"These things of the water, the mermaid, the golden carp. They are strange. There is so much water around the town, the river, the creek, the lakes-" (117)
"I thought about the sins of the town and how the golden carp would punish the sinners. He would drown them in clear, blue water. Then we passed the church and I thought about God's punishment for sinners. He casts them in the burning pit of hell where they burn for eternity... Drowning or burning, the punishment was all the same." (137)
(Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima)
Fire and water are two of the most raw, elemental symbols that exist. Their contrasting characteristics make them go well together: fire rises up, water sinks down; fire's heat dries up water, water puts out fire. There's a very good yin-yang feel about them.
In a religious setting, I think most people associate water with "good" and fire with "bad". For example, fire destroys; the "fires of hell" remind us of punishment and suffering. In contrast, water soothes and cleans us; we are baptized in water. Our physical lives depend on it, and Christ talks about "living water".
But are we not also baptized by fire? Fire also cleanses and purifies, and gives us heat and warmth necessary for life. Moses saw the power of God in a burning bush, and later as a pillar of fire. Joseph Smith talked about heaven as a place of "everlasting burnings"; the Bible Dictionary says that fire is often a symbol of God's presence. Water also has some negative connotations - Noah and his family were saved while water destroyed the rest of mankind. Lehi's family and the Jaredites had to pass through stormy seas; the apostles were also frightened during a storm while Jesus slept on the boat. And how often do we hear that nonsense about "Satan controlling the waters"?
I think it's awesome how symbols can be used to denote completely opposite ideas. Fire and water aren't the only examples. (Snakes are another good one - a symbol for the devil, right? But what about the brazen serpent and feathered serpent?) I think that's what's going on with all the water stuff in Bless Me, Ultima. Water is a precious resource in the dusty desert... how lucky for their town to be surrounded by it. But remember that one day the Golden Carp will return and flood the city, punishing all the sinners. Antonio is a mix of the sweet moon water and the salty sea. "[Is] the power of good and evil the same?" (page 55); power might just be power, and it depends on how we view it - the same for water and other symbols.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
-Robert Keen
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