Bless me, Ultima & On Caring
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The book, On Caring (1971), by Milton Mayeroff, discusses the role of caring in everyday life, and how caring is often an exchange of give and take. Specifically, in order to receive love, one must be able to give love, and sometimes, it is more generous to accept the caring given to you than it is to refuse it. Bless Me, Ultima (1972), by Rudolfo Anaya, is a good example of the different types of caring that can happen in a small community. It is the coming of age story of a young boy, Antonio Marez Juan y Luna, and how his relationship with his family and the curandera, Ultima, effect the decisions that he will make regarding the rest of his life. This paper will use the book, On Caring, to understand and interpret some of those caring relationships in Bless Me, Ultima. As the story opens in New Mexico during World War II, the reader finds that the family is already split apart because the three oldest brothers are fighting overseas. Left at home are AntonioÆs sisters, who like nothing better than to play dolls all day, and six year old Antonio, who is the basis for conflict between his mother and father. AntonioÆs father, Gabriel, comes from the Marez family, who traces their genealogy back through a long line of cowboys and wanderers to the conquistadors (25). His mother, Maria, comes from the Luna family -- a long line of farmers and priests (38). Because Antonio is the youngest, and only, son left at home, he is the son upon which both parents pin their hopes t
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ya 3). For example, because she helps Maria, the girls no longer have as many chores to do, so they may play more (14). Both Maria and Gabriel are happy that she is there not only because she helps out with the chores, but also because she is one more adult that they can talk to and share with (14). Again, as they have taken her in to care for her, she in turn does what she can to reciprocate and care for them. Mayeroff asserts that in mutual caring relationships, such as friendships, when ôcaring is mutual, each cares for the other; caring becomes contagiousö (47). This type of caring is often exhibited as an exchange, where each time someone reciprocates, the bonds and the energy in the relationship goes up a notch. Additionally, this type of reciprocation occurs after a parent raises a child to adulthood who then cares for the parent as they age. Mayeroff contends that in order for this type of caring to succeed on even a minimal level, however, those who are being taken care of must be vulnerable enough to allow to be cared for (43).
As soon as Ultima and Antonio meet they have an immediate bond as Antonio feels that she ôknew the secret of my identityö (Anaya 12). His mother, worried about appearances, remonstrates
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Ultima Anaya, War II, La Grande, Maria Gabriel, Ultima Antonio, According Mayeroff, Antonio Anaya, Milton Mayeroff, Juan Luna, MarezÆs LunaÆs, bless ultima, worthy care, caring exhibited, la grande, anaya 127-133, antonioÆs father, antonioÆs family, ultima antonio, antonio ômy, care antonio,
Approximate Word count = 1339
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
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