Responses to "The Gift of a Cuento" from the book Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Goldie Barajas

English 1A

9/24/10

Responses to “The Gift of a Cuento”

from the book Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer.

1.      I liked that Judith used the tale of the Puerto Rican Cinderella in her essay because  the Cinderella I grew up knowing was the total opposite of the Puerto Rican one. I grew up knowing about a weak, noble, dependent woman that never had the courage to stand up to her evil stepsisters and stepmother. The Puerto Rican Cinderella was “brave enough to stand up to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters and clever enough to banish them from home forever” (pg.47) and I think having girls understand a Puerto Rican Cinderella would be better rather than inscribing wrong ideas in their mind.

2.      I found interesting the way the author organized her essay because she kept me motivated to keep on reading more in order to understand the structure of her essay and purpose. The author started as being a thirteen-year-old relating herself to Cinderella and wanting a Prince but her uncle changes this perspective in her. Later on, her uncle teaches her the meaning of a tale and why tales are so important. They are important because they have words and words can take you into a world of magic. This empowering Judith to become a writer. In conclusion, I was really thrilled by her essay’s structure and that was really appealing to me because it kept me interested.

3.       What bored me was that Judith in page 42 goes into describing how her uncle would tell tales to her family and how they were so excited about them  because I really did not want to know about her uncle telling tales to the family. I would have prefer Judith to go straight to the point and tell me the purpose of her essay. I really think that piece of the essay was unnecessary to read.

Responses to “Taking the Macho” from Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Goldie Barajas

English 1A

9/23/10

Responses to “Taking the Macho” from

Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer

1.      I liked the way Judith started her essay by using a very interesting legend about some "macho women" because it allowed me to grasp a preview of what her essay was going to be about. I, as a reader, prefer to have an idea of the essays topic by reading a remarkable introduction, rather than being lost and trying to figure out what the author is talking about along her essay.

2.      I did not like the way the author shifts from the legend of the “macho women” to her own personal story because it confused me. I had to read the story twice in order to understand the purpose of shifting  from a general statement, to a personal one.

3.      I found the author’s word-choice interesting, from a writer’s point of view, because it was well chosen and absolutely clever. It really made me feel engaged in the essay and not bored by “lazy” words. As a writer, one must be really careful about choosing the right words to express one’s feelings and emotions in an essay, and Cofer did this completely well.

4.      I found Judith’s point of view on the concept of “macho“, interesting from a reader’s point of view, because she informs me that as a writer she has to fight against the stereotype that the term “macho” only belongs to men, this reflecting the same concept that writing is dominated by only men. Judith’s struggle against these two stereotypes appeals to me very much because I have been in a similar situation in the past.

7.  I learned a couple of important things from reading “Taking the Macho.” The first one was that stereotypes about men’s and women’s roles in society have not changed at all even though we are in the 21^st century. I think this is very significant because I have more knowledge of what the world really is for women. Judith has taught me that it is not impossible to take the “macho” role and to do what you desire but that indeed it is a struggle, like being a writer for Judith is.

            The second important thing I learned was that women in our society today let themselves be civilized by men. Meaning that men control them and tell them what they can and cannot do.  I absolutely think this is significant because this teaches me not to let myself be one of those many women that cannot peruse what they desire for fear or lack of courage. 

A Woman's Mentor

Goldie Barajas

English 1A

9/3/10

A Woman's Mentor

            "My Rosetta", a memoir from the book Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer, was based on the author's memory of Rosetta, the sister that taught Judith’s confirmation classes, while Judith was fourteen-years-old living in Paterson, New Jersey. Keeping in mind that during this time her awareness of the outside world was arising within her, I, as a reader noticed, that Sister Rosetta provided Judith with a different perspective of life. Since, Sister Rosetta was unlike Judith's family.  For example, when Sister Rosetta provided Judith with Ravi's Shankar music album, Judith's mother disagreed with it. She would call it "the cat-fight-album"(pg.3.) and when Judith was starting to wonder about "lust, sex, and drugs," Sister Rosetta was there to provide her with books that would inform her about those certain topics avoided by her family and this lead Judith to finding an accomplice in Sister Rosetta. Sister Rosetta introduced Judith to a world of knowledge, in which language had an extremely "seductive power"(pg. 18.) Therefore, considering the fact that Judith is now a writer I would say that Judith wrote about Sister Rosetta simply because she introduced her to a very essential key factor to writers, which is language and this makes me curious and hungry for more of Judith's interesting writing.

Like "Maria Sabida"

Goldie Barajas

English 1A

9/10/10

Like "Maria Sabida"

            Growing up within two cultures is either comforting or complex. It can be comforting because one can explore and experience double the traditions and customs each culture carries. But it can be complex and frustrating if one is often times questioned about one's culture, like in Judith Ortiz Cofer's case. By reading the piece of writing, "And Are You a Latina Writer?" from the book Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer, I discovered that Judith after all has found her way through the very complicated role of being a Latina writer. I read and felt through her words the confidence and assurance she is filled with.

1) I liked that when she was asked "Why don't you write in Spanish?..."(pg.106) she responded proudly and said that "Spanish is her familial language, the tongue she spoke with her blood relatives, that she dreamed in, and that lies between the lines of her English sentences..." (pg.106) I was thrilled by this response because Judith responded in such a dauntless way, that made it clear, for the person asking her this question, that Judith knew what she was doing, and that no matter what language Judith decides to write in, both her cultures are involved either visually or emotionally.

2) In addition, I found interesting that Judith lets me, the reader, know that "No longer the idealistic young poet is hoping to find big answers to big questions that she is content now to be the solitary traveler, the caminante..." (pg.115) I found this appealing because this tells me that the struggle and demands for defining her culture are no longer haunting Judith; Meaning that she is finally at ease with herself.

3) Furthermore, my very favorite part was when Judith mentioned that through her grandmother's storytelling she teaches her the way back home (pg. 115) due to the fact that this expresses Judith's feelings towards her grandmother's stories. This shows that her abuela's stories have an enormous significant to Judith. Judith values these stories and this portrays that Judith will never forget about her home. Even if Judith is far away because she has the stories inscribed in her mind that will make her feel and remember her home whenever she desires.

4) Additionally, I learned two extremely important things from reading "And Are You a Latina Writer" one is that: it is not necessary to give up on something that makes one a whole person (pg.110) just because it is confusing or difficult, such as having two cultures. This is significant because not giving up can allow a person to find their full identity. Another thing I learned is that one should be independent (pg.113). Although being around people of one's same cultural background is nice that should not stop an individual from fulfilling and accomplishing their work. This is absolutely important considering the fact that not always will a person have individuals similar to themselves. Therefore, one should never depend on others to get work done.

            Lastly, I would like to say, this reading has impacted me completely since I have not read about someone like Judith in a long time. Judith is certainly a proud Latina woman that illustrates through her piece of writing "And Are You a Latina Writer" the eager and confidence she feels towards her identity. So, at last she made her experience of growing up within two cultures work for her instead of against her, just the way Maria Sabida taught her to do so.