Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya, is a touching story of a young boy who is
learning many things rather quickly throughout his life. The trials and tribulations that he
faces are not similar to those of a normal childhood. Overall, the book is a major learning
lesson and experience for not only the characters involved, but for the reader as well. The
style and charisma with which it was written envelope the reader in a conglomeration of
feelings and emotions. Bless Me, Ultima has many characteristics that make it such a
well-written and touching story. Among these traits is the truth behind the story, the
affirmativeness that defines the characters, the impact it has on the reader, the books
vitality, and the beauty that is shown through the style and imagery with which it is
The universality that Bless Me, Ultima contains pertains to such issues as death
and restlessness or boredom. An example of the pain and suffering that Antonio has gone
through due to witnessing so many deaths in his life is shown on W-244. He is having a
nightmare after the death of his friend, Florence, when Ultima comforts him and talks to
him about the issue at hand. "The strengthening of a soul, the growing up of a boy is part
of his destiny, but you have seen too much death. It is time for you to rest, to see growing
life." The difficulty that Antonio is facing is a problem that anyone could go through, no
matter how old or how young they may be. It reflects the general emotions and actions
that any human being going through something of this sort would react. A form of
restlessness or boredom that many people go through in their lives is similar to that of
which Antonio's brothers face when they return home from the war. "It's hell to have
seen half the world then come back to this," Leon nodded across the river to the small
town of Guadalupe." (W-66) Due to th...