This document compares and contrasts la curandera and la bruja. La curandera, like Ultima in Bless Me, Ultima, is a spiritual healer who uses plants and herbs for healing. La bruja, like Tituba in I, Tituba, is a conjure woman who uses rootwork and magic. While both use nature and animals, they differ in background and practices. Ultima stays local while Tituba travels. Both empower women but each magic user has unique differences. Evidence from the works and interviews show how la curandera heals with plants versus la bruja's conjuring of spirits.

1. La Curandera vs. La Bruja
By: Brock Wunstell
05-5-19
ENGL-216

2. La Curandera vs. La Bruja
La Curandera
 a spiritual healer or medicine woman
 Example: Ultima in Bless Me, Ultima
by Rudolfo Anaya.
La Bruja
 A conjure woman who uses rootwork
for her magic
 Example: Tituba in I, Tituba by Maryse
Conde.

3. Evidence
Throughout this power point, I’ll be using evidence and specific instances of when
the women display acts of their magic and showcases her specific kind of magic.

4. Comparing and contrasting
Due to the fact that a Bruja and a Curandera are very similar because of the magic
they use, I’ll also be showing the apparent differences between the two magic
users that make them separate.

6. Ultima
La curandera - a woman that is a spiritual
healer who uses plants, herbs, and magic to
treat illness or import wisdom.
Originates from the Latin American
culture.

7. Tituba practices both-
Rootwork
 A southern folk magic that uses
candles and herbs for everyday needs
 Also called hoodoo
Conjure
 To call upon a spirit or ghost to
appear
 Usually done by means of a spiritual
ritual

8. Curandera and Bruja in real life
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoJUzuu0BF4
 This interview shows a Curandera treating various village children with plants and other
methods.
 http://chronicallylit.com/brujeria-and-healing-an-interview-with-lorraine-
monteagut-of-bruja-heights/
 This is an interview with an African Bruja

9. Evidence from the works

10. Ultima’s use of healing magic
After being cut by branches, Ultima quickly heals,
and the cuts turn pink by the following day.
She forces the evil out when fighting the curse that
was laid upon Antonio’s uncle.
Ultima had Tony and his father create a wooden altar
which they had to burn in order to get rid of evil
spirits.

11. Tituba’s use of magic
She brings back Mama Yaya in spirit form using
conjure.
Tituba heals Elizabeth Parris using herbal remedies.
Tituba predicts what will happen during the rebellion
and revolts.

12. Comparing and Contrasting a La
Bruja and a La Curandera

13. Differences
 Although both women use animals in their practices, Tituba performs animal
sacrifice while Ultima pursues a deeper relationship with them (a familiar).
 A la Curandera is specific to Chicanx while a la bruja is specific to an African
background.
 Ultima is stays put, and Tituba travels a lot throughout her life.

14. Similarities
Both almost always depicted as
women
Both call upon nature for their
power and magic.

15. Conclusion
Even though a Curandera and a Bruja are
very similar and both empower women,
they also both have specific differences
that make each magic user completely
unique.

16. Work Cited
 Anaya, Rudolfo A. Bless Me, Ultima. Grand Central Publ., 2013.
 Condé Maryse, et al. I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem. University Of Virginia Press,
2009.
 Notes from the in class discussions on the two books throughout the semester.