Bless Me Ultima Character Analysis

A Mentor's Expedition “You are growing, and growth is change, accept the change, make it a part of your strength” (Anaya 245). The novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a piece that demonstrates chicano literature and tells the story of a young boy named Antonio and the magical healer, Ultima who live in a town full of sin and wickedness, Ultima and Antonio work to assist the people in need while dealing with their own concerns. Ultima acts as mentor figure towards Antonio; she is a wise woman who desires to find the truth and use her wisdom to guide Antonio through his life and give him good advice when he is struggling. Rudolfo Anaya utilizes the archetype of a mentor to describe Ultima, leading Antonio to grow and develop. An example of Ultima being a mentor to Antonio is in chapter cuatro when Ultima is teaching Antonio and guiding him through a process. "...before I dug she made me speak to the plant and tell it why we pulled it from its home in the earth"(Anaya 39). This demonstrates Ultima being a mentor to Antonio by teaching him knowledge that could prove helpful to him in the
In chapter veintidos when Ultima is dying she says, "'Love life, and if despair enters your heart, look for me in the evenings when the wind is gentle and the owls sing in the hills. I shall be with you--"(Anaya 260). When a mentor leaves their student it is because they believe they have been taught as much as could be. Ultima died when Antonio had witnessed several deaths and had learned lessons about helping others, not interfering with man's fate, and to do good not evil. Also in chapter Veintidos Ultima says, "--I accept my death because I accepted to work for life--" (Anaya 260). This is one of Ultima's last teachings and these are the words which she leaves with Antonio to ponder on for the rest of his life. Her teaching is done as she sees he will be able to go on without