Bless Me Ultima

abate

become less intense or widespread

Identity

Asks the church and Ultima many questions about life but does not get an answer

6th Dream

Brothers pressure him to enter brothel Andrew promises not to enter until Antonio loses his innocence Foreshadows Antonio loosing innocence

Chavez

father of Antonio's friend Jasón leads mob to find Lupito

solemnly

formal and dignified; serious

beget

give rise to; bring about

irrevocable

incapable of being retracted

The Golden Carp

represents something other Catholicism

dejected

sad and depressed; dispirited

stoic

seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions

blasphemy

the act of offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk

forsake

to abandon or give up on — such as someone who needs you, or an idea, or a place

desecrated

treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate

empathetically

without question and beyond doubt

Importance of Nature

Luna & Marez - Moon & Sea cannot exist without one another; balance each other. Shows circle of life. When Ultima died she said her should would be found in nature.

Antonio

Main character Telling his story 6 or 7 year old boy Struggling to find his beliefs and identity

Family

Many members of Antonio's family seek to define his future

The Uncles - Pedro and Lucas

Maria's brothers put pressure on Tony to become farmer or priest

melee

a noisy riotous fight

subside

become less violent, go down to a lower or normal level, cave in, or reduce until gone

transfixed

cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment

8th Dream

Foreshadows Ultima's death

Dreams

symbolize antonio's future and internal conflict

admonish

warn or reprimand someone firmly

3rd Dream

3 brothers were vaqueros and told Antonio he was a luna and must stay with their mom and become a priest Shows loss of innocence Everyone is leaving-upsets mom

Florence

Antonio's good friend Doesn't believe in God but attends catechism Drowns and dies Shows Antonio that the Catholic Church is not perfect and that religion can fail

Lupito

A war veteran Killed the local sheriff Makes Antonio have religious and moral questioning Mob at the bridge kills him

'"We just can't", he grimaced. "I don't know, maybe it's because the war made men out of us too fast, maybe it's because their dreams were never real to begin with-I guess if anyone is going to fit into their dreams it's going to have to be you, Tony. Just don't grow up too fast," he added.'

Andrew speaking growing up, loss of innocence

Deborah and Teresa

Antonio's sisters Young and speak a lot of English

"I was growing up and becoming a man and suddenly I realized that I could make decisions."

Antonio growing up, loss of innocence

"And I was happy with Ultima. We walked together in the llano and along the river banks to gather herbs and roots for her medicines. She taught me the names of plants and flowers, of trees and bushes, of birds and animals; but most important. I learned from her that there was a beauty in the time of day and in the time of night, and that there was peace in the river and in the hills. She taught me to listen to the mystery of the groaning earth and to feel complete in the fulfillment of its time. My soul grew under her careful guidance. I had been afraid of the awful presence of the river, which was the soul of the river, but through her I learned that my spirit shared in the spirit of all things."

Antonio speaking Characterization of Antonio and Ultima interconnectedness of all things

"My mother said the Marez clan was full of freethinkers, which was a blasphemy to her, but my father only laughed"

Antonio speaking Culture clash/duality

"Oh please tell me which is the water that runs though my veins"

Antonio speaking Finding identity

"They could not understand the power of Ultima. But she had walked through the door, and so the power of la curandera was good."

Antonio speaking Good outweighs evil

"Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and when his huge hand moved from his chest I saw that he had been clutching the wound from the bullet"

Antonio speaking Loss of innocence

"But Tenorio was beaten. The entire village was witness to the excommunication. The priest's refusal meant the church was taking its stand and that the evil ways of the Trementinas were known to all."

Antonio speaking Presence of karma

"I could not lie. I knew he would find the lie in my eyes if I did. But maybe there were other gods? Why had the power of God failed to cure my uncle?"

Antonio speaking Religion, god failed, finding identity

"UItima came to stay with us the summer I was almost seven. When she came the beauty of the llano unfolded before my eyes, and the gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the turning earth. The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth pressed its mystery into my living blood. She took my hand, and the silent, magic powers she possessed made beauty from the raw, sunbaked llano, the green river valley, and the blue bowl which was the white sun's home. My bare feet felt the throbbing earth and my body trembled with excitement. Time stood still, and it shared with me all that had been, and all that was to come...."

Antonio speaking Sets up novel flashback, setting harmony with nature

"Will God forgive his sin and be with him?"

Antonio speaking Worried his dad shot Lupito and committed sin Religion

"Leon had shown the sickness most."

Antonio speaking effects of war

"Jason had said there were secrets in the letters. What did he mean?"

Antonio speaking growing up/becoming a man of learning

"I wished for my mother, but I put away the thought because I knew I was expected to become a man"

Antonio speaking growing up/maturing

Gabriel

Antonio's Father Marez blood Wants Antonio to follow tradition of becoming a cowboy Not religious, drunk

Maria

Antonio's Mother Luna blood Puts pressure on Antonio to become a priest

1st Dream

Antonio's birth Unknown figure aiding birth later identified as Ultima Initial conflict between mom and dad is brought up

Eugene and Leon

Antonio's brothers Came back from war Exemplify war sickness Wanderer, Impatient

Andrew

Antonio's closest brother Came back from war Provides guidance for Antonio Becomes more like a marez (sinner and adventurous)

Abel, Bones, Ernie, Horse, Lloyd, Red, and the Vitamin Kid

Antonio's friends

Ultima

Curandera that stays with Marez family Provides emotional and spiritual support to family but mostly Antonio

Teneorio

Evil man of the town Father of 3 witches Saloon Keeper Out to get Ultima Kills Narciso Killed by Uncle Pedro

Coming of Age

Loss of innocence. Antonio witnesses 3 deaths and Ultima's guidance helped him mature

4th Dream

Mothers dream of Antonio Mother asking Virgin to return her sons from war and make Tony a priest Virgin mourning 4th son- foreshadows he doesn't become a priest

"You all know Lupito. You know that the war made him sick-"

Narciso speaking effects of war

Cico

One of Antonio's close friends Shows Antonio the Golden Carp Brings question to Antonio about multiple Gods

Samuel

One of Antonio's closer friends Vitamin Kid's brother First to tell Antonio about Cico and Golden Carp

7th Dream

Parents arguing about his future Antonio asks what blood runs through veins

"The war is terrible, the wars have always been terrible. They take the boys away from the fields and orchards where they should be, they give them guns and tell them to kill each other. It is against the will of God"

Prudencio speaking effects of war

"my Antonio, she smiled, we who were baptized in the water of the moon which was made holy by our Holy Mother the Church are saved. Lies! my father shouted, Antonio was not baptized in the holy water of the moon, but in the salt water of the sea!"

Starts of Maria speaking then Gabriel Culture clash/Duality

It is the blood of the Lunas to be quiet, for only a quiet man can learn the secrets of the earth that are necessary for planting - They are quiet like the moon - And it is the blood of the Márez to be wild, like the ocean from which they take their name, and the spaces of the llano that have become their home. I waited, then said. 'Now we have come to live near the river, and yet near the llano. I love them both, and yet I am of neither. I wonder which life I will choose?'"

Starts with Ultima speaking then Antonio culture clash/duality, finding identity

Ultima's Owl

Symbolizes her soul and offers comfort to Antonio through its presence and singing

5th Dream

Tony dreams of his brothers returning from war and asks for help Foreshadows brothers return from war and andrew's guidance

Narciso

Town drunk Friends with Gabriel Killed because he supports Ultima

Good vs. Evil

Ultima said good will always outpour evil. thats why she could heal uncle Lucas

"You have done evil," she sang, "But good is stronger than evil", "And what you sought to do will undo you..."

Ultima speaking Good outweighs evil

2nd Dream

Ultima's owl La Virgin de Guadalupe- saint of town Ultima's owl lifted la virgin to heaven

River/Water

symbolizes Antonio's last name, and an aspect of his personality (MARez = sea in Spanish) also symbolizes a freedom or escape from that religious control.

The Virgin of Guadalupe

symbolizes forgiveness, understanding, and the resolution of cultural conflict

Religion

symbolizes identity and finding yourself. Antonio realized there was multiple gods and started question himself and what god he believed in

War

symbolizes loss of innocence and evil. brothers came back and wanted to leave again because it showed them freedom.

contrivance

the use of skill to bring something about or create something