Post by derekdowney on Sept 3, 2011 18:52:03 GMT -5
In Bless me Ultima Tony’s dreams are a clear indication of the conflict between his morales and the morales of his society. His dreams allow the reader to view those issues which tear at him the most, making analysis very easy if not sometimes disturbing. Tony’s dreams are mostly plagued by religion because of its many logical flaws and the inability to ask any priest questions without being labeled a nonbeliever. Tony must weigh conformity or alienation.
In Tony’s dreams he often plays the role of a priest or with having powers to forgive people of there sins. In one of these dreams Tony yells at the images of his three brothers that he does not have the power of god for he doesn’t understand god. With his mother constantly pressuring Tony to become a priest, he must decide between the wishes of his family and the avenue he wishes to take through his life. In another dream Tony can be found arguing with god trying to save a damned friend who recently died. Then Talking to the virgin Mary, then thrown down to earth by god for trying to ask Mary to damn a man. On earth he sees his grandmother Ultima (who he sees as a religious figure given her powers) being cooked and devoured by the sinners of the city, finally ending with an alternate form of Ragnarok and a paradise created by the golden carp. In this section it is easy to see that Tony can see and understand many religions but has yet to choose one for himself alienating him from his society where even those who do not follow Christianity have found something to believe in. Tony can’t find a religion to follow for each one has some type of flaw that is so obvious he can’t follow without having a morale dilemma.
Tony expresses his views on religion in actions during a game the children design. In this game Tony is placed as a priest and the children are those who have come for confession. As the game progresses it becomes sinister as the children grab a young boy who is a protestant and tell Tony to sentence him for punishment for heresy. Tony responds by saying the boy has done nothing wrong and deserves no punishment, for this display Tony is beat. After this Tony unfortunately never gets the chance to express his true self in such a situation again, for he would probably do the same thing. Tony does not fear alienation for through those actions he makes bonds stronger then those of conformity.
People are meant to think for themselves not to absorb every idea thrown at them like a sponge. In Tony’s society conformity is the norm and those who are outside the norm are plastered with the stigma of drunk and witch. Tony is stuck in this society torn between his friends and those who he sees can change if only shown the way.
In Tony’s dreams he often plays the role of a priest or with having powers to forgive people of there sins. In one of these dreams Tony yells at the images of his three brothers that he does not have the power of god for he doesn’t understand god. With his mother constantly pressuring Tony to become a priest, he must decide between the wishes of his family and the avenue he wishes to take through his life. In another dream Tony can be found arguing with god trying to save a damned friend who recently died. Then Talking to the virgin Mary, then thrown down to earth by god for trying to ask Mary to damn a man. On earth he sees his grandmother Ultima (who he sees as a religious figure given her powers) being cooked and devoured by the sinners of the city, finally ending with an alternate form of Ragnarok and a paradise created by the golden carp. In this section it is easy to see that Tony can see and understand many religions but has yet to choose one for himself alienating him from his society where even those who do not follow Christianity have found something to believe in. Tony can’t find a religion to follow for each one has some type of flaw that is so obvious he can’t follow without having a morale dilemma.
Tony expresses his views on religion in actions during a game the children design. In this game Tony is placed as a priest and the children are those who have come for confession. As the game progresses it becomes sinister as the children grab a young boy who is a protestant and tell Tony to sentence him for punishment for heresy. Tony responds by saying the boy has done nothing wrong and deserves no punishment, for this display Tony is beat. After this Tony unfortunately never gets the chance to express his true self in such a situation again, for he would probably do the same thing. Tony does not fear alienation for through those actions he makes bonds stronger then those of conformity.
People are meant to think for themselves not to absorb every idea thrown at them like a sponge. In Tony’s society conformity is the norm and those who are outside the norm are plastered with the stigma of drunk and witch. Tony is stuck in this society torn between his friends and those who he sees can change if only shown the way.
