LITR 5731: Seminar in American Minority Literature
University of Houston-Clear Lake, fall 2001
Poetry Presentation Index

Reader:          Linda Higginbotham

Recorder:       Sancar Sallanti

Poem: "Under the Knife" by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in America. Currently, she teaches creative writing at the University of Georgia. Cofer has won many literary awards and was nominated for a Pulitzer in 1992. She attributes her passion for writing to the many storytellers in her family where, at family gatherings during her childhood, her mind was engaged with creative imagination. Cofer is a representative of Objective 2a, since she is a double minority being both Latino and female. Since Cofer fulfills several roles in her life (mother, professor and writer), she finds it difficult to find time to write. Especially when her children were young, she woke up two hours before the rest of the family to write in the quiet hours of the morning.

Writing about Puerto Rican life in the United States is Cofer's penchant, especially Latino life in the barrios of major cities. Cofer's objective is to retain cultural traditions and to remember the good, wholesome events and emotions of her childhood and typical Puerto Rican family life in America (Objective 3c). According to Cofer, her family assimilated into the dominant culture whenever they were in the public eye. However, once within the familial abode, she and her family reverted back to their Puerto Rican heritage and traditions. For example, when at home, her family only spoke Spanish and her parents were strict moralists and very religious.

Cofer is a unique author because she utilizes many genres in her writing: poetry, essays, stories and novels. Three of Cofer's poetry books have been published. Terms of Survival was her first poetry book which included the poem, "Under the Knife." This poem has a strong narrative element as if Cofer is relating a story. It is simple and straightforward but filled with emotion and pride. Cofer ensures that we understand the tradition and personal emotions that lie directly beneath the surface. Throughout the poem, Cofer observes what is happening in the kitchen where the women are cooking dinner, and Cofer's aunt is instructing her on the correct method of cutting up a whole chicken. The poem conveys the importance and closeness of Latino family life. It also reveals the emotions and separateness that Cofer's aunt experienced because she was barren and had an alcoholic husband who was not very supportive because of his own problems. The kitchen is reserved for the women, no men are allowed so that the females can open up to each other without any male interference.

Discussion

Linda              What type of tone and voice does the poem convey?

Andrea           Kind of observing...like sitting back and watching. She admits its nauseating to her to watch her aunt cutting up the chicken, but it is an observation of life.

Jennifer          She believes her aunt has no obligation to be nice.

Linda              What is the significance of the button?

Philonis          Something the chicken swallowed.

Dr. White        Philonis is right. Without information, it is mysterious.

Linda              Why must the niece forbear for her aunt's sake?

Jennifer          She thinks her aunt deserves to be privileged, but she does not want it or pity. Her aunt is a strong woman.

Andrea           A lot of people think that having children happens automatically. I liked the last line.

Dr. White        Yes, the last line is where we get the tone of the poem.

Philonis          There the aunt realizes privilege.

David              She understands things. She is Ultima.

Dr. White        Patience with human frailty (Guadalupe). She is looking at her and learns from her. Other thing is the kitchen as an oral tradition. She explains how to cut chicken into pieces.

Jennifer          People gather in kitchens at parties to communicate. Communication is open and free.

Linda Especially women meet in kitchens on holidays to talk about their families, hopes and problems.

Andrea           ______________ is like menopause. It's symbolic.

Dr. White        You want to compare it to chicken, but at the same time, you don't.

David              There is humor in the poem.

Linda              Do you see any significance in the title, "Under the Knife"?

Jennifer          Under the knife is a reflection of the aunt's life. There is stress to bear children and take care of her needy husband.

David She lives like a queen and the speaker seems to know everything about her.

Linda              The aunt is a great and constant sufferer. She will always suffer because she does not have children to depend on and to love, and she can't depend on her husband.

There is assimilation with the dominant culture on the outside in society, but within the family home, they follow native traditions and values. I had a Spanish professor that was Puerto Rican. He told me that his family only speaks Spanish at home and that he expects his children to continue the Latino tradition of living at home until they marry unless they are away as school.

Dr. White        Richard Rodriguez. His family starts speaking English at home. He said his family was never the same afterwards. Since Cofer is a Puerto Rican, there is a kind of La Llorona model in the poem (in a macho culture). The Virgin of Guadalupe is patient and Llorona gives into the pain.

Jennifer          In Morrison, there is a woman who lost her children. As a women you accept suffering.

Linda Interviewers often ask Cofer why she doesn't write in her native language of Spanish. She responds with, "I'm an American."