The Identity Formation of Chicanos In Rudolfo Anaya’s Novel Bless Me Ultima

Oleh :
Shofi Mahmudah Budi Utami - C0307006 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

This thesis is about the identities formation of Chicanos which are seen through the novel entitled Bless Me Ultima written by Rudolfo Anaya in the 1960’s. It is explained in the thesis how Anaya constructed the Chicano Identities in the 1960’s through the main data which were taken from the novel mainly the characters, characterization, plot, point of view, setting, theme, and dialogues with the supporting data taken from various sources such as books, journals, articles, on line sources which were all significantly related to the issue and useful to answer the research question. Since this research was interdisciplinary study, it employed some approaches and theory which were aimed to answer the research question. Some approach and theories were socio-cultural, semiotics, and identity politics. The biography of Rudolfo Anaya was also included because it was significant to the answering research question as the novel, Bless Me Ultima, is a semi-autobiographical work. Through the analysis, it is found that Anaya formed the Chicano identities through the novel Bless Me Ultima. The concept of Chicano identities in the 1960’s constructed in the novel is by tracing back the traditional values of Chicanos and affirming that these traditional values as the ideal characteristic of Chicanos. In order to identify the Chicano identities, Anaya presented cultural conflicts faced by the main character such as Vaquero vs. Llano culture, Catholicism vs. Indigenous myth, and the Chicano culture vs. Anglo culture. In the way to affirm the ideal characteristic of Chicanos, Anaya then traced back the traditional values through the meaning marking of “the land”, the performance of Ultima as curandera and her healing power, and also the maturation of Antonio’s spirituality which represents the Chicano spirituality. The 1960’s, when Anaya wrote and finished this novel, was the time of the rise of Chicano community to be recognized in the American society. Anaya researched the Chicano identities and used these constructed identities through the literary works to awaken the Chicanos that they have identities, they need to be recognized, to be acknowledged, to have the same rights in the American society. Keywords: Chicano, curandera, Rudolfo Anaya, 1960’s Chicano literature