The Internal Conflict of Antonio in Bless Me, Ultima

What internal conflict troubles Antonio's mind throughout the summer?

Antonio's internal conflict between his mother's Catholicism and his father's cultural beliefs troubles him throughout the summer.

In the novel "Bless Me, Ultima," Antonio is faced with a deep internal conflict that stems from the clash between his mother's devout Catholicism and his father's Márez family's cultural beliefs. This conflict arises after Ultima, a curandera, lifts the curse off of Antonio's uncle Lucas with Antonio's help. The experience forces Antonio to confront the differences between his parents' beliefs and the impact those differences have on his own identity.

Antonio's mother, Maria, represents the Catholic faith in the novel. She is a devout Catholic who places a strong emphasis on religious values, prayer, and obedience to church teachings. On the other hand, Antonio's father, Gabriel, comes from the Márez family, who adhere to their own set of cultural beliefs that are deeply rooted in the land and nature.

Throughout the summer, Antonio grapples with questions of morality, spirituality, and cultural loyalty. He is torn between his mother's desire for him to become a priest and his father's hope that he will carry on the family traditions. This internal conflict weighs heavily on Antonio's young mind as he tries to navigate the complexities of his multicultural upbringing.

Ultimately, Antonio's journey in "Bless Me, Ultima" is a coming-of-age tale that explores the challenges of reconciling conflicting belief systems and finding one's own path in the world.