The novel "Bless Me, Ultima," by Rudolfo Anaya, takes place in Guadalupe, New Mexico during World War II. The main characters are six year old Antonio, his parents, Maria and Gabriel, brothers Andrew, Leon, and Eugene, and Ultima, an old woman known for being a curandera (a woman who knew the herbs and remedies of the ancients, a miracle-worker who could heal the sick, often suspected of practicing witchcraft herself - Anaya 4). The novel advances with the mental development of Antonio, which typically appears through the occasional dreams that he experiences. Before Antonio's first dream in the novel is presented, Antonio narrates, "Once I had told my mother about my dreams, and she said they were visions from God and she was happy, because her own dream was that i should grow up and become a priest" (4). This indicates that even though Antonio is young, Maria already has expectations for him to meet, causing additional pressure for him to follow the path of the Catholic religion. Through the experience of several of Antonio's dreams, Anaya reveals that the dreams portray a loss of innocence, a realization of fears, and the foreshadowing of events, which all contribute to his growth. One aspect of Antonio's growth relies on the understanding of events conveyed through his dreams, resulting in the corruption of his innocence. Throughout the novel, there are several situations where Antonio's parents' beliefs clash, causing Antonio to have to choose one side or the other. Antonio's mother is Catholic meaning that she believes in a settled lifestyle but Antonio's father prefers roaming free. During one of Antonio's dreams, Antonio's parents debate over whether Antonio's destiny is to become a priest or a vaquero. After both sides are presented, Antonio whines, "Oh please tell me which is the water that runs through my veins" (120). Antonio's urge to know shows that he has the ability to make decisions for himself when presented with a certain path. As the dream continues, Ultima comes in and explains that "the waters are one," which is followed by a narration by Antonio, "I looked into her bright clear eyes and understood her truth" (121). Antonio's willingness to separate from the idea of depending on others to lead him through life display's Antonio's loss of innocence. Through all the deaths that Antonio has seen, he has prayed to God several times in hope of making thing