This presentation compares and contrasts curanderas and brujas. Both tend to be women who use nature and herbs in their practices. However, curanderas use their abilities for healing and the greater good, while brujas' purposes are more selfish and sometimes involve sacrificial ceremonies. Key examples from Bless Me, Ultima and I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem are provided to illustrate the similarities and differences between the two groups.

1. La Curandera y La Bruja
Healing vs. Witchery
By: Kaitlyn Barron
05/06/2019

2. Overview
This presentation explores the comparable aspects of Las
Curanderas and Las Brujas, as well as their separate artforms
used throughout Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima and Maryse
Condé’s I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem.

3. Comparisons
● Gender
● Abilities
● Nature

4. Distinctions
● Uses/Purposes
● Rootwork and Conjure

5. Comparisons: Gender
Based on both Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima and Maryse
Condé’s I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, Curanderas and
Brujas tend to usually be women. This has typically been the
case throughout the history of witchcraft and healings.

6. Comparisons: Examples
Some examples of women that supported magic with and without
necessarily taking part in it were:
Ultima - Bless Me, Ultima Tituba - I, Tituba...
Maria Marez - Bless Me, Ultima Mama Yaya - I, Tituba...
Trementina Sisters - Bless Me, Ultima Hester Prynne - I, Tituba…

7. Comparisons: Abilities
Both curanderas and brujas have the power to do what they
wish with their abilities. They have the power to do either
great things or horrible things. Regardless of the morals
they choose to have they could both easily switch sides.

8. Comparison: EXAMPLES
Bless Me, Ultima - Ultima was informed that one of Antonio’s
uncles was ill due to magic, she not only healed his uncle
but also reversed the magic onto the women who were to blame.
This reversal inevitably killed all three women.
I, Tituba - Tituba sacrificed animals to contact her passed
loved ones, but she also used her powers to heal Mrs. Parris
when she was becoming ill.

9. Comparisons: Nature
The use of herbs and nature is shared with Curanderas and
Brujas. Nature is one of the most important tools that they
use, if not the most important thing.

10. Comparisons: Examples
● Ultima carries a small pouch that she uses to collect all
the plants that she intends to use for her magic. She
teaches Antonio to respect the lands that they live on.
● Tituba lives on her own in the woods, using the plants
around her and learning what they can be used for in
remedies.

11. Distinctions: Uses/Purposes
Curanderas:
They use their wisdom and remedies for good. They
usually heal wounds and cure sicknesses. Focus more on the
greater good instead of selfish reasons.

12. Distinctions: Uses/Purposes
Brujas:
Tend to use their power and knowledge for more selfish
reasons. People usually think of them as being evil or
having malicious intent.

13. Distinctions: Rootwork
Curanderas use herbs to construct their remedies and cures.
This is significant because no person or animal is harmed in
the process of creating such powerful concoctions.

14. Distinctions: Conjure
Brujas use herbs as well but they also practice sacrificial
ceremonies. Their way is harsher and darker though they
still keep the scales of nature aligned and balanced.

15. Distinctions: Examples
Curandera:
Ultima- Creates a cure for Antonio when he falls sick
and runs a dangerously high fever.
Bruja:
Tituba- sacrificed animals to gain additional knowledge
for herself as well as communicate with her Mother and Mama
Yaya who had both passed away.

16. Conclusion
Curanderas and Brujas have many similarities and differences.
However, for the most part they have the same powers they
just choose to use them in separate ways. They are named
based off of their intentions and the use of their knowledge.