Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya: Chapters 1-7

          Alright, here it goes. The first time in class when we were assigned this book, I couldn't help but dread to read it. It was chaos in the classroom. Students were complaining about the Spanish, others were telling them to shut up, and everyone was yelling and screaming trying to organize a reading schedule....I do not do well in hectic situations. I zoned out until the bell rang, and headed home to start the 7 chapters we needed to finish within the next week. I was  just a tad bit intimidated. With all of my classmate's negative remarks in mind, I picked up the book and began chapter one.
          7 chapters later, I feel horrible for judging the book so early!  The Spanish wasn't nearly as challenging as I thought it would be (keep in mind I am a french student). All I can say is that so far I like, and coming from me that's a huge compliment. I love flow of the words, certain passages read so dream-like. I also love the telling of events through the eyes Antonio (an impressively spiritual boy between 6 and 7).  Anaya does a nice job with building up his characters...I love how Antonio's parents are complete opposites!
          My favorite scene so far is when the men are on the bridge contemplating killing Lupito. I love how the town drunk is the one to point out "Por Dios, Hombres!' he shouted. 'Let us act like men! That is not an animal down there, that is a man." Of course the men do not listen to him, but I find it extremely ironic that the one who is probably seen throughout town as a fool is the only one who could clearly see what they plan on doing is wrong; he is the only one who sees things clearly and uses his sense.
         The "presence" of the river seems to be pretty prominent throughout the first 7 chapters, and I'm sure the author is using it as a symbol...for what I do not know....yet. Antonio's dreams are both prophetic and almost frightening...if I was a boy that age and having those dreams I would probably be afraid to sleep. I find it interesting that he always refers to his brothers as "the giants" in his dreams.
         I also love the ethical and spiritual questions Antonio poses, "But how could the blessing of Ulltima be like the whirlwind? Was the power of good and evil the same?" and the questions about Lupito's soul.
         Antonio's parents both want him to be a different man. His mother, a luna, wants him to be a man of learning or a priest, while his father, a marez, wants Antonio to follow his family, and be a free soul who wonders the land and seeks his own destiny. Only Ultima knows the destiny of young Antonio, but i found it shocking that she revealed (sadly) that Antonio would be a man of learning. I did not think he would become the man either of his parents wanted him to be, I thought he would follow Ultima, seeing that he is already so spiritual and aware of the life, soul, and presence of the things around him. Perhaps he will be a man of learning, but he may not be learning the things his mother will expect him to.
        Predictions. Ultima is going to die. Plain and simple, no use feeding around the bush. She has to, or else the story will just...idk...it just needs to happen. I feel like something tragic is going to happen to his brothers. Maybe the war changed them, maybe their family is not the same, maybe they go crazy or get hurt or whatever. Yeah that's pretty much it.
        So, Bless Me Ultima...so far so good.