Important in attempts to ban Bless Me, Ultima, are arguments that the book promotes witchcraft and worship of the devil. The book focuses on Ultima, a curandera, who works with herbs and can heal the sick and exorcise evil. However, it is clear throughout Bless Me, Ultima that the character of Ultima is a force of good, but that she is sometimes mislabeled as a witch. Thus, while witchcraft is discussed and alluded to, it is not necessarily promoted within Anaya's novel.
In addition, Anaya's book clearly shows the conflict between Christianity and other religions, and sometimes criticizes the Catholic religion. Throughout the book, the young Antonio is exposed to his father's love of the earth and freedom that supersedes his Catholicism, and his friend Florence's criticisms of Catholicism. Similarly, Ultima's earthy wisdom is often depicted as superior to the pat answers Antonio receives from his Catholic mother. In addition, the book clearly shows the importance of independent thinking and questioning religious authority.
At the same time, Bless Me, Ultima reflects the views and lifestyles of the Mexican-American heritage. Author Anaya notes that the book was written "to explore and explain the folk ways of a different culture" (cited in Taichert). Part of this experience is the struggle between indigenous culture and spirituality and Western culture and the Catholic religion. In the book, Antonio struggles to reconcile these differing cultural traditions, and ultimately learns that his identity is more complex and rich because he has developed an understanding of all of these traditions.
Bless Me, Ultima, should not be banned as it simply reflects the views and lifestyles of the Mexican-American heritage. While the book does contain criticism of Catholicism, it occurs within the context of exploring the interaction of the character's different cultural identities. In the end, the story argues that embracing both indigenous and Western cultures will help to develop a healthier and richer cultural identity. Notes Henry Reichman (1998), school...
Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima raises the serious question of whether works that present controversial themes or issues should face bans or challenges. Writes Taichert, "Democracy itself is at stake when people challenge or ban books." While this is one extreme view of censorship, it is important to consider the potential negatives of allowing narrow political and religious views to dictate children's exposure to literature. Of course, these concerns must be balanced carefully to ensure that students receive age-appropriate literature.
In conclusion, Rudolfo A. Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima should not be banned as it provides a valuable reflection of views and lifestyles of the Mexican-American heritage. Importantly, the book also gives a layered look at the conflict that exists between indigenous culture and spirituality and Western culture and the Catholic religion. Banning books like Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, based upon the fact they deal with controversial themes or issues, raises some serious questions about what constitutes acceptable reasons for restricting curriculum. Bans based on books containing controversial themes challenge the basis of democracy, and the tradition of respecting diversity of religious and political thought in the United States of America.
Works Cited
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. Warner Books, 1994.
Aurnague-DeSpain, JeanMarie, and Baas, Alan. Censorship of Curriculum Materials. ERIC Digest Series Number EA44. 28 September 2004. http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed315864.html
Education World. Banning Books from the Classroom: How to Handle Cries for Censorship, 1997. 28 September 2004. http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr031.shtml
Taichert, Pari Noskin. We can't allow our freedom to read to fall. 28 September 2004. http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/diversions03/091903_diversions_pari.shtml
