INTRODUCTION TO BLESS ME ULTIMA BY RUDOLPHO ANAYA

INTRODUCTION TO BLESS ME, ULTIMA BY RUDOLPHO ANAYA

Debrief: Introduction by Anaya 1. Overall, what did you think of his Introduction? 2. What are 2 interesting things you learned? 3. What did you learn about Bless Me, Ultima? 4. What are the questions you had while reading?

Rudolfo Anaya’s Literary Mission • “I hope my books present some of my New Mexican culture which includes Hispanic and Native American traditions and ceremonies. …I hope my stories build self-esteem and self-interest; that is, an interest in our history. We need the stories of our community told so we can see ourselves as actors in the drama of life. ” • “I've always used the technique of the cuento [story]. I am an oral storyteller, but now I do it on the printed page. I think if we were very wise we would use that same tradition in video cassettes, in movies, and on radio. ”

Rudolfo Anaya’s Bio • The “Father of Chicano Literature” (Chicano literature = literature written by Mexican Americans in the US; like HOMS) • A native Hispanic man fascinated by cultural conflicts and confluences unique to the Southwest U. S. A. , such as the cultural juxtaposition of… • Old Spain and New Spain • Mexico/Mesoamerica and the anglicizing/colonizing forces of the 20 th century

Rudolfo Anaya’s Life • Born October 30, 1937 to… • Martin Anaya, his father, was a vaquero (a rancher) and • Rafaelita Mares, his mother, who was from a family of farmers. • Anaya chose education over the life of a vaquero or farmer • Anaya’s family: mom, dad, 4 sisters, and 2 brothers (who spent his childhood fighting in WWII) • BMU is semi-autobiographical.

Bless Me, Ultima • Written: in the 1960 s in Albuquerque, New Mexico • First published in 1972 • Protagonist: Antonio • Narrative Voice: First person narrator • Antonio as an adult telling about his childhood. • Setting: Guadalupe, New Mexico (rural area surrounded by the vast plains, called “the llano” [pronounced "yah-no“])

Setting background • New Mexico had very diverse settlers: Native Americans, Spanish, and English • The cultures adopted new ways of living from each other, but they also struggled (sometimes violently) to protect their freedom, language, and sovereign traditions.

Setting background, cont. • The new settlers depended on the natives to help them survive in the new land, and as a result, the new settlers adopted the natives’ traditions. • One of the greatest trades of tradition is the idea of physical vs. spiritual. • The Spanish vaqueros (cowboys) introduced the native people to livestock (sheep and horses) while the native people shared their curanderas (spiritual healers)

Plot overview • This is a bildungsroman (a coming of age novel) about six year old Antonio Marez, who grows up in a small New Mexico town shortly after World War II.

Major Characters • Antonio: 6 years old; ages to 8 by end of the novel; goes on a journey from innocence to maturity through experience. • Ultima : an elderly curandera (an alternative medicine woman; spiritual healer), who comes to live with Antonio's family and serves as his guide; she possesses mystical powers and intellectual enlightenment.

Major Characters, cont. • Gabriel Marez: Antonio's father; a vaquero (cowboy); feels a calling to the free-spirited, restless lifestyle of his ancestors • Maria Luna: Antonio's mother; represents the farming tradition of being settled; tranquil, modest, and devout Catholic; wants Antonio to become a farmer or priest.

Central Conflicts • Antonio’s attempts to reconcile his culture’s conflicting traditions • The cowboys vs. the farmers • U. S. vs. Hispanic culture • Antonio’s attempt for independence • To make moral decisions and accept responsibility for their consequences

BMU’s Themes • Moral independence can’t be easily defined yet also remains extremely important • Culture can greatly influence identity • Conflict finds a solution in balance, harmony and oneness • Synthesis works best to resolve opposites or differences • Only through experience is innocence lost and maturity gained

Theme vs. Motif A motif differs from a theme in that… • a theme is an idea set forth by a text • a motif is a recurring element which symbolizes that idea.

BMU’s Motifs • Dreams: Antonio will have 10 dreams throughout the novel, mostly have to do with loss and how he matures through these experiences • Blood: In terms of violence; determining identity; a source of power • Names: Character names will have a variety of meanings • Conflict: good vs evil; within a family; religion vs mysticism • Water: rivers, rain, etc.

BMU’s Literary Conventions • Symbolism • Archetype • Characterization • Juxtaposition • Hyperbole

Catholicism: Structure • The Pope leads the Church from Vatican City and is elected by a council • Underneath the Pope are the archbishops, followed by the bishops, and the priests • These ordained leaders are responsible for guiding their “flocks” and interpreting the word of God • Priests are responsible for hearing their flocks’ sins in confession and helping them purify their souls.

Catholicism: The 7 Sacraments • Signs of grace and gifts of God • Parallel the phases of life, birth, adolescence, marriage, and preparation for death • Baptism, Reconciliation (Confession), Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick

Catholicism: Basic Doctrine • The core text of Catholicism is the Bible (Old and New Testaments) • Catholics are monotheists who believe in the divinity of Christ • The crucifixion of Christ is memorialized by the Eucharist through transubstantiation. • Transubstantiation means that when people accept the Eucharist, it becomes the true body of Christ, so communion (eating the Eucharist) is the only way to completely be one with God

Catholicism: Basic Doctrine, cont. • The Virgin Mary • Jesus’s mother • Is the most important saint • There are many other saints, who can intercede for believers through prayer to help them gain forgiveness from God.

Catholicism: Basic Doctrine, cont. • Afterlife consists of heaven and hell, but also purgatory. • Purgatory is a “holding tank” for souls that need further purification before ascending to heaven. • Believers must confess to a priest before they die to cleanse their souls and avoid Purgatory.

Catholicism’s Spread • In what would later become Mexico and the SW US, Spanish priests established missions in the 16 th century to spread the teachings of the Catholic Church to the native peoples. • Many native people converted, but they maintained some of their ancient beliefs

Catholicism in BMU • Antonio will learn about his faith and begin to question what these steps mean • He will also run into supernatural circumstances which will further challenge his faith • We will see the sacraments present in the novel and watch Antonio make choices concerning his faith

Catholicism in BMU, cont. • Several times in the novel we will see Antonio become a sort of priest; he will take away sins of different characters and become a leader to his classmates • Antonio's spiritual maturity occurs in fast forward due to the tragic events he witnesses and the supernatural elements to which he is exposed

The Supernatural: Curanderas • Curandera (spiritual healer) • Uses herbs, spices, and homemade remedies to heal the sick and injured. • The work of the curandera acknowledges the spiritual connections among plants, earth, people and dreams, weaving a tapestry of mystery and sacred magic that remains important to New Mexicans to this day. • Poem!

The Supernatural: Witches • Sell their souls to the devil • Practice religious sacrifice • Create evil potions made with living things • Perform hurtful magic • Shape-shifters and can become various animals • Cannot walk past a cross and can be killed with a bullet marked with the sign of the cross.

Magical Realism • Fiction in which magical elements (fantastic or supernatural events) are blended into a realistic atmosphere • These magical elements are explained like normal occurrences, in a straightforward manner, which allows the "real" and the "fantastic" to be accepted in the same stream of thought. • “The ordinary as miraculous and the miraculous as ordinary” • Combination of physical reality & psychological reality

More about Magical Realism • Setting is sometimes a vast, mysterious terrain (snow-capped mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, deserts, etc. ) • Usually contains a native influence; a blend of old, mystical culture with colonization & Christianity

How is this different from Fantasy? • Remains grounded in the REAL world UNLIKE science fiction and other nonrealistic genres • Stretches the definition of realism & reality • Not so much a belief, but a “lack of disbelief” • Power lies not in answers, but in questions.

New Mexican Beliefs and Folklore • La Llorona (a. k. a. the walking woman of the river) • A beautiful woman bears 3 children, then discovers that her lover has not been faithful. • In her shock and pain she kills her children so that he cannot take them from her. • Her destiny: to wander the countryside at night, crying for her children (her crime is unforgivable so she will never find peace). • Seeks to draw men's souls to her with her voice; people fear her yet are mesmerized by the sound of her wailing and crying.

New Mexican Beliefs and Folklore, cont. • The Virgin of Guadalupe • In 1531 a Christian Indian was walking near an Aztec shrine and heard music. • A woman appeared speaking in an Aztec language • Told him to visit the palace of the archbishop of Mexico at Tlatelolco and to tell him that the Virgin Mary wanted a shrine there. • She then appeared a few more times and the shrine was finally built.

Fish Mythology • Christian References • The drawing of a fish is a common Christian sign • It represents the Greek "Ichuthus", a word formed by the first letters of "Iesous Christos Theou Huious Sotor" (Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior). • Fish live in water as Christians live by their baptisms.

Fish Mythology, cont. • Egyptian References • Some Egyptians believed that a fish swallowed part of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead, when his evil brothers chopped his body to pieces.

Fish Mythology, cont. • Roman mythology: When people worshiped Adonis, they offered a fish to the dead. • Greek mythology: The fish was sacred to Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Poseidon, god of the sea.

Fish Mythology, cont. • Hinduism: • the fish was one of the avatars (physical forms) of Vishnu. • Buddhism: • a fish symbolizes the footprint of the Buddha to show freedom from worldly desires and material wants.

Spanish Language • Antonio will be forced to operate in two linguistic worlds • Spanish is the language of his home and family (in addition to his understanding of religion, nature, and identity) • At school Antonio will be forced to speak, read, and write in English • English begins to represent the larger American world, full of excitement and confusion

Spanish Language, cont. • The Spanish words and phrases can make it somewhat difficult to read • The fact that Anaya does not directly incorporate an English translation is a strategy. • While not providing a direct translation, Anaya provides a subtle translation in the context of the reading as a whole. • This helps us understand the confusion Antonio feels. • It also reflects syncretism (the blending of cultures) • For those who are not familiar with Spanish, I’ve provided you a handout (use it as a bookmark!).

Interesting excerpt • “The vast majority of Chicano were taught to be afraid of a certain type of English: the language of Anglos who initiated and sustained their social and economic disenfranchisement, who consciously or unconsciously instigated their traumatic experiences in monolingual Anglo schools, and who subscribed to and exacerbated the racism under which they have always lived in the United States even though they are U. S. citizens. At the same time, Chicano/as were equally intimidated by the Spanish spoken by people of middle-class or higher economic strata who come from Latin America. For how could a language of those so different experientially from Chicano/as, speak for those who have so long been denied a sense of belonging, a sense of historical ties to this nation, and indeed, to any nation? ” (Ana Castillo, Massacre of the Dreamers, p. 167)

Warning! • This book is definitely rated PG-13! • There a lot of bad words…mostly in Spanish. • There are some “sexual situations, ” as the MPAA calls them. • Advice: • Don’t be offended: Anaya’s characters have some very strong feelings about people, religion, etc. He’s just trying to make his novel realistic. • Just go with it. It’s not gratuitous; it makes sense in context. For example. . . • Be the mature high schooler I know you are.

Misc. help • Reading schedule: • Scan the handout • We move quickly through this novel, but it’s doable, because you’re honors-level readers & … • You only have to take 1 note for every 2 pages. • Take the suggestions! Example: Friday, 10/30 • Write your name in the front of your book • Unless you speak Spanish fluently, translate the chapter numbers. For example…

Respond to 2 of the following questions in complete sentences. 1. 2. 3. 4. Is childhood preferable to adulthood? Why? What is “magic” to you? Does magic really exist in the world? How do you know? Describe three conflicts that first and second generation immigrants might face when attempting to assimilate into a new culture or country. How does your family’s cultural heritage influence your day-to -day life? If it doesn’t, what might it look like if your culture did affect your life?

Misc. help • Reading schedule: • Scan the handout • It’s do-able. There are some times when it may seem fast to some people. However, at this pace, we will finish the novel AND an essay before Thanksgiving Break, which means… • No homework over break! • Write your name in the front of your book • Unless you speak Spanish fluently, translate the chapter numbers. For example…