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The Golden Carp
The atomic bomb is discussed only briefly, but it resonates with the punishing apocalypses of the different religions – the Catholic Hell and the golden carp's destructive flood. That humans could create such a weapon is seen as a sign that they have acquired knowledge meant only for God, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The mention of the bomb also seems to bring the outside world into the small, isolated communities where the novel takes place, and so symbolizes the ominously encroaching modern world.
The Atomic Bomb Quotes in Bless Me, Ultima
The Bless Me, Ultima quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Atomic Bomb. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 17 (Diecisiete)
Quotes
"The atomic bomb," they whispered, "a ball of white heat beyond the imagination, beyond hell - " And they pointed south, beyond the green valley of El Puerto. "Man was not made to know so much," the old ladies cried in hushed, hoarse voices. "They compete with God, they disturb the seasons, they seek to know more than God Himself. In the end, that knowledge they seek will destroy us all - "
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The Atomic Bomb Symbol Timeline in Bless Me, Ultima
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Atomic Bomb appears in Bless Me, Ultima. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 17 (Diecisiete)
...storms on the llano and the townspeople suspect that they are caused by the hellish atomic bomb , which is being tested out in the desert. The people condemn the bomb as...
(full context)
When Antonio reports these rumors of the atomic bomb to Gabriel, he laughs and says the dust storms are just the way of the...
(full context)
