Antonio in Bless Me Ultima Essay

There are so many dreams to be fulfilled, but Ultima says a mans destiny must unfold itself like a flower, with only the sun and the earth and water making it blossom, and no one meddling in it(Anaya 223). A man should fulfill his dreams without anything or anyone inferring in it. A mans destiny is chosen by him not by his surroundings. A man who is happy and has blossomed like a flower without any interference has reached his dream. The novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya takes place in rural town in New Mexico. Antonio is a small, seven-year old boy who is more concerned of fulfilling both his parents desires than his own. When Ultima comes to live with Antonios family he begins to understand that a mans destiny should be what he desires, not what others expect it to be. Anaya conveys Antonio, an inner conflicted young boy who wants to satisfy both his parents dreams, to an old, independent boy who has a sense of individuality through symbolism in dreams three, six and ten.

Antonios third dream demonstrates his internal conflict of satisfying his mothers wish of becoming a priest and his fathers of becoming a vaquero. His mother was born in a devoted Catholic family and his father was born in the llano with a free-spirited vaquero family. Each family was born in a distinct world with different dreams to accomplish and traditions to follow. Antonio is put on the horns of a dilemma causing him to feel pressured to make his parents happy. On Antonios third dream he is disputing with his brothers of satisfying his fathers wish of moving westward. Antonios brothers laugh at him and tell him he is his mothers dream and should stay and sleep to the doves cou-rou while we cross the mighty River of the Carp to build our fathers castle in the hills, but Antonio tells them that he must go(Anaya 26). The dove that he dreams of symbolizes his mother, a peaceful, sweet women that he should stay with. The castle of the hills represents his fathers dream of living out in the llano. These symbols demonstrate Antonios uncertainty and wanting to accomplish both his parents desires. He wants to stay with his mother who is like a dove, but he also wants to build the house up the hill his father wants. Another example is during Antonios dream his brothers are trying to cross the river, and cry for help because they believe that the llorana has come to drink their blood and to save them Antonio swung the dark robe of the priest over his shoulders then lifted his hands in the air. The mist swirled around him and sparks flew when he spoke. It is the presences of the river (Anaya 26). Antonio at first was wearing a black robe representing him as a priest. At this point Antonio is a Luna like his mother had always wanted, but then takes it off to save his brothers from the presence of the river and helps them cross the raging waters. Antonio not only uses the power of the Catholic Church, but also the powers of the river. The presence of the river meant power that the Luna family did not believe in. Antonio is confused and doesnt know how to impose both of his parents beliefs for him without disappointing either of them. As Antonio continues to have more dreams he begins to understand that he doesnt have to chose betweens his parents wishes.

In Antonios sixth dream, he begins to develop an understanding of individuality through Ultimas guidance. Antonio was experiencing a conflict within himself until Ultima begins to demonstrate that a mans destiny should not be chosen by others. Antonio begins to comprehend that he can fuse both his maternal and paternal heritages without defying his parents or himself. During this dream Antonio imagines his mother as the Virgin Mary telling him that he was baptized in the waters of the moon and on the other end he hears his father shout that he was baptized in the salty waters of the sea. This burden of choosing between his parents made him feel anxious and guilt. Ultima enters Antonios dream interrupting the dispute between his parents and telling them that the sweet water of the moon which falls as rain is the same water that gathers into the rivers and flows to fill the seas(Anaya 121). The sweet waters of the moon convey peace and silence and the seas convey wildness and freedom. Ultima tells them that the sweet water of the moon representing Antonios mother is the same water that ends up in the seas representing his father. In other words, no matter if they were taught distinct morals and traditions they could fuse both heritages and become one. Ultima ends the dream telling Antonio and his parents that they have been seeing only parts, and not looking beyond into the great cycle that binds us all(Anaya 121). When Ultima refers to parts she is implying to the distinctions of the Luna and Mrez families and not the great cycle, which is the bigger picture of life that unite both families. Both families are close-minded and dont look beyond their own beliefs to see that by putting their differences aside they would become one whole. As Antonio has his last dream he has discovered his individuality and becomes independent of his plans and destiny.

Antonios tenth dream defines his independence. Throughout the novel Antonio has an inner conflict that brings great burden to his life. He is uncertain of his destiny and is pressured into fulfilling his parents dreams. After all his experiences Antonio has learned that fulfilling his parents dreams wouldnt end the violence and death around the world. In this dream Antonio sees Lupito, Florence, and Narciso. Antonio has witnessed the deaths and heard the confessions of each. Now they came back to tell him that there will always be violence even if he becomes a priest. Antonio sees the priest desecrating the altar by pouring blood of the dead pigeons into the holy chalice (Anaya 244). Antonio believed that if he became a priest all conflict would become peace, but by dreaming this he now understands that fulfilling his parents dreams wouldnt make him stop all evil. The priest symbolizes good and honesty and the desecrating of the altar symbolizes the violence and sin. Even though the priest is a saint who is supposed to preach the good, there will always be sinners. Another example that Antonio has matured is during his dream he sees Tenorio capturing the night spirit of Ultima and murdering it, and Ultima dying in agony(Anaya 244). The killing of Ultima symbolizes the independence that Antonio has now developed. Ultima came into Antonios life to guide him and help him develop understanding between life and death, good and evil. Now that Antonio is capable of making his own decisions and not feeling conflicted with his own self Ultima leaves his life. Antonio not only follows his parents morals and traditions, but is also choosing his own destiny without feeling guilty of not becoming a priest or a vaquero. Antonio has freed himself from the burden that did not let him discover his identity.

Throughout Bless Me, Ultima Antonio develops from being an inner conflicted boy to an independent young man. This growth is depicted through his sixth, eighth, and tenth dream. Antonio felt unease when his parents disputed over his destiny. He didnt want to defy either of them. When Ultima enters his life he begins to understand that he doesnt have choose, but can fuse both his parents cultures and desires. Antonio also begins to comprehend that he doesnt have to depend on his parents. Like Ultima told him a mans destiny should unfold like a flower with no one inferring in its growth. A man owns his destiny. No one should impose or dispose of it because its his destiny not theirs.