Ultima explains to Antonio "that the tragic consequences of life can be overcome by the magical strength that resides in the human heart" (Anaya 237). Ultima shows Antonio how to experience the magic of life with his heart and not with his eyes. For the first time, he sees the river not as something to be feared but as a source of life. This new outlook of the river is evident in the quote, "I had been afraid of the awful presence of the river, which was the soul of the river, but through her I learned that my spirit shared in the spirit of all things" (15). The river is both creative and destructive in nature. It is this new magical way of seeing the river that will help Antonio understand many of the events that occur in the novel. As Antonio deepens his understanding of the river and the forces of nature tha

human heart" (237). On her deathbed, Ultima explains, "the owl was my spirit, my bond to the time and harmony of the universe" (260). Like the owl, Ultima is headed to "a new place, a new time" (260). She reassures Antonio that she will always be with him, "when the wind is gentle and the owls sing in the hills" (261). Upon Ultima's death, Antonio is no longer afraid of death. Birth, life, and death are all part of the universe and like Ultima; Antonio too must go through the process. He also realizes he must not rely on his Catholic fate but on his inner strength, his harmony with nature, and a lifetime of experience to understand. In the future, Antonio will build his own dreams, "out of those things that were so much a part of my childhood" (261).

It is this growing harmony with the earth that will later help Antonio connect with his heritage and the ancient ways of his ancestors. Ultima shows him the magic of nature, Antonio emphasizes this by stating, "even the plants had a spirit, and before I dug she made me speak to the plant and tell it why we pulled it from its home in the earth" (39). Antonio gains knowledge of which plants are good for healing but more importantly he learns of Ultima's nobility and grace as they wonder the llano together. Ultima instructs Antonio that one must give back to the earth what has been

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Approximate Word count = 899
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)