Bless Me Ultima
by Rudolfo Anaya
Plot Summary
Published in 1995, Bless Me, Ultima, though not a complete autobiography, is based on Rudolfo
Anaya’s memories of his childhood in Pastura, New Mexico. The story is of Antonio Marez, his
coming of age, and his experiences with his family, with his aunt Ultima, who is a curandera—a
healer—and with his friends and teachers. The narrative unfolds with Antonio witnessing the
vigilante slaying of a crazed WWII veteran, Lupito, by townspeople. Antonio is traumatized by
this event and does not understand such violence against a man who is so clearly not in full
possession of his faculties.
Readers also witness Antonio’s initially difficult transition into school and then his ultimate
success. Paralleling Antonio’s experiences in school is a feud between Ultima and the local,
evil brujo, or witch, Tenorio, whose daughters have put a curse on Antonio’s uncle Lucas. Of
course Ultima, who has healed members of Antonio’s family before, determines to heal Lucas,
but not before apprising Tenorio of the situation and allowing him time to ask his daughters to
lift the curse. He does not. He does, however, seek revenge upon Ultima, whom he blames for
the subsequent deaths of his three daughters.
What emerges as ironic for Antonio lies in the townspeople’s reactions to Ultima, many of whom
she has healed; they fail to come to her defense. In one of his efforts to save Ultima, Antonio
becomes seriously ill, and it is Ultima with her knowledge of healing who saves him. In his
delirium Antonio repeatedly tells of his witnessing Narcisco’s death at the hands of an enraged
Tenorio. Narcisco is the town drunk who tries in vain to save Ultima and who respects the old
ways. It is in Antonio’s delirium that we see the emerging artist/writer and not the priest
Antonio’s mother so hopes he will become.
Although Tenorio does kill Ultima, he himself is killed by Antonio’s uncle, Pedro. Tenorio not
only kills Ultima but also her familiar, the owl. Antonio must bury the owl in the place and in
the manner Ultima requested. The novel concludes with Antonio’s emerging consciousness as to
who and what Ultima and her owl were and who he is becoming.
Strengths of the Work
This novel possesses a number of important themes and explores issues in Latino culture that no
other novel during this time period does. In one way, Bless Me, Ultima is a coming-of-age novel:
we follow Antonio as he is becoming aware of himself and his heritage. Interestingly, we also
follow Antonio’s older brothers who have returned from war. In this way, Anaya provides
readers with a dual perspective of young people—the very young, emerging boy-child and the
more experienced, war-weary, older brothers. Into this dichotomy Anaya places Antonio’s
