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Frame Story
Genre
Explanation and Analysis:
Bless Me, Ultima fits within the genre of a Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, but it also contains elements of the magical realism genre. The story follows Antonio as he navigates his childhood in rural New Mexico, confronting obstacles that shape his understanding of his identity and how he fits into his world. The novel traces Antonio’s personal growth as he moves from childlike innocence to a more nuanced understanding of his—and his people’s—history. The coming-of-age arc is important for the plot, but it also grounds the novel in a chronological timeline. The reader gets a solid sense of progression from this aspect of the book.
The novel is also a cornerstone of Chicano literature. This genre reflects the 20th- and 21st-century Mexican American experience and the dualism of life on and around the U.S.-Mexico border. Antonio’s life is shaped by the intersection of Indigenous spiritual and cultural traditions and the American Catholic faith and lifestyle. The novel pulls Spanish, Native, and English languages into the narrator’s “voice,” a technique that’s common in Chicano literature to illustrate the mesh of cultural influences between Mexico and the United States. This blend of languages and influences also highlights the tensions and harmonies within Antonio’s heritage. As Ultima explains, Antonio has two types of “blood” in his lineage, and as he grows he must learn to reconcile the opposing forces of his Márez and Luna family traits and values.
Related Themes:
