C-Span Interview with Rudolfo Anaya
I discovered this interview with the author of Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya. Anaya was born and grew up in Alburquerque, New Mexico and wrote the book in the 1960s when he was teaching. This was of importance because of the Chicano Movement of the 1960s taking shape. A fact that I found intriguing is that the book is required reading in public schools across New Mexico but is banned in some education systems in Arizona and Colorado because of the subject matter.
Firstly, I found this video important because Anaya addresses a lot of positive and negative reactions to his book. Some people objected to the book’s vernacular or the issues regarding witchcraft. A lot of times, many people didn’t even read the book but they picked apart a small portion that they disagreed with and blew it out of proportion. These ignorant reactions are destructive and remind Anaya of “totalitarian” ideas especially considering the universal acclaim of the Harry Potter series, books ensconced in witchcraft.
I almost see this as a real-life representation of the reaction of varying characters throughout the book itself. Ultima has had mixed interpretations from people surrounding her both in the fictitious pages of the book and in the realities of life. Anaya comes from New Mexico, where the common folklore of witches, or shaman as Anaya likes to say, is that they have the spiritual powers to perform both good or evil. These healers who Anaya brilliantly described as “warriors who helped restore harmony to the fragmented soul” (Anaya xi). That viewpoint is not shared by the masses.
Another point Anaya makes is how he grounds his book on the strength of building relationships. Many other movies are solely entertainment for audiences and provide ample action but not a development of relationships. He mentions that one of the most important relationships in the novel was between Antonio and Ultima, where the latter provided guidance and education as tools for self-discovery.
A large portion of the novel, and linked to the character of Antonio, were his mystical dreams which often provided him with symbolic representations of his past, present and possible future. Anaya, in this interview, provides the knowledge that the character of Ultima came to him in a dream to guide him in her creation and role in his story, stating to him: “You’ll never get it right until you put me in it.” The story of the origin of Ultima further connected Anaya to the character of Antonio and his journey.
Works Cited
“Book Discussion on Bless Me, Ultima“. Online Video Clip. C-Span. C-Span, 6 Feb. 2013. Web. 9 Feb. 2014.
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 1972. Print.
It was interesting to hear that the book had been banned in some schools. Anaya makes a great point that in this generation of “Harry Potter” and even “Twilight” that books are still being negatively perceived because they include witchcraft. I also thought it was interesting that he mentioned that most of the people supporting the ban had not read the book. Ignorance allows for discrimination and hate. No book should be banned without receiving a proper chance. I personally did not find the book to be offensive or worthy of any sort of ban. I think the supernatural elements in the book just enhance the themes and richness of the story.
It was interesting to hear Anaya’s thought on his book ban. I could see why, on the surface, the novel could be perceived as subversive and dangerous. It deals with a controversial topic, the difficulty of belonging to a marginalized group in America, and it does so through the experiences of a child. Moreover, I could see how the mystical elements of the novel could be problematic for certain people with limited tolerance because unlike other popular fictions where magic is also depicted, here the fantastical forms a powerful religion that can rival the sacred supremacy of the Christianity. However, I do not support the censorship of this book because it is a novel that needs to be read. Not only does it possess literary merit but it also provides a voice to people who are often ignored.