Reflection on the Novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya - Essay Example

?Introduction: This paper is a reflective work on the novel “Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya and it aims to present a collection of poems that reflect the themes presented in the story. Each poem consists of a description right after, which explains the relation between the work and the story as well as what inspired the composition of these poems. Poem 1: Hope Never Ends Restless nights went by As I stared up at the black sky. I lay down in the open grass My only home, alas! Bodies walked past Some slow, some fast. No one paid attention To any of my tension. It was only winter nights And agonizing plights. That ruled my heart Tearing me apart. I had no one with me I was alone you see, Except for my long beard Stick, clothes dust smeared. I knocked here, I knocked there But no one let me in anywhere. The world lacked kind souls Between its two extreme poles. I yearned for a warm smile I waited all this while. But nothing came of it And I decided to quit. Just then a kind hand Shook me from my reverie. To take me to his home it planned And to make my last days merry. As I take the hand and stand I hope this is my final cake’s cherry. This poem is based on one of the themes I admire most in the story ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ by Rudolfo Anaya. I have always had a soft corner for the aged and elderly and I like the fact that Ultima, the old lady was accepted into the protagonist, Antonio’s house, despite her involvement in magic and the likes of it. Though Antonio’s parents are hesitant to take her in because of the opposed views they had to her beliefs, this does not stop them from fulfilling their “custom to provide for the old and sick” (Anaya 56). In the modern world, people have grown really self-centered and do not have time to look after their aged parents. Having said that, the speaker in this poem, ‘Hope Never Ends,’ is an old man, who was kicked out of his home and has no place to go. He realizes how selfish the people around him are and he wishes for at least one person to just make an effort and give him a sincere, warm smile. Towards the end of the poem a stranger reaches out to the old man and he is then convinced that there is still hope left. The final cake signifies the closing days of his life and the cherry symbolizes the small ray of hope left in his heart that there are still some rare kind souls left in this cruel, wicked world. Therefore, like Antonio’s parents, who do not let Ultima live “her last days in loneliness” the stranger in this poem does not let the speaker to spend another moment alone (56). Poem 2: Right or Wrong? NEITHER! They warn me “do not do this,” “do not do that” They say “this should be raised” and “that should be flat.” They advise me “keep that in mind” and “never forget it” I see this is the way they deem life to be fit. They tell me to stop when I do something “WRONG” They punish me blue until I come back along The path that they proudly call “RIGHT” The “thing I should never lose out of sight.” I wonder how they know from good to bad. I wonder what right they have to control this lad. Who taught them what is evil and what is not? Who taught them to look for the gold in the pot? They call one color black and another one white, They named flourishing “boon” and suffering “plight.” They tell me to help anyone who needs But revoke me from aiding the poor’s pleads. They tell me to be compassionate and share from my pool But rebuke me when I take more than one apple to school. They tell me to make as many friends as I can But scold me when with them I make another plan. They advise me to do things careful and slow But rush me to run their errands in one go. They tell me to be thankful to God always, While they themselves curse Him from the hallways. They clearly define to me what exactly is right But such things from them is rare to my sight. They instill fear in my heart for wrong deeds. But I often see them giving into their dark needs. I know I alone should choose Between RIGHT and WRONG, and muse Over it critically every single time As I do not want to commit any crime. This poem reflects the theme of moral independence in Anaya’s story. Antonio is always with Ultima, and it is she who teaches him what is right and what is wrong. She is the one who influences him and motivates him to always do the right things despite how hard the choices might actually be. It is through the old lady that Antonio realizes the true moral values and this realization is put at stake when Ultima dies towards the end during the time her owl is killed. Antonio is then left to take his own decisions as well as make his own moral judgments. The speaker in the poem, ‘Right or Wrong? NEITHER!’ is a small lad who is always bossed around by his elders about what they think is right and wrong. He tries maximum to listen to them and do as they say, but even though he does so, in the end he is still blamed. As his thinking develops he realizes that none of the things the elders say are really done by them. They tell him to always go in the path of right and not do anything morally wrong, but they themselves fail to take their own advices. Ultimately, the boy understands that it is his own responsibility to choose right from wrong and to do things accordingly. Thus, the speaker develops moral independence just like Antonio does at the end of the story. Poem 3: Do I Know You? I stare at the mirror contemplating I feel my breath surprisingly sedating. I have been searching far and wide But found nothing, save broken pride. So many children are here with me now Dancing, drawing, singing and taking a bow. So many differences here all around Dresses, hairstyle, talks and sound. They chitter chatter with no worries at all Playing with dolls, bats and ball. I wish if I could join them now But IT pulls me back somehow. Agonizing it is, to not know the source But nothing can help, no force Can aid me in my quest To pass this personal test. Identities mingling happily about While sadly I stand here and pout. It’s not my fault, I know its not But questions inside me literally rot. I seek true answers to all of them They are precious to me as any gem. When the person staring back at me Asks “Do I know you?” I am forced to say “Sorry I don’t think you do.” This poem named “Do I Know You?” is one that speaks about a teenage girl’s questions into her own identity. She does not know anything about her culture or religion as she is an orphan. As opposed to other children who are clearly aware of their identities, this girl’s lack of knowledge of whom she is drives her away from joining girls of her age as well as younger ones. In the end she can only say that she does not know who she is when the reflection in the mirror asks if she knows her. In Bless Me Ultima, Antonio is trapped between the cultural conflicts of his mother and father and both of them want him to follow their own footsteps. His mother wants him to become a priest, whereas his father does not want that, he wants Antonio to be a free man, one with nature just like he is. Antonio has to choose which culture to adopt, whereas the girl here has no such choice. Or in another context, it can be seen that she has choice over all the cultures of the world in contrast with Antonio who just has two. Conclusion: Bless Me, Ultima, written by Rudolfo Anaya in 1972 is a world renowned book that explores into detail the themes of cultural identity, moral independence as well as family relationships and responsibilities. It has greatly inspired me to write the three poems, in which I have tried to bring out similar themes as to the Anaya’s story. The poems have also given me an insight and a better understanding of this amazing story. Works Cited Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. Berkeley: Quinto Sol Publications, 1972. Print. Read More