Healing and Witchery in Rodolfo Anaya's Blessed me Ultima and Maryse Conde's I, Tituba Black Witch of Salem.

1. La Curandera O La Bruja:
Comparing and Contrasting
Healing and Witchery in
Rodalfo Anaya’s Bless Me,
Ultima and Maryse Conde’s I,
Tituba, Black Witch of Salem
By: Faryal Atif
5/7/19

2. Major Points: Some important things which
define both Ultima and Tituba...
. Ability . Class
. Race
. Sexuality
. Gender

3. What is the meaning of Curendera?
Before we start analysing Ultima and Tituba it is important to know
what is a Curandera. The Curandera is an intermediary between the
physical and the spiritual world. The spirits can influence the quality
of life of the individual or the community. The Nature Spirits can be
benevolent or harmful. The Curandera can treat diseases caused by
harmful spirits. Both Tituba and Ultima are Curanderas.

4. Ability:
Ultima and Tituba both belong to different parts of the world yet
something connect them to each other. It is the ability to heal and
take care of others. They both face a lot of backlash from society but
they stand firm on their grounds and continue what they know the
best. Tituba faced the worst when she was arrested on the false
charges of Witchcraft

5. Race:
For most part Witchcraft is associated with women of color. Tituba
was a slave and Ultima came to stay with a family and took care of
their young son. Though Ultima gain respect by Antonio's family
because of her healing power. s and background, Tituba was in
trouble because of the exact same thing. She was demonised by
white Puritan master and recived incredible amount of hate due to
her color of skin.

6. Sexuality:
Young Tituba encounters a very hated relationship with her
husband’s mistress Susan Endicott because she was young, and
knows witchcraft well which she learned from her caretaker, Mama
Yaya.Even though Tituba was strong and able but she was often
reminded of her sexuality and threatened by her master Samuel
Parris. Would he does the same thing if she was a boy? Probably not.
On the other hand Ultima was facing her own fairshare problems by
village men who wants her out of Antonio’s house and ultimately the
village.

7. Witches or Healers?
What should we consider Tituba and Ultima - Witches or healers?
They do have magic which can bring darkness or spirit from heart or
control someone mind but that's not what is is for.As a folk healer
and midwife - they work hard and taken on the labor of caring for ill,
elderly, pregnant, and disabled members of our communities, making lives
more livable with the aid of herbs, natural remedies, and recipes for
wellness.

8. Love of Nature
Ultima believed that everything in life has a purpose. Whether it is a
river, a rock or a tiny ant. Tituba lived on a beautiful place away from
society where she grows vegetables and herbs. Has she just lived
there her whole life she won’t be in any type of pleasure.

9. How class work for both Tituba and
Ultima:
Tituba didn’t suffer much because of her social status . She was well
respected by the ones who care about her and feared by those who
doesn't. However, Tituba suffer dearly due to her class and slave
status. She was beaten, accused, taken advantage of and all of this
because the accuser now there's no one who can stand behind her
and she has no power to fight back. Just like a normal society where
survival of fittest is the golden rule and if you cannot fight back
because of your social status then you will be doomed.

10. Witchery Vs Ceremony:
Witchery is darkness whereas is Ceremony brings light with it. It
brings healing and happiness. Do we consider Ultima and Tituba good
witches or bad ? Depends about situation and how they dealt with it.
Ultima wants little Antonio to “listen to the land” , she means no harm
to little boy who spend days with her.Tituba became a savior for
Elizabeth Parris and her girls. They only look bad and evil to those
whose intentions are not right so Witchery and Ceremony is inside us
and our intentions.

11. Is Witchcraft Magic?
Looking at Ultima and Tituba, it takes them years to learn and
become expert in their craft. Tituba live with her caretaker Mama
Yaya, a conjure women for years and study every single detail of how
she use herb and spice to use for her witchery and Ultima also spent
her life to master those skills. Their work is not magic but a true art
like modern medicine. It is about how you use it. It’s about healing,
it;s about ceremony.

12. Religion
Religion plays an important role in witchery. Ultima was not very
welcome in churches. People talked about her at her back. Like she
would not belong there. Tituba never really cared about religion
since she sees the caretaker of religion abusing it every second. But
religion is connected to witchcraft anyway..perhaps religion is a
witchery itself. The belief that there is hell out there which will burn
you if you don't obey or heaven where you will live forever with and
enjoy whatever your heart desires. Sounds Witchy?

13. Witcher: A way to heal, learn, and live

14. Satan Or witches or is it same ?
Ultima and Tituba , were accused of heinous crimes. Like They are
Satan in human disguise . But are they? Ultima’s love of birds, water,
nature makes her someone who wants to live and let live. Tituba
dreamed of a life with peace and harmony but it is the society which
is Satan and tried to change them from healers to darkness, from
ceremony to witchery.

15. So what is Witchery and what is
Ceremony?
Ceremony is Tituba’s learning how to use herbs and magic to heal
others, Witchery is to push her to a point where she uses her power
to get rid of any negativity in her life. Ceremony is Ultima’s search of
land and nature, Witchery is accusing her of being a Witch. We all
have some Whitcher in us. As long as we not let it take over the
ceremony inside us the world will remain a great place to live, love
and healing.