Bless Me Ultima Theme Analysis Essay

Chinua Achebe and Rudolfo Anaya write stories about two people that must all over come struggles and difficulties in spiritedness. The characters in both stories must overcome internal and external conflict. A theme expressed in both stories is that everyone has conflicted and struggles in their life but they must overcome and make the best of the situation. This theme is expressed through with(predicate) character thoughts, symbolism and character experiences. In Anayas story, Bless Me Ultima, the important(prenominal) character, Antonio must over come galore(postnominal) different obstacles, in one summer.Throughout Antonios summer he experiences death everywhere, he experiences the death of a stranger, family friend, and 2 close friends, but some how through it all he stays strong. He witnesses the death of a dear friend, the lonely river was a doleful place to be when one is a small boy who has just seen a friend die (Anaya, 231). Antonio wintness the death of someone fro m town, Lupito, although he did not real know the man, witnessing the death of anyone can be saddening, I saw Lupito lifted off his feet and hurled backwards by the bullets. (Anaya 20)Not only did Antonio have to say cheerio to the people who died, shortly later his brothers returned from war, they were gone again, I wondered if I would ever really know my brothers, or would the remain but phantoms of my dream. ( Anya, 178) Although Antonio was not a sunny laughing child through the course of the story, he did remain positive and continued moving forward. In Achebes short story Civil Peace, the main character Jonathan Iwegbu and his family go through a devastating 3 year war, however he continues to stay strong, this shows through comparisons and symbolism.Instead of the character being discourage and whoa it is me, he is thankful and feels he is blessed, He had come of the war with five inestimable blessings- his head, his wife Marias head, and the head of the three of their four children. (Achebe, 358) Things we stick forgranted in America Jonathan considered them miracles. As a bonus he also has his old bicycle- a miracle too (Achebe, 359) Another example, the newest miracle was his little house in Ogui overside..Of course the doors and windows were missing and five sheets of the roof (Achebe 359). Rusted bike, and damaged house, these our things many people would be disappointed to have, Jonathan is just grateful to have anything, with everything he has been through, he finds the better side of the situation. The thoughts and words of both characters is clear evidence of perseverance and determination to continue moving forward. Let it go where everything else has gone. Nothing puzzles God (Achebe, 364).Jonathan says this after the robbers come to his house, he is saying that let them take the money, more was taken in the war, and that God knows what he is doing. Even after all the money he has worked hard for is taken Jonathan still does not get down on himself, like Antonio. The rest of the summer was good for me, good in a disposition that is was filled with its richness and I made strength from everything that had happened to me, so that in the end even the final tragedy could not defeat me (Anaya, 237). This though Antonio had sums up the theme of both stories all in one.Both characters will take what the world throws at them and use it to make them stronger, and they will continue to live. These stories were both univocal and easy to keep up with, but they had deeper meanings within the story. There wasnt only the one theme I have described for you, but many other ones. However the theme that popped out at me, was basically what doesnt kill us makes us stronger. Which is No matter what people go through they must find the strength within to persevere and continue living their life.