Bless Me, Ultima: Conflicting Lifestyles The novel Bless Me, Ultima, is a classic tale based upon Mexican- American culture and folklore. The author, Rudolfo Anaya uses Mexican names and Spanish words to give the reader a true sense of the Latin culture. The story is based around young Antonio who was coming of age at the conclusion of World War II. His family lived in a quiet and isolated New Mexico valley that was in a state of transition. Tony, the last child was protected and raised mostly by his mother with the help of Ultima, a sickly friend who came to live with the family. She becam