Simran Arora 05/18/12 Period 4

Bless Me Ultima Experiencing death and violence leads to loss of innocence. In the novel Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya we learn about the maturation of a young Mexican-American boy, Antonio Marez, 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. The deaths of Lupito, Narciso, and Florence are significant life-changing events for Antonio because they inspire his first questions about sin, death, and morality. As Antonio matures he learns about the reality of life in which he sees the death of Lupito, Florence and Narciso. Death is one of the harsh realities of life. Antonios witnessing of Lupitos death was major development for him as a child. It was his first experience with death and Antonio was completely shocked both by the violence and by the presence of his father during the horrifying scene. When he ran back home he repeated the Act of Contrition even though he had no idea about what it meant. Antonios use of a religious prayer shows how wants to escape from the reality he had just experienced. Antonio also realizes that his father had committed a mortal sin and he may not look at his father, or any of the men on the bridge the same way. After witnessing the murder, Antonio becomes busy with Lupitos fate and questions of sin and punishment. He cant process the idea of hell for Lupito because he was war sick, he was questioning the catholic faith. The second death that Antonio experiences is Narcisos death, and also the death of his innocence. When Narciso is on his way to the Marez household to inform Ultima of the

upcoming danger he stops by Rosies and he calls Andrew who had been busy with one of the girls and ignored Narciso. When Antonio sees Andrew at Rosies brothel, he feels betrayed on many levels. Also because Andrew had promised that he would not step into Rosies until Antonio lost his innocence, which basically meant that in the eyes of Andrew, Antonio was no longer innocent. Antonio was forced to mature quickly when he saw the deaths of Lupito and Narciso, but Florences death was even more difficult to take. Because he knew that Florence did not believe in God, Antonio cannot escape into practicing prayers. According to the catholic faith those who dont believe in god either burn in hell or are stuck in the middle. He then again questions the catholic faith. The end of Antonios faith represents the worst part of his religious beliefs because he no longer has anything to believe in. In conclusion after a child or anyone experiences death or violence they lose their innocence and their views on life begin to change. This happens to Antonio when he witnesses the death of Lupito, Narciso and Florence. He loses his innocence when he begins to question his faith and when he questions the ideas of sin, punishment and hell.