Both novels Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories, by Sandra Cisneros and Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya, render the coming of age theme, one in which a young person experiences a change from childhood to adulthood. These life experiences make one mature and can make one question faith, love, life or well-being. In the novel, Bless Me, Ultima, the protagonist, Antonio’s experiences make him question his faith. Comparatively, in the short story Woman Hollering Creek, Cheofilas questions love in the form of marriage. While this questioning leads to the characters’ growth, it all unfolds by way of the literary elements of magical realism; which causes them to reconsider what life truly means.
The path to one’s destiny is a long painstaking one, and is full of unpredictable events and life-devastating problems. In the stories of Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya and Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, the two characters Antonio and Paikea face these certain events. Antonio wonders about being On their journey to destiny, both Antonio and Paikea have been watched over by spiritual advisors, made sacrifices in life, and struggled with problems at birth. In Bless me Ultima, Antonio’s spiritual adviser is Ultima.
A Lesson on Life Life: a present with an unknown expiration date given to people so that they can gain knowledge and experience. The true definition of life can not be determined by just one person; however, this definition is sufficient enough for the novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. This novel is about a young boy named Antonio (a.k.a. Tony) and his life during the time when Ultima, a curandera, came to stay with his family. During this time, Antonio learns many things about life from the church and school; however, Tony is taught the most about life and its endeavors from the informal lessons of his friends and family.
Introduction Paragraph 1 Lead In: Looking at Rudolfo Anaya’s, Bless Me, Ultima, the readers notice a growth in the main protagonist’s mind and spirit. Anaya incorporates both American and Hispanic culture into the novel as a means of relating to Mexican American people that grew up in a relatively similar fashion to the novel. The main character, Antonio, is just a child in the novel, but he must deal with loss, major life decisions, and the questioning of his own God. All this through the span of several years, Antonio experiences the challenges that should have been experienced in a lifetime.
”(123) Having to witness and tend to him at his birth has made their relationship essentially inextricable. Ultima gave him the wisdom he desired and marked his transcendence into a cultivated person. “I knew that if she didn't answer my question that that part of life was not yet ready to reveal itself to me.”(42) As Antonio’s curiosity and faith in Ultima grew his Knowledge through his experiences evolved.
The hero’s journey is a common theme in many mythological novels that convey the adventures the protagonist experiences as they resolve their conflicts in an attempt to become their own savior. As the novels go about the hero’s decisive crisis and victories, the protagonist is often subjected to develop as he grows mentally from learning from his problems. In the novel, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya, the story of Antonio exhibits how coming of age can be difficult. As Antonio grows older, he learns that there are many obstacles he must surpass, and to aid him with these challenges is his mentor, the curandera, as she brings about the mythical aspects.
A person’s childhood affects the outcome of their future because of situations they are put in. The book “My Bloody Life; The Making of a Latin King” written by Reymundo Sanchez was based on a true story that is inspirational and influential to most readers. After reading this story, it would most likely be recommended to young teens who live the same lifestyle because it would benefit them for the better. This book was chosen to critique because the author expressed his knowledge of literature to readers by explaining his theme, using imagery, and
In Bless Me, Ultima, Anaya believes that one’s identity is made from the many aspects of their life, not just one. Anaya shows Antonio’s coming of age with symbolism through both
Lead In: A child will usually grow up hidden away from adult problems, and then learn the way of the world as he or she get older. However, in the novel Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, Antonio Marez, a child who has grown up with the weight of the world on his shoulders, while striving to fulfil his parents’ expectations and also struggling with the loss of many people around him, has learned to mature faster to deal with the problems he has endured in a short life time. For Antonio, his development begins not with his birth or with his first days of school, but with the arrival of Ultima, the curandera who moves in with his family because of old age. It is with Ultima’s arrival that Antonio is first exposed to the magic of the world and
One of the many themes in the novel, Bless me, Ultima is Antonio’s “loss of innocence” throughout the months upon the arrival of Ultima, the curandera. At the beginning of the novel, Antonio is an innocent boy, protected from reality thanks to his age and parents. As the novel progresses, Antonio becomes aware of the bad and the good in life. Antonio’s transition from innocence to experience is shown through particular events.
“I cannot tell you what to believe. . . As you grow into manhood you must find your own truths.” Ultima, an old curandera, explains this to young Antonio Marez as he begs for advice (Anaya 119). Bless Me Ultima is a mystical realism novel in which 6 year old protagonist, Antonio Marez, begins the journey of discovering himself on the path of adolescence. He is influenced by the symbols of the unfolding world around him.
In Bless Me, Ultima, Antonio was conflicted between his father’s wishes of Antonio being a vaquero of the llano and his mother’s wishes for him to be a priest; however, Antonio ultimately decides that he does “not have to be just a Márez, or Luna, perhaps [he] can be both” (Anaya 247). Antonio’s internal conflict of which parent he wanted to please influenced his view of the world by causing him to question his decisions and his motives. Throughout the novel, Antonio realizes that he does not have to do exactly as one of his parents wishes. He believes that he can assert his individuality and allow the Márez and Luna, paternal and maternal respectively, pieces of him to live together in him cohesively. Maya Angelou in “Occupation: Conductorette” also experiences a realization that she does not have to conform to what people tell her she can and cannot do.
It takes time, experiences and lessons until the concept can be grasped. Although it is a simple “who are you?” question, the answer is not given until one can meet their fullest potential and then have it handed to them. Antonio Marez is brought into the novel as the protagonist who seems to have trouble with obtaining the answers he is in search for, concerning his destined future as well his beliefs. Although his parents did not seem to realize it, their conflicting views made it difficult for him to accept either of their frequently expressed belief systems.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that, “envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide.” (370). John Knowles’ A Separate Peace is set during World War I at Devon School, a boarding school for boys. The book centers on Gene Forrester, a student at Devon, who could be described as an intelligent, but jealous, conformist. A Separate Peace illustrates Gene’s envy and imitation of his friend, Finny, and how it affects himself and his relationship with Finny, and also how Gene eventually finds peace.
Literature 1 Michael Arroyo August 28, 2015 4th Period “As Simple As Snow” by Gregory Galloway “As Simple as Snow” is a mystery novel made in 2005 that may confuse people’s minds with all the art, magic, codes, and love while reading. As a teen age boy who wants to find the secrets his girlfriend who left behind all these mysteries after her odd disappearance. It also tells about the lost gothic girl, Anna Cayne, who meets the young high-school aged narrator. Throughout the postcards, a shortwave radio, various CDs, and many other irregular interest.
