American History By Judith Cofer

What Is the Theme of the Short Story "American History" past Judith Ortiz Cofer?

Occasionally small, personal tragedies overshadow big, shared tragedies. Such is the case in Judith Ortiz Cofer's short story "American History," in which the speaker, Elena, remembers the day former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Though the people around Elena are horrified by President Kennedy's death, she is more taken by her own tragedy: existence shunned by her neighborhood vanquish, Eugene, and his family. Ortiz Cofer's story explores the theme of tragedy, both personal and commonage, as well as tragedy's ability to simultaneously bring people together and push button them autonomously.

Personal Tragedy

Elena'south personal tragedy resonates much more strongly with her and the readers of her story than does the bump-off of President Kennedy. This is because she is the direct victim of Eugene'due south family unit'south disapproval, and the readers bear direct witness to this disapproval. And while the adults of the story and the occupants of Elena'southward apartment building can come together and grieve President Kennedy's death together, Elena is forced to endure her humiliation in solitude. Ortiz Cofer's story reveals that even small tragedies tin have enormous and lasting impacts that far outweigh large tragedies.

Collective Tragedy

"American History" tangentially reveals how a collective tragedy such as the bump-off of President Kennedy tin can be experienced simultaneously by a multitude of people. Though there is a large gulf in terms of experiences between Elena's family and Eugene'southward family, both families are deeply affected by the president's death. Similarly, teachers and adults at Elena and Eugene'south schoolhouse share these feelings of grief. Ortiz Cofer's story explores the effects of a large tragedy on different communities of people.

Unity Through Tragedy

Upon hearing of President Kennedy's assassination, neighbors and families of Elena's apartment building seek solace in one another'southward company. Elena says President Kennedy had go a saint-similar figure for many of the Puerto Rican and blackness families living in El Edifice, suggesting a sort of religiosity as to how they united through his tragic death. Elena compares this to a time she visited Puerto Rico for her grandmother's funeral, when many attendees relied on religious observances equally a means of coping with death.

Disunity Through Tragedy

In the story's conclusion, Elena is turned away from Eugene's abode by his mother, who is deep in mourning over the president's death. Surprised to see a young girl asking to written report with her son on the mean solar day of the president's assassination, Eugene's mother assumes that Elena, her family and the rest of occupants of El Building are insensitive to the national tragedy. "I don't know how you people do it," she says with disdain earlier turning Elena away. Because she believes Elena is non demonstrating the proper amount of sorrow for President Kennedy'south death, Eugene's mother believes herself superior to both Elena and people who are similar to Elena. In this fashion, Ortiz Cofer's story demonstrates that fifty-fifty in with a large, collective tragedy such as an bump-off, tragedy can cause strong disunity between people.