Bless Me, Ultima | Themes

Bless Me, Ultima Themes

Loss of Innocence and Quest for Understanding

A major theme in Bless Me, Ultima is the transition from innocence to experience. As a six-year-old boy, Tony is innocent to the ways of the world; however, this quickly changes when he witnesses the killing of Lupito. Through the course of the novel, Tony undergoes many trials that move him from the state of innocence into the state of knowledge and experience.

With his new knowledge of the world, Tony wishes to comprehend why the evil things he witnesses happen - he yearns for understanding. He hopes that with his first Communion he will gain the knowledge of God; however, he is disappointed: "A thousand questions pushed through my mind, but the Voice within me did not answer. There was only silence. . . . The mass was ending, the fleeting mystery was already vanishing."

Disappointed with the Christian God's silence, Tony looks to the pagan god...
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