Bless Me, Ultima Essay

Children have a reputation for being innocent and naive. This is mainly because their experiences with the world are few and sheltered. As the children grow up they are exposed to more and more of the unfiltered world. Some parents do everything they can to keep their children from seeing that world. That is because as they see more of the world they become less innocent. Normally adults are the only ones who have truly lost their innocence. Unfortunately, there are exceptions, as there are to every rule, and they are not good. Children who have lost their innocence have had horrible things happen. Elie Wiesel writes in the novella Night how he lost his innocence. Elie has suffered a loss of innocence because he is desensitized, he has lost

Many young and innocent kids will grow up and see the world from a different perspective. One would naturally become worried for all future generations who will one day grow, and loose their innocence. I find it amazing how from such a young age children have to become mature, they loose out on your childhood and their ability to be children because they have to mature way too fast for their age. Gone are the days

Tony is very smart but also quite poor. His family didn't have enough money to send him to school but since he was smart and the nuns had faith in him they were able to provide him with a scholarship: “His family could not afford to send him to school. But the nuns believed in him because he was smart and a good boy.” (McKay 44). This shows how tony was viewed as a person before everything with the LRA happened. Tony also had a dream to become a priest when he was older. He never openly said it but it was very obvious to others; “ He has never actually said to his friends, but everyone knew that tony really wanted to become a priest.” (McKay 45). This shows that Tony wanted to go to school to repay god and how much of a good kid we was and how he didn't deserve to have to become a rebel soldier.

In the article, “In a war, children without a childhood,” by Los Angeles Times, the central idea was that children lose their innocence because they lost their childhood. For example, many children lost their childhood because they’ve watched their parents become victims of murder. According to the article, “Children have seen their parents killed and watched as boys and girls just like them were hurt.” Well, when children see their parents get killed, they tend to grow up with brutal, aggressive tendencies, which causes them to lose their innocence. In addition to being orphaned, children will grow up making mature, adult decisions, also causing them to lose their youth. In conclusion, when children lose their childhood, they lose their

"I realized that the owl had been with me throughout the night. It had watched over all that had happened on the bridge. Suddenly the terrible, dark fear that had possessed me was gone." (Anaya, 23)

"All things truly wicked start from an innocence,” states Ernest Hemingway on his view of innocence. Innocence, what every youth possesses, is more accurately described as a state of unknowing but not ignorance- which connotation suggests a blissfully positive view of the world. Most youth are protected from the harsh realities of the adult world. Therefore they are able to maintain their state of innocence. While innocence normally wanes over time, sometimes innocence can be abruptly taken away. Some of the characters in Truman Capotes In Cold Blood lost their innocence due to the traumatic events they experienced in childhood and adulthood while some had none to begin with.

In addition, Tony’s mother Maria was a staunch catholic who desperately wanted her youngest son to become a priest to a small community of farmers. Her roots were in farming and living off the land (having a mutually benefiting relationship-being connected to the land). She prayed during times of family toil constantly. Tony has a dream after his brothers beckon him into a whorehouse to sleep with the women at “Rosie’s House.” He refuses the offer and affirms that he will preserve his innocence in order to become a priest in the holy catholic faith. His brothers mock him. They try to tell him that in being a man and the son of a vaquero his need for bodily pleasure will become stronger. Here is where I believe Tony accepts the destiny that his mother supplies for him as a man of god, but again his faith in this religion fails. He feels that his catechism will protect him from being corrupted and that god will reveal himself during this ceremonial rite-but nothing happens. He thought that when he partakes in this ceremony all will be revealed to him, but it is not.

Miguel de Unamuno once said, “Faith which does not doubt is dead faith.” This quote embodies a key element that is explored in the novel Bless Me, Ultima written by Rudolfo Anaya. While reading the Chicano novel Bless Me, Ultima, the reader may begin to question Tony’s reliance on this faith. Tony spends most of the novel questioning God’s reasoning. He also takes a very keen interest in the complexities of the world that surrounds him. While this novel does revolve around the theme of soul-searching, Tony takes the idea of self-discovery to a new level for someone of his age. Tony questions his faith, the concept of justice, and according to Ultima, he shows promising signs of becoming a “man of learning”. In the novel Bless Me, Ultima Tony embodies the foundations of a flourishing philosopher.

Engraved in his mind Lupito was tormented by the memories of war causing him to become a beast with a war living in him.

He kills Narciso in cold blood. He is a true coward and he hides behind others instead of facing those who he seeks to fight.

In the same dream, Tony admits to doubting God. And then sees his three brothers being whipped by the Trementina sisters. His brothers have asked for forgiveness for their sins, and this is when Tony admits he has doubted God, by saying, “...I am not a priest... I too have sinned! I have doubted the Lord!”

(Page 68) Thus, the three brothers put the burden of their parents’ wishes on Tony in an attempt to find their own freedom. Sadly, it isn’t until later that Andrew explains their reasoning through his statement, “…if anyone is going to fit into their dreams it’s going to have to be you, Tony. Just don’t grow up too fast.” (Page 74)

When reflecting on one’s childhood, one either views it as a blissful time in their life, or a hellish society in which they suffered greatly. While both scenarios are very different from one another, it is arguable that both parties experienced a loss of innocence in this time frame.The loss of innocence is something which happens to everybody, sooner or later. Growing up in society, children are exposed to many different concepts. While these concepts play an important role in everyday life, some of them may end up destroying a child’s innocence. Dealing with other people and communicating properly play an essential role in everyday life, but people with malice on their agenda may end up destroying the innocence of others. Even something as simple as learning the countermeasures to deal with the malevolence of others causes a person to lose their innocence. In order to be successful in everyday life, it is necessary for one to confront the harsh reality of our world, which would destroy their innocence.

He grows up recognizing this and struggles with this when coming to terms with his own individuality. The father’s family was restless and came from a seafaring culture. This particular side of the family sought out exciting journeys and was more free spirited. On his mother’s side of the family they were religious farmers and tended to seek life working the land. The strength that the parents have presented Tony with is two different ways of life so he can see firsthand two different perspectives of living.

The child does not just grow up but they also understand that at a given period they are expected to abandon their childish