In Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima, the core theme, of which all other themes in the story revolve, is the idea of individual growth. This growth is manifested in the story’s protagonist Tony, and his struggle to find his place in the world. The trials Tony faces on this mental and emotional odyssey are brought to an aggregate towards the novel's conclusion in a conversation Tony has with his father regarding the nature and existence of evil. Tony’s father postulates that true evil does not actually exist, and that the root cause of what people consider to be evil can be attributed to a lack of insight. He tells Tony that understanding is not given by God, but is accrued over one’s life and through one’s experiences. He then goes on to state
