Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a profound coming-of-age novel set in New Mexico during World War II. The protagonist, Antonio Márez, wrestles with questions of faith, identity, and morality under the guidance of Ultima, a wise curandera (healer) who comes to live with his family. Antonio is exposed to a world beyond his Catholic upbringing as he witnesses Ultima’s spiritual healing and faces the harsh realities of life and death. Simultaneously, he grapples with the cultural dichotomy of his parents’ differing dreams for his future – his father’s free-ranging life of a vaquero and his mother’s desire for him to become a priest. Anaya’s narrative encapsulates Antonio’s spiritual journey, illustrating the integration of indigenous, spiritual, and Catholic beliefs as part of his broader exploration of self.
