After he witnesses Lupito's death, Antonio becomes preoccupied with sin, punishment, and the loss of innocence . ... Furthermore, Lupito forces Antonio to take the figurative role of priest when Lupito asks Antonio for a blessing.
How does Florence death affect Tony?
Florence's death stands as the event that will lead to Antonio's final transformation from boy to man because it's Florence's death that makes Antonio eager to leave for his uncle's place in the summer, and that separation from his parents and immediate family force him to do a bit of growing up on his own.
How does Ultima's death affect Antonio?
Her death and Tenorio's death are simply the restoration of the original harmony. She tells Antonio that he must burn all of her possessions at sunrise . ... Before she dies, Ultima blesses Antonio “in the name of all that is good and strong and beautiful.” He goes and buries the owl.
How does the community react to Narcisos death?
Narciso's death goes unpunished by the townspeople , and Antonio becomes aware that social perceptions often determine justice. Because Narciso was a drunkard, the townspeople didn't care much about his death. Antonio, on the other hand, saw him as a good man and as one of the magic people.
How does the river affect Tony?
how does the presence of the river affect antonio? it was about the virgin of guadalupe dressed in all black for a mourning for Antonio. The black could be for him not becoming his priest or for his freedom . they want him to become a priest but they are also afraid.
What are Lupitos last words?
As he crawled out the river and the life left his blood stained body Lupito uttered his two last words to Antonio “Bless Me” .
What is Tony's reaction to his first communion?
Deeply immersed in his catechism lessons, Antonio yearns for solid answers, for ultimate knowledge, and for direct, one-on-one communication with God. He feels certain that once he has taken communion, he will hear God's voice, speaking to him , unraveling the multitude of mysteries that confound him.
Why did Ultima accept her death?
Ultima tells him that her owl is not dead; it is simply flying to a new place, just like she herself is getting ready to do. ... She accepts death because she accepted working for life.
What does Ultima give to Tony and why?
Ultima won't let Antonio touch them, and she warns him to be careful if he sees Tenorio Trementina. She gives Antonio her scapular necklace with protective herbs in it to keep him safe.
What is Tony afraid of Bless Me Ultima?
As a child, Antonio's fear of the llano represents his dependence on his family and his youth. Later, Ultima helps him appreciate the natural beauty of the wide plains that his father loves so much.
Who dies in Bless Me Ultima Chapter 21?
Cico dives down into the water and pulls up poor Florence's drowned body. This is the third death that Antonio has witnessed in person. That's quite a lot of death for a tiny tyke like him. Still, with all the foreshadowing going on, it's a good bet he'll see at least one more person die before it's all said and done.
How old is Antonio in Bless Me Ultima?
The precocious protagonist of Bless Me, Ultima, Antonio is six years old at the beginning of the novel. Antonio is serious, thoughtful, and prone to moral questioning, and his experiences force him to confront difficult issues that blur the lines between right and wrong.
What did Antonio discover about Narciso?
What did Antonio discover about Narciso? Narciso has a garden and drinks his problems away. Antonio described his mother's definition of learning to sin.
What is Tony afraid of at the end of Chapter 4?
Ultima discusses the “ presence of the river ” with Antonio. Antonio has always been afraid of this presence, but Ultima tells him if he listens, he can understand and speak to the presence. So we can check plant whispering and river whispering off our list of skills.
Why does the family first stop at the grandfather's house?
Antonio's grandfather's house is the largest in the village. They stop at his house first although they will later go to stay with Juan because it is his turn to have María's family visit his . She warns the children to mind their manners in front of their grandfather.
What does Antonio's dream symbolize?
Dreams. ... This gradual transformation, traced in dreams, reflects Antonio's growth from childhood to maturity . His dreams also offer him a rich and variable set of images and symbols with which to understand his own life.
What happened to Lupito to make him ill?
Lupito, who's “war sick” and raving about Japanese soldiers, makes his way along the river as the men search for him . Antonio comes face-to-face with Lupito. And that's when the men open fire and kill Lupito.
What is disappointing to Antonio about his first Holy Communion?
When Antonio receives his First Holy Communion, and his questions are not answered, he is extremely disappointed: “ After Easter I went to confession every Saturday and on Sunday morning I took communion, but I was not satisfied.
What crime has Lupito committed?
Lupito Montanez appeals his conviction on one count of capital murder and one count of attempted capital murder . The charges stem from a drive-by shooting in which a three year old was killed and two adults injured.
Who dies first in Bless Me Ultima?
When Lupito dies in front of him, Antonio almost immediately questions, “Did God listen? Would he hear? [...] And where was Lupito's soul winging to” (2.320-321). This is the first time Antonio truly starts to question God's presence, as well as the fate of one's soul.
How does Ultima break the curse?
Ultima asks Gabriel to place three bundles on the platform and set it all on fire. Gabriel informs Antonio that his father once told him that the Comanche burned their dead on platforms like this. When the platform is burned completely, Ultima declares that the curse is lifted.
What does Florence believe about sin?
When the children try to force Florence to play along, Florence states that he has no sins because God has sinned against him . The children shrink in horror and suggest beating, stoning, or killing him for his blasphemy. Antonio shouts that he absolves Florence of all his sins.
What is the last thing Antonio asks of Ultima?
The two share their last conversation together. Ultima asks Antonio to bury the owl under the forked Juniper tree. Antonio says, “ Bless me, Ultima ” (22.656), and she blesses him and his life to come. She tells him that if he despairs he should look for her, because she will be with him.
Was Ultima a witch?
In the novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, one of the main characters, Ultima is accused many times of being a witch . Ultima is a curandera who uses herbs and medicines to cure people. ... Although many people think she is a witch, her use of herbs, medicines, and scapulars show that she is merely just a curandera.
Is Bless Me Ultima a true story?
The bemused visitor was Rudolfo Anaya, author of the quintessential novel of New Mexico magical realism: Bless Me, Ultima. ... It draws from real events in Anaya's life , and from New Mexico cuentos (folktales) that are rich in witchcraft, animals, and magic.
Was Narciso's death an accident?
Narciso's death is declared an accident by the coroner . When Andrew enters Antonio's sickroom, he seems uncomfortable. After he leaves, Ultima assures Antonio that he didn't reveal Andrew's secret in his delirium. María likes to hear Antonio read prayers in both English and Spanish.
What does Ultima keep in her little black bag?
When he wakes, he vomits green bile. Ultima catches it in rags that she stores in a bag. Afterward, Antonio is able to keep down some atole, a gruel made of corn meal.
How does Tony feel about La Virgen de Guadalupe?
Antomo's thoughts about la Virgen de Guadalupe reveal his preoccupation with punishment and forgiveness . For Antonio, God is a punishing, vengeful god, while la Virgen is forgiving. ... Antonio is concerned with the loss of innocence, the guilt that comes with sin, and his fear of death and the punishment of hell.
Why does Ultima say the Lunas stay so quiet?
He asks her why the Lunas are so strange and quiet while the Márezes are so loud. She tells him it is in the Lunas' blood to be quiet. She says only a quiet man can learn the earth's secrets for planting . The Lunas are quiet like the moon.
Why is Ultima called Grande?
Antonio's family calls Ultima “la Grande” because Antonio's mother has high respect for her and it means an old wise woman .
Who died in Bless Me Ultima?
One night, his innocence is threatened when he witnesses the death of Lupito , a soldier who recently returned from World War II. Lupito is shot to death by a mob after he kills the sheriff in a moment of post-traumatic delirium. After seeing Lupito's death, Antonio begins to wonder about sin, death, and hell.
How did Antonio feel when he saw the golden carp *?
How did Antonio feel when he saw the golden carp? Astonished, awestruck, a miraculous feeling , it was how he expected it to feel at his first communion.
Who did Antonio say knew how do you really forgive?
The Virgin also symbolizes the power of women to nurture and forgive, much like Mary does in the New Testament. Antonio says of the Virgin Mary , “She always forgave. Perhaps the best god would be like a woman, because only women really knew how to forgive” (13.42-44).
What does the bridge symbolize for Tony?
Initially, the river separates Antonio's house from the town and its evil people, but as he deepens his understanding, he realizes that the river both binds and divides. ... Here, the bridge symbolizes Antonio's maturation, his transition from childhood to adulthood, and his shift from innocence to understanding .
How does Tony beat the vitamin kid?
By Rudolfo Anaya
After failing so many times, Antonio beats the Vitamin Kid in a race. Only, there's no joy in it, because the Kid didn't even run. Instead, he walked slowly across the bridge with a girl named Ida. Meanwhile, Tenorio's footprints have been found near the house.
Who drowns in the river when the boys go to see the golden carp?
Antonio and Cico decide to inform Florence about the golden carp, but Florence drowns before they can do so. The lifeguard's concern with a perfect record points to the cultural gaps that separate Chicano/as and Anglo Americans.
What do Cico and Tony agree to tell Florence before they learn of his death?
He thinks the golden carp makes the world peaceful. He tells Cico they should now tell Florence. He knows Florence will accept the golden carp because the golden carp is a god that doesn't punish, but just brings beauty into life. Cico agrees that Florence is ready.
Who is the villain in Bless Me Ultima?
Tenorio is the embodiment of evil. He is a man of action who serves as the antagonist against Ultima and Antonio.
Who kills Tenorio?
Before he can kill Antonio, Pedro shoots Tenorio dead. Antonio takes the dying owl to Ultima's bedside.
What is Antonio's grandfather's name?
Antonio's grandfather is named Prudencio . María greets him excitedly and then Ultima hugs him like an old friend. They discuss the boys away at war, and Lupito, and how the war has reached even the safety of their small community.
How does Tony's mother react to having her sons back from the war?
he was nervous and said that his mom told him to see her. ... how does maria, antonio's mother, react to having her sons back from war? happy that they are back but sad that they have changed so badly . why do antonio's brothers feel restless?
How does Antonio feel about Ultima?
During this happy time, Antonio grows to love both the llano and the river . ... Antonio realizes that Ultima is happiest when she is out on the llano, and her happiness helps him to realize that he too is a part of the llano and a part of nature.
Where do Tony and his mother go every year?
Tony's family goes to El Puerto every autumn to visit his mother's family and help gather the harvest. Tony enjoys these annual visits because he loves learning about farming and indulging in the wonderful food they make out of the harvest they gather.
