Literary Analysis: Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Bless Me Ultima Literary Analysis From cover to cover of Bless Me Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya uses dichotomy and motifs to add meaning and complexity to the piece of literature. Dichotomy is the division of two parts, classes, or groups, especially that which is mutually exclusive or opposed by contradiction. On the other hand, motifs are ideas or patterns that are repeated or carried through a specific piece of work. In Bless Me Ultima, Anaya uses dichotomy to show the conflict in Antonio’s live to believe in a certain faith and choose a specific destiny. Anaya uses motifs throughout the paper, such as how Antonio learns and grows in every aspect of him that are reiterated. All through the literature, Antonio has pressure to make a decision about his future, which he knows will cause conflict no matter what his choice. The llano or the town, Catholicism or his own view, or vaquero or priest, Anaya uses dichotomy and Antonio must choose to follow his mother’s ways or his father’s way of life. Understandably, both of Antonio’s parents want the best for their child and try to force him into what he or she believes will be the most promising future for him. His father wants him to become a vaquero on the llano, but his mother wishes for him to become a priest and preach the Catholic faith he has grown up around, yet questions the legitimacy of in the book as he discovers new ways. On page 247, Antonio quotes, "Take the llano and the river valley, the moon and the sea, God and the golden carp-and make something new,' I said to myself.” Antonio is saying that he wants to take everything people want him to be and he has the option to believe in or fulfill, and make his own future as a combination of the whole thing. Whether possible or not, Antonio wants to make everyone around him happy. "Then maybe I do not have to be just Marez, or Luna, perhaps I can be both" (Anaya 247). He wants himself to be happy as well, but he bases his own happiness off of that of the people