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Why does Ultima come to live with Antonio’s family?
Ultima comes to live with Antonio’s family because she is an elderly woman who lives alone in a village on the llano called Las Pasturas. People have been leaving Las Pasturas because of the economic and environmental consequences of World War II, and Gabriel worries for Ultima’s safety. María easily agrees because of her love and respect for Ultima. Ultima helped María with her pregnancies and provided support and comfort when the family lived in Las Pasturas.
Why do Tenorio’s daughters fall ill?
Tenorio’s daughters fall ill as a consequence of Ultima breaking the curse they put on Uncle Lucas. As part of the ritual to battle their curse, Ultima’s owl familiar does battle with the Trementinas’ coyotes and defeats them. In addition, Ultima makes three dolls in their likenesses, has Uncle Lucas breathe on them, then stabs those dolls with pins. Because the Trementinas lose the spiritual battle, their physical bodies weaken. As Ultima describes it, they are being undone by the very evil they sought to do.
Why does Antonio refuse to give Florence a punishment for sinning?
Antonio refuses to punish Florence for not believing in God because he believes punishing Florence would be unjust. He understands the circumstances that have made Florence an atheist, and he does not believe his feelings are sinful. Antonio does not like the idea that God could be so jealous and insecure that he cannot have empathy for Florence. His refusal to punish Florence is a sign of his growing moral independence because he is willing to stand against all his other classmates to defend what he believes is right.
What is the secret of the Luna priest?
The Luna priest who helped colonize the river valley had children, which a Catholic priest is not supposed to have. He is therefore Antonio’s direct ancestor. María’s hope for Antonio to become a priest takes on new meaning in this light because the Luna priest broke his vows, a failure in Catholicism. Antonio becoming a priest would restore honor to the family. This revelation ties into the book’s themes of moral complexity. While the priest sinned according to Catholic doctrine, his sin ultimately led to Antonio’s life.
What happens to Ultima?
Unable to get Ultima alone, Tenorio shoots her owl familiar, knowing that killing it will kill Ultima too. As Ultima explains to Antonio, her teacher gave her the owl familiar as her tie to the greater universe. It is her spirit, and their fates are bound. She asks Antonio to bury the owl beneath a forked juniper tree. Although the family later conducts a more typical burial for Ultima’s body in Las Pasturas, Antonio says that Ultima’s true burial was that of her owl.
