” thus showing that having a stable home is part of his dream. In this situation, Anaya does a very good job of establishing the connection between Antonio’s dreams and reality, thus giving the reader further insight into what he wants his life to be like, and how his experiences affect his goals.
“The wicked people burned our castle on the hill. My father and mother and my sisters perished in the flames. They killed the owl and made Ultima powerless, then they beheaded her and drank her blood .”
(pg. 183)
Anaya’s use of symbolism in this passage gives the reader insight into Antonio’s fears and insecurities without having to openly state them. This passage occurs just as Antonio’s life begins to spiral out of control. His brothers are leaving, his father is bitter and angry, and he had just watched Narciso die. These events perfectly coincide with the transformation of Antonio’s once safe and happy castle into a pile of rubble This clearly demonstrates the parallels between Antonio’s life and the castle of his dreams, but is also able to show what is going on in his mind at this point in his life. All of the horrible things that happen in his dream reflect the fears that have spawned because of the turmoil in Antonio’s reality. As to be expected from a young child, Antonio is afraid of losing even more of the people closest to him because he doesn’t want to become even more alone and helpless. Antonio is too mature of a character to openly rant about his feelings, but Anaya can use this symbol to express his feelings without having to go against the basic traits of the character.
“I waved goodbye to them with some misgivings. I wondered if I would ever really know my brothers, or would they remain but phantoms of my dreams.” (pg. 194)
Although the castle was not directly referenced, Anaya uses this passage to elaborate on what Antonio is feeling by comparing his internal struggles with those of his “dreams.” Up until this point, the state of the castle had reflected the ups and downs of Antonio’s emotional struggle over what his life was like and what he wanted it to be, but now, his brothers, an integral part of his dream, were leaving for good. Antonio wanted them to stay so they could help him achieve his dream of a stable, happy family, but they decided to live their own lives, not his, and left. Antonio’s allusion to the decaying state of his “dreams” shows the reader that he is starting to realize that his dream has died, and that the people, who were once what fulfilled them, have left him with nothing more than the “phantoms” of memories. Symbolism, or in this case, a reference to a symbol, acts as an outlet with which both the character and reader can come to terms with facts that they struggle to accept when presented bluntly.
The Virgin of Guadalupe acts as a symbol of the bridge between Antonio’s two cultures, and embodies what he values for himself and his religion.
“La Virgen de Guadalupe was the patron saint of our town. The town was named after her. In my dream I saw Ultima’s owl lift la Virgen on her wide wings and fly her to heaven” (pg. 14).
In this passage, Anaya uses the Virgin of Guadalupe to introduce the two different ideological forces affecting Antonio’s beliefs and alludes to her role as a bridge between these two worlds. Throughout this novel, dreams are often used to provide deeper insight into what characters are feeling and here, they are used to provide insight into what Antonio feels about having to decide what he believes in. The Virgin’s appearance here makes her role in Antonio’s mind very clear. Although she was a major symbol of Catholicism, she was also well known for her role in Mexican culture. In this passage, the Virgin is connecting these two belief systems by being carried by the owl, a spirit of the llano, up to the Catholic promised land of heaven. As a figure viewed kindly by both sides, Anaya is able to use the Virgin to compare and contrast the different forces that are impacting what Antonio believes in and chooses from for his future.
“I loved none as dearly as the Virgin… I was looking at a real person, the mother of God, the last relief of all sinners. God was not always forgiving. He made laws to follow and if you broke them you were punished. The Virgin always forgave.” (pg. 47)
Anaya also uses the Virgin’s secondary meaning to explain to the reader what Antonio values for both himself and his deity. Antonino describes the Virgin as a being that, despite her power, would never look down on her people and would be forgiving to those who have sinned. By stating that he loves the Virgin, Antonio is also saying that he loves what she represents and how she carries herself. He criticizes God for being too harsh on the mortals, and implies that he is “looking” for something or someone that was more forgiving. By seeing the Virgin as what Antonio “loves,” the reader can view her as an embodiment of what values and ideals he shapes his life around, and what wants from a religion.
“The soul was lost, unsafe, unsure, suffering-why couldn’t there be a god who would never punish his people, a god who would be forgiving all of the time? Perhaps the Virgin Mary was such a god? She had forgiven the people who killed her son. She always forgave. Perhaps the best god would be like a woman, because only women really knew how to forgive.” (pg. 14)
During this passage, Anaya uses symbolism to build up to the defining moment in Antonio’s struggle over what morals and beliefs he should shape his life around. This is the culmination of his frustration with people, both mortal and immortal, who are too harsh and critical of those who have made mistakes. By proposing that the Virgin may be “the best god,” Antonio is suggesting that the values she embodies, forgiveness and equality, are the ones that he should shape his life around. Throughout the book, Anaya uses the Virgin to provide insight into what Antonio values, and gives the reader an explanation for how and why he feels how he feels.
In this passage, Anaya uses the Virgin of Guadalupe to introduce the two different ideological forces affecting Antonio’s beliefs and alludes to her role as a bridge between these two worlds. Throughout this novel, dreams are often used to provide deeper insight into what characters are feeling and here, they are used to provide insight into what Antonio feels about having to decide what he believes in. The Virgin’s appearance here makes her role in Antonio’s mind very clear. Although she was a major symbol of Catholicism, she was also well known for her role in Mexican culture. In this passage, the Virgin is connecting these two belief systems by being carried by the owl, a spirit of the llano, up to the Catholic promised land of heaven. As a figure viewed kindly by both sides, Anaya is able to use the Virgin to compare and contrast the different forces that are impacting what Antonio believes in and chooses from for his future.
“I loved none as dearly as the Virgin… I was looking at a real person, the mother of God, the last relief of all sinners. God was not always forgiving. He made laws to follow and if you broke them you were punished. The Virgin always forgave.” (pg. 47)
Anaya also uses the Virgin’s secondary meaning to explain to the reader what Antonio values for both himself and his deity. Antonino describes the Virgin as a being that, despite her power, would never look down on her people and would be forgiving to those who have sinned. By stating that he loves the Virgin, Antonio is also saying that he loves what she represents and how she carries herself. He criticizes God for being too harsh on the mortals, and implies that he is “looking” for something or someone that was more forgiving. By seeing the Virgin as what Antonio “loves,” the reader can view her as an embodiment of what values and ideals he shapes his life around, and what wants from a religion.
“The soul was lost, unsafe, unsure, suffering-why couldn’t there be a god who would never punish his people, a god who would be forgiving all of the time? Perhaps the Virgin Mary was such a god? She had forgiven the people who killed her son. She always forgave. Perhaps the best god would be like a woman, because only women really knew how to forgive.” (pg. 14)
During this passage, Anaya uses symbolism to build up to the defining moment in Antonio’s struggle over what morals and beliefs he should shape his life around. This is the culmination of his frustration with people, both mortal and immortal, who are too harsh and critical of those who have made mistakes. By proposing that the Virgin may be “the best god,” Antonio is suggesting that the values she embodies, forgiveness and equality, are the ones that he should shape his life around. Throughout the book, Anaya uses the Virgin to provide insight into what Antonio values, and gives the reader an explanation for how and why he feels how he feels.
Throughout Bless Me, Ultima, the Moon and the Sea are used as symbols to represent the two heritages, Luna or Marez, that Antonio can pursue as he grows up.
“I learned that the phases of the moon ruled not only the planting but almost every part of their lives. That is why they were the Lunas!” (pg. 264)
Throughout Bless Me, Ultima, there are several references to the different aspects of Antonio’s heritage, and how it will affect his future. This passage explains the path of his mother’s side, the Luna’s, and represents their values and lifestyle by comparing them to the Moon and its connection to the land. Throughout many cultures, the Moon, when represented spiritually, is often portrayed as a calm, peaceful being with a strong connection to the Earth (which we now know is gravity). The Lunas’ name means “moon,” and throughout their history, they have molded their lives to mimic its behavior by living peaceful, stationary lives of farming and religion. This parallel transforms the Moon into an important symbol of the Luna way of life, which is used by Anaya to represent what awaits Antonio if chooses his mother’s path.
“‘He is a Marez,’ the Vaqueros shouted. ‘His forefathers were conquistadores, men as restless as the seas they sailed and as free as the land they conquered.’” (pg. 6)
In the same way that the Moon is used to represented the Luna’s way of life, Anaya uses the Seas to represents Antonio’s father, the Marez’, way of life. In most cultures, the Sea is often portrayed as being wild and reckless, but still beautiful. In Spanish, “mar” means Sea, and like the Sea, the Marez have always lived the wild and exciting life of a vaquero. The behavior of the Sea, when compared to that of the Moon, appear to be stark opposites. This emphasizes the contrast between the two choices that Antonio has to pick from as he grows older. He will have to choose between the life of the Moon (Lunas) or the Sea (Marez). Antonio’s conflict evolves into the main theme of Bless Me, Ultima, which was heavily aided by the contrasting traits of certain symbols in nature.
“Father says the freedom of wild horse is in the Marez blood, and his gaze is always westward. His fathers before him were vaqueros, and so he expects us to be men of the llano…. You are a Luna, they chanted in unison, you are to be a farmer-priest for mother!” (pg. 27-28)
This passage provides further explanation for the meaning of each symbol, the Moon and the Sea, by comparing what they represent and showing how they remain a part of Antonio’s looming decision over how he will live is life. It describes the untamed and wild nature of a Marez vaquero while comparing it to the uniform, religious life of a Luna farmer. Antonio realizes that both of his parents dream of him choosing their respective path, but because it is impossible for him to follow both, he will eventually have to decide which one he will disappoint. This grows into the main theme in the plot of Bless Me, Ultima, which was made much more powerful and open to interpretation due to Anaya’s use of symbolism.
Throughout Bless Me, Ultima, there are several references to the different aspects of Antonio’s heritage, and how it will affect his future. This passage explains the path of his mother’s side, the Luna’s, and represents their values and lifestyle by comparing them to the Moon and its connection to the land. Throughout many cultures, the Moon, when represented spiritually, is often portrayed as a calm, peaceful being with a strong connection to the Earth (which we now know is gravity). The Lunas’ name means “moon,” and throughout their history, they have molded their lives to mimic its behavior by living peaceful, stationary lives of farming and religion. This parallel transforms the Moon into an important symbol of the Luna way of life, which is used by Anaya to represent what awaits Antonio if chooses his mother’s path.
“‘He is a Marez,’ the Vaqueros shouted. ‘His forefathers were conquistadores, men as restless as the seas they sailed and as free as the land they conquered.’” (pg. 6)
In the same way that the Moon is used to represented the Luna’s way of life, Anaya uses the Seas to represents Antonio’s father, the Marez’, way of life. In most cultures, the Sea is often portrayed as being wild and reckless, but still beautiful. In Spanish, “mar” means Sea, and like the Sea, the Marez have always lived the wild and exciting life of a vaquero. The behavior of the Sea, when compared to that of the Moon, appear to be stark opposites. This emphasizes the contrast between the two choices that Antonio has to pick from as he grows older. He will have to choose between the life of the Moon (Lunas) or the Sea (Marez). Antonio’s conflict evolves into the main theme of Bless Me, Ultima, which was heavily aided by the contrasting traits of certain symbols in nature.
“Father says the freedom of wild horse is in the Marez blood, and his gaze is always westward. His fathers before him were vaqueros, and so he expects us to be men of the llano…. You are a Luna, they chanted in unison, you are to be a farmer-priest for mother!” (pg. 27-28)
This passage provides further explanation for the meaning of each symbol, the Moon and the Sea, by comparing what they represent and showing how they remain a part of Antonio’s looming decision over how he will live is life. It describes the untamed and wild nature of a Marez vaquero while comparing it to the uniform, religious life of a Luna farmer. Antonio realizes that both of his parents dream of him choosing their respective path, but because it is impossible for him to follow both, he will eventually have to decide which one he will disappoint. This grows into the main theme in the plot of Bless Me, Ultima, which was made much more powerful and open to interpretation due to Anaya’s use of symbolism.
Symbols can be used to put deeper meaning into what is happening in the world of the characters that we grow so attached to. It gives the author a vehicle with which they can portray the themes and they wish to convey, while still leaving the door open for the reader’s interpretation. Throughout Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya masterfully uses the symbols of the castle, the Virgin, and the Moon and the Sea to represent the internal and external struggles that Antonio is faced with as he grows up. He uses the power of symbolism to give the reader insight into Antonio’s hopes, fears, and feels about the challenges he faces. Without them, this novel would be nothing more than a simple story that doesn’t make the reader think at all. That is why I feel that symbolism, the tool authors use to give readers the power to transform what appears to be normal things, into powerful statements, is what makes literature truly great.