- The document discusses healing and witchery in the novels Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya and I Tituba, Black Witch of Salem by Maryse Condé. - It will compare how healing and witchery are portrayed in each novel, looking at examples of healing and witchery in both novels. It will then contrast differences between how healing and witchery function in the two societies depicted. - Finally, it discusses what was learned about healing and witchery based on the roles they play in the lives of the female protagonists in each novel.

1. HEALING
VS
WITCHERY
S Y D N E Y P I E R R E
M AY 2 , 2 0 1 9 1

2. SUMMARY
• First, we must compare healing and witchery in Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya and
in Maryse Condé’s I Tituba, Black Witch of Salem
• Here is how I will do this…
– First, we will look at the presence of healing in Bless Me, Ultima
– Next, we will consider witchery’s impact in Bless Me, Ultima
– Then, we will assert healing in I Tituba, Black Witch of Salem
– After that, we will turn our attention to witchery in I Tituba, Black Witch of Salem
– After these points are established, we will then present any comparisons between healing
and witchery in both novels
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3. SUMMARY
• After comparing healing and witchery in both Bless Me, Ultima and I Tituba, Black
Witch of Salem, we will make contrasting observations
– It will work like this…
• Using the information that we first made objectively, we will then venture on to create contrasting
evidences (see Slide 2)
• We will consider a multitude of differences, both big and small
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4. SUMMARY
• After comparing and contrasting, I will discuss what I have taken away from both
novels
• Both Bless Me, Ultima and I Tituba, Black Witch of Salem have lots of valuable
information they produce
– This information is valuable especially when considered culturally
• Race/Ethnicity
• Gender
• Historical Timeframe
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5. HEALING IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
• Throughout my reading of the novel, I have came upon my own definition of healing,
one that is present at least in the lives of Antonio (Tony) and Ultima
• Healing
– The use of natural instruments towards the restoration of quality of life.
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6. HEALING IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
– After Antonio returns from the river after witnessing Lupito’s death he is covered in cuts and
scrapes. Ultima “prepares a new potion and with this she washed and the cuts on [Tony’s]
face and feet.
– At the same time, Ultima gives Antonio a drink that calms him after the traumatic events he
has witnessed and it rest him and helps him sleep
– The next morning, Tony looks at his wombs he received in the forest. Having been cut by
tree branches before, he expects to find the wombs “red with dry blood” and the welts to be
sore. However, he only find faint, pink lines and no pain.
– Ultima also burns incenses to bring blessings to every new day.
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Examples of Healing (con’t)

7. HEALING IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
– Ultima identifies a curandera, a woman who uses folk medicines for healing, several times
throughout the book
– Ultima uses herbs and roots from forest and mountains near Tony’s home regularly
– Ultima honors the divinity of nature and its order and speaks to the roots and herbs she
uses before extracting them from the earth
– Ultima knew the specific functions of many plants and shared these remedies with Tony
• Yerba del Manso: cured sores, piles, colic, bloody dysentery, and rheumatism
• Oregabi: cure for coughs and fever as well as a spice for foods
• Oshà: cure for coughs/colds, cuts and bruises, stomach problem
– Ultima used healing to lift the curse put on Tony’s uncle by Tenorio’s daughters
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Examples of Healing (con’t)

8. WITCHERY IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
• Upon reading Anaya’s novel, I also conceived of my own definition for witchery
• Witchery
– The use of supernatural forces towards the change of some forces, may be used for both
good and evil
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9. WITCHERY IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
– The story of la Llarona in Antonio’s dream is the novel’s first encounter with witchery. The
presence of the river hangs over him at this point and the words of the old, bitter witch
haunt him and make him afraid.
– Ultima’s blessings over Tony and his sisters use no derivatives of the Earth, but still warp him
into a whirlwind of emotions and sensations.
– The presence of the river and its ability to speak when Tony and Ultima listen closely are
examples of witchery.
– The dust devils of the llano are examples of witchery, the foul spirits often attach travelers
when it is very windy and can only be drawn out by the cross
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Examples of Witchery

10. WITCHERY IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
– The daughters of Tenorio are brujas, meaning witch of sorceress. Ultima says that they have
long turned their backs from God and have instead turned to be in league with the devil.
They read from his Black Book, practice evil deeds on innocent people, have black masses
and dance with the devil. They also casted a spell on Tony’s uncle and others that cross their
father.
– The mothers of the three brujas, also practiced witchery. She made clay dolls and pricked
them with needs, making many in the valley sick and even die.
– Ultima too practiced witchery when she made clay dolls to represent the three brujas and
performed a litany of tasks and spells upon them.
– Witchery was also used in the curse over Gabriel’s friend’s home that Ultima had to drive
out.
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Examples of Witchery (con’t)

11. HEALING IN I TITUBA, BLACK WITCH
OF SALEM
• Again, healing can be defined by its use of elements of the Earth
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12. HEALING IN I TITUBA, BLACK WITCH
OF SALEM
– Upon the death of Tituba’s mother, she learned healing practices from Mama Yaya. The old
woman taught her about many different herbs. Herbs that induced sleep, healed wounds
and ulcers, loosened the tongues of thieves, calmed epileptics, and those that gave peace
and hope to the angry, desperate, and suicidal
– Mama Yaya taught Tituba the importance of respecting the Earth because “everything lives,
has a soul, and breathes”
– Tituba used healing herbs and remedies to take care of the Parrishes on their journey to
America
– Tituba healed Betsey Parrish after she fell ill with a bath of herbs and other fluids
– Tituba used her knowledge of healing to take care of Benjamin Cohen d’Azevedo and his
family
– Tituba again used healing to take care of Iphigene before their deaths
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Examples of Healing

13. WITCHERY IN I TITUBA, BLACK
WITCH OF SALEM
• Again, in this Maryse Condé’s novel, witchery has elements of supernatural forces
• It seems that witchery is used more often than healing in this novel, however
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14. WITCHERY IN I TITUBA, BLACK
WITCH OF SALEM
• Tituba often used witchery to conjure up the spirits of Mama Yaya, her mother, Yao,
and Hester. The spirits would often guide her in her decisions. She also conjured up
the spirits of Benjamin’s family. She sometimes used scarifies or other powers to speak
to the deceases
• Tituba used witchery to place a curse on Susanna Endicott after she stood in the way of
her and John Indian’s relationship
• Several women in Salem participated in witchery through the use of dolls, they would
use these to inflict pain and illness on other people of the town
• Tituba’s bowl that allowed her to see her native Barbados required an element of
supernatural influence. It provided her with peace, having it somewhat close to her.
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15. COMPARISONS
HEALING
• Healing in both novels is used to help
the physical and mental health of
those around them.
• Healing requires a great deal of
knowledge and care, and often
appears to have a magical element
when in the hands of Ultima an Tituba
• Healing in both novels, has been
taught to these women from other
members of their communities who
were renowned experts
• Practitioners of healing are taught to
respect the Earth and all its glory
WITCHERY
• Witchery can be used in two contexts
throughout each novel, for both good
and evil
• Witchery requires often some sort of
inanimate object and supernatural
power to be put into place
• Both Ultima and Tituba used witchery
for evil at least once in their novels,
though it is justified in both cases, the
fact remains
• The good and evil in witchery are often
misunderstood or misrepresented in
the societies of both women 15

16. CONTRACTIONS
HEALING
• In Ultima’s society, her healing
practices are more protected and
respected than in Tituba’s. As a black
slave, Tituba’s practices are met with
more fear and hostility
• Ultima is usually called upon and is
able to travel to different areas to
bring healing to people, however,
Tituba’s ability to heal people is very
dependent upon her environment
WITCHERY
• Tituba uses witchery more than Ultima
does. Though in most cases, witchery
is still used to benefit Tituba and the
lives of others, she still seeks help from
supernatural forces more often than
Ultima
• It is arguable, that Tituba needs the
forces of the supernatural more than
Ultima because of the differences in
their lifestyles.
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17. CONCLUSIONS
• For these women, the roles of healing and witchery play very similar, yet different roles
in their lives
• Perhaps the most profound thing I have discovered in my readings is the roles that
healing and witchery must play in the lives of these women if they are to expect
respect of any kind
• For Ultima, the title la curandera earns her a lifetime of respect and dignity. This same
promise is not provided to the other women of her time, like Antonio’s mother and
sister who cannot be sure how much protection their lives will bring
• For Tituba, she has to strive harder for respect and dignity. She is not revered as
publicly as Ultima is, however, her healings and witchery are still needed for the well-
being of her community
• Both Tituba and Ultima use their powers and their healing knowledge for the
betterment of their societies. Though they may often be met with distrust, they both
have an overwhelming record of selflessness in their practices
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