For more information
Call 1-800-351-0222
Call 1-800-351-0222
CARING RELATIONSHIPS.
Term Paper ID:29217
Get This Paper Free! or
Essay Subject:
Interpretation of characters in "BLESS ME, ULTIMA."... More...
5 Pages / 1125 Words
2 sources, 13 Citations,
MLA Format
$20.00
More Papers on This Topic
Paper Abstract:
Interpretation of characters in "BLESS ME, ULTIMA." Uses the eight concepts of caring described in Milton Mayeroff's book "ON CARING" to analyze relationships of characters in Rudolfo Anaya's 1972 novel about Antonio, a troubled Mexican-American boy. Caring attributes of Ultima regarding Antonio as major focus of the novel.
Paper Introduction:
This paper will show how the principles described in Milton Mayeroff book On Caring can be used to interpret the relationships of the characters in Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima. Anaya's 1972 novel is a coming of age story about a troubled Mexican-American boy named Antonio in 1940s New Mexico who is facing crucial decisions regarding his future. Helping him learn how to grapple with good and evil, and how to reconcile the different aspirations of his father and mother is the old curandera Ultima who enters Antonio's life when he is six years old. The caring attributes of Ultima regarding Antonio are the major focus of the novel. Other significant caring relationships are between Ultima and Antonio's parents, and between Antonio and his first grade teacher, Miss Maestas, among others.
Text of the Paper:
The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper.
Antonio agrees to take part in the cure, therebydisplaying Knowing, Trust and Courage. On Caring. In both cases they exhibit great Courage as well asKnowing. WhenUltima first comes to live with the Marez family, she takes Antonio nearthe river to gather herbs and teach him about their healing properties. Ultima'sguidance of Antonio is based on her belief that no one has the absoluteanswers and that Antonio must make his own choices and acceptresponsibility for them. The men have no quarrel withGabriel but realize that he 'would let no man invade his home" and takeUltima (13 ). This paper will show how the principles described in Milton Mayeroffbook On Caring can be used to interpret the relationships of the charactersin Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima. Hehas a fear of the wild llano land, the land of his father, as well as thepresence of the river. By thenovel's end, Ultima's caring has enabled Antonio to understand himself, torealize that the way in which people use their powers determines theirmoral status, and to become 'in-place" in the world. They do, however, because theyacknowledge that 'she served the people all her life" and 'it is not rightthat la Grande (the title they use to refer to Ultima) be alone in her oldage" (5). He identifies eight main ingredients of caringthat enable someone to have a relationship with another person. '...I was never closer ormore appreciative of her good than those weeks when I was sick and shecared for me" (189). She also exhibits the trait of Patience and so Antoniolearns both Hope and Courage from her, as well as language andcommunication skills. One ofMayeroff's points is that caring must be mutual, and that caring isdeveloped in relationship to others (47). At the end of the school year, shepromotes him from first grade to third, thereby both rewarding andmotivating him to become a person of learning. She is aware of herself and Antonio andexhibits Knowing. By caring more for the safety of Ultima than his own life,Gabriel exhibits Courage and Authenticity as well as repaying his debt toUltima for all the care and help she has given his family. Another incident of mutual caring occurs when Ultima lifts a curseplaced on Maria's brother Lucas, at risk to herself and to Antonio who sheneeds to act as her helper in the process, a process that their societycalls witchcraft. The first is taking her into theirhome when she is aged, and the second is risking their lives to defend heragainst violence. One of the points of Mayeroff's book is that 'we are 'in place' in theworld through having our lives ordered by inclusive caring" (69). Although Maria is a devout Catholic and the Church finds Ultimaevil, Maria says, Awe cannot let her live her last days in loneliness" andGabriel agrees because ' it is not the way of our people" (6). Ultima is able to achieve this aim with Antonio, and inso doing, she exhibits all eight ingredients of caring that Mayeroffdiscusses. She is able to show him howto find harmony in the differing heritages of his father and mother. Miss Maestas sends a note to Antonio's mother tellingher he 'was progressing very well, and my mother was happy" (64), alsoshowing caring for Antonio's family. He loses his fear of the river as he learns that'his spirit shared in the spirit of all things" (15). New York: Warner Books, 1972.Mayeroff, Milton. As the rage of the men increases, Gabriel holds his groundand the mob realizes they would have to fight him, which they don't wantto. The relationship between Ultima and Antonio underlies the theme andplot of the novel as Antonio undergoes a variety of experiences and taskson his journey toward self-actualization. A major way that Ultima cares for Antonio is to help him reconcile theconflicts he encounters in his life, not just between good and evil butbetween the differing desires of his parents. A basic pattern of caring is tohelp others grow. Helpinghim learn how to grapple with good and evil, and how to reconcile thedifferent aspirations of his father and mother is the old curandera Ultimawho enters Antonio's life when he is six years old. Ultima's caring relationship with Antonio involves all aspects of theboy's life. He loses his fear: 'She taught me to listen to themystery of the groaning earth and to feel complete in the fulfillment ofits time. Antonio recognizes that her magical powers aregood and that Ultima always tries to do good. They exhibit two actsof intentional caring toward Ultima. When Ultima asks Antonio to help her, she explains whatis at stake and the possible harmful consequences for him. Antonio's parents, Maria and Gabriel Marez both love and respectUltima who helped them when they were first married. The caring attributesof Ultima regarding Antonio are the major focus of the novel. These are:Knowing, the awareness of the self, understanding the needs of others andknowing how to respond properly; Alternating rhythms, the ability to applylearning to help others; Patience, interacting with others to enable themto grow in their own time and way; Honesty, to see truly what the other isand not as you want she/he to be; Trust, to appreciate the independence andgrowth potential of others; Humility, to appreciate personal limits; Hope,to recognize the possibilities of the present; Courage, to show awillingness to enter the unknown with another person (13-28). With her guidance,Antonio is able to open his eyes and heart to the natural beauty of thefertile land near the river, which also represents the agricultural land ofhis mother's people. Bless Me, Ultima. These eightingredients of caring help in understanding the significance and meaning ofthe relationships found in Bless Me, Ultima. Narciso devises a witchcraft test which Ultima passes, and the mobdisperses. Works CitedAnaya, Rudolfo. My soul grew under her careful guidance" (15). Mayeroff argues that 'the concept of 'caring' is developed bydisclosing its relationships to other significant concepts like 'trust,''honesty,' and 'humility,' and it also grows by coming to terms withseeming exceptions" (14). New York: Harper & Row, 1971. In the second instance, a drunken lynch mob comes to the Marez home toget Ultima who has been accused of witchcraft. Othersignificant caring relationships are between Ultima and Antonio's parents,and between Antonio and his first grade teacher, Miss Maestas, amongothers. When Antonio enters first grade, he is different from the otherchildren; he doesn't speak English so he can't communicate with them, andeven the lunch he brings of hot beans, and green chile wrapped in tortillasis different from their American sandwiches, and so they laugh at him (58). Anaya's 1972 novel is a comingof age story about a troubled Mexican-American boy named Antonio in 194 sNew Mexico who is facing crucial decisions regarding his future. Miss Maestas, however, realizes quickly that Antonio is smart and wants tolearn, and she encourages him. Because Ultima is a curandera, a healer with the power of herancestors, she is thought of as a witch by most of the townspeople so it isnot a popular move to take Ultima in. When he becomes very ill, she is the one who nurses him backto health with herbs and her 'magical powers." The doctor from town couldnot cure him, and he has nightmares which make his illness worse, but'always Ultima was near me, caring for every turn I made in the progress ofthat hideous journey" (172).
If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again:
or
We can write a Custom Essay just for you.
Browse Essays by Subject