Good Literature can be considered a book that contains unique characters, intriguing plots, universal themes, excellent language, and a good life lesson. Bless Me, Ultima is good literature because it has unique characters and the universal theme of the coming of age. The main character, Antonio, observes different types of people with different perspectives on life. Antonio’s own parents have conflicting views because his mother is Catholic while his father is a Spanish cowboy, also known as a “vaquero”.
Antonio is a six-year-old boy living in New Mexico during the 1940s. Ultima is an old curandera who stays with his family at their house. She forms a great relationship with Antonio and begins to guide him, spiritually. Also, Ultima’s owl becomes a comforting spirit for Tony and is actually the embodiment of Ultima’s soul. This is extremely unique because as Tony questions the world and the afterlife, Ultima acts as his mentor to guide him. Furthermore, there are points throughout the book where Antonio questions his own religion when he is told about the golden carp god and when a priest fails to cure Tony’s uncle of a witch’s curse. He also starts to think about punishment in the afterlife. This shows Antonio’s coming of age as he does not fully understand his religion nor has any set beliefs yet.