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when he is a smali and obedient cliild. Ratlier dian force Antonio to help her witli Lucas s e\orcism. for instance, Ultima clearly explains what is at stake and allows Antonio to make his own decision. At tlie end of the novel, on her deathbed. Ultima treats Antonio as her spiritual heir, asking him to bury tlie owi tliat bas symbolized her life force throughout tlie book. Though Ultima dies, her spirit and her influence will guide Antonio throughout his life.

Gabriel

At first glance, Gabriel appears to be a washed-up old vaquero, or cowboy, wito lives in a State of nostalgie regret on a patch of barren land. Gabriel works a demeaning job, drinks himself intoa sntpor on a weekly basis, and freąuently figlits with his wife. But as die novel progresses, the depth and digility of Gabrieli relationship witli the liano becomes elear. Even though he lives in a State of regret, he does so only out of liis genuine fondness for the vaquero way of life. His choice to live on barren ratlier than fertile land resnlts from his desire to be near the liano. His barren surroundings also support the idea tliat his family lives on the threshold of civilization and isolation.

The family's In-between State causes a great deal of conflict between Gabriel and his wife, Maria, a Catholic who would like to live in a civilized town. For the sake of Maria and his family, Gabriel leaves the liano, moves to town, and begins to attend church. Gabriel continually demonstrates maturity, equanimity, and self-sacriflce in this vein as the story progresses. Maria tries to force Antonio to follow her family's traditlon and become a priest, but Gabriel does not coax him to follow his background and become a vaquero. Instead, Gabriel wants Antonio to become a vaquero only if he chooses that lifestyle. At the conclusion of the novel, Gabriel volunteers to put aside the conflict with the Lunas and help Antonio make his own choice about his futurę. Like Antonio himself, Gabriel has a serious and inquisitive mind. He has suffered hardship and bad luck, but he continues to strive to do the right thing