Ultima’s Magic

Ultima’s Magic Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a story about the maturation of a young Mexican-American boy, Antonio M’arez, who is struggling with many questions about his destiny, life and death, and good and evil. Ultima who comes to live with Antonio becomes his caretaker and his teacher. Antonio learns there are powers in the world that differ from his beliefs in the Catholic faith through Ultima’s wisdom. Ultima explains …

…nature beholds. The river of life is never ending like the river that binds the llano to Guadalupe. Ultimately, it is his teacher and friend, Ultima, which teaches Antonio that life is a cycle and that understanding oneself brings peace and harmony. Antonio learns that his future is tied to his past and that his destiny will be guided by an understanding of his heritage and “the magical strength that resides in the human heart” (237).