FREE ESSAY ON CLAIMING LIFE BY MICHELLE BROWN

CLAIMING LIFE BY MICHELLE BROWN

Claiming Life
By Michelle Brown
Judith Ortiz Cofer is a Puerto Rican whose writing often examines the conflict and the
beauty of cultures mixing together, as people immigrate to America. Though she exhibits a
strong connection to her Latin heritage, she often seems to also resent that part of her
life. There are many standards and expectations in the Puerto Rican society which Cofer
writes to subvert, viewing them negatively. As a Puerto Rican woman, Cofer often
disagrees with the limits and expectations placed on a woman in Puerto Rican society, and
this attitude is the subject of much of her work. In "Claims," the speaker describes
"Grandmother." Cofer uses this poem to illustrate a family and describe an individual, as
well as telling the reader about parts of Puerto Rican culture, such as its views on
women's roles and on sexuality.
On the surface, "Claims" is a poem about a Grandmother's life. She has grown old, like a
used, weathered "Bedouin tent." After spending her life as a wife and mother,
"Grandmother" finally has a chance to reclaim her own life. "Grandmother" seems to have
been submissive, accepting her role throughout life to sacrifice herself for others,
while all along wishing for her freedom. She considered each of her children a burden,
but an acceptable one. She "had made a pact / with man and nature" to live as a wife and
bear and raise children. She kept her pact, waiting for the day when her children would
leave the nest and her husband would pass away. In "Claims," Grandmother's time has come
and her real self, the person she wants to be, is returning, like the sea rising with the
tide. One can imagine the sand when the tide is out, as it is claimed by people and
animals. The sea seems to be giving up part of itself, but it will return to claim the
sand again. In the same way, the Grandmother has given her life, allowed other people to
occupy days that were hers, but is reclaiming her "sand" in the poem.
Examining "Claims" on another lever, one finds messages speaking out against the
portrayal of a good woman in Puerto Rican societies. Women are expected to sacrifice
every aspect of their own lives for their husbands and children. The Grandmother accepted
her role in society, but always had dreams of claiming her own life. "Grandmother" made a
promise when she was married, and she kept her promise. She raised five children and led
a life committed to a husband who was expected by society to wander. But all along,
Grandmother had dreamed of the day when she could secure her freedom. She dreamed of
sleeping in her own bed and simply being herself. Her dream is finally realized in old
age, as described in the poem. Grandmother "claimed the right" to be herself and live her
life. Her days were constantly occupied by caring for her children and her nights were
always invaded by her husband's presence. Now that her family has all moved on,
Grandmother has her house and her life for herself. Each right that she has claimed has
multiple meanings about her life and society, her dreams and true personality.
The first right, that of sleeping alone and owning her nights, describes an internal
conflict which Grandmother carried. While she truly loved her family, she yearned for
space and freedom. She wanted to control at least some part of her life, but every moment
was dedicated to her family. Her second right is "to never bear / the weight of sex again
nor the accept / its gift of comfort." For women in Puerto Rican society, there are many
limitations because of their gender, but there are also many ways in which female
sexuality is encouraged and praised. The role of wife and mother which Puerto Rican women
are placed in is a very confining one. Their entire lives are devoted to finding a
husband to love, in spite of society's expectations that he will stray, and to bearing
and raising children. A "good" Puerto Rican woman gives her whole life to her family.
Past that, she sacrifices even more to anyone else who is in need. The "weight of her
sex" involves all the expectations and limitations placed on a woman by society because
of her gender. However, there are other sides to society's views of women. One of these
ideas is that a woman should appreciate her sexuality. This concept is often thought to
be particularly evident in Latin societies, such as Puerto Rico. Women wear colorful,
often risque clothing. Their dancing is beautiful, complicated, and often seductive.
Another aspect of the comfort of a woman's sex is the close bond that women often share
in a community. For example, women may look forward to seeing their neighbors at the
grocery store or the laundromat. This closeness provides a woman with comfort and a
chance to relax and take time off from her family duties. There is also comfort in the
guaranteed loving bond a woman has with her children and in knowing that her family is
strong. The woman's sex is a burden and a place of refuge, but Grandmother's chance to
abandon her sex is part of her dream of freedom.
Cofer often illustrates cultural synthesis in her works. Some evidence of this can be
found in "Claims." For example, the poem is written mostly in English, but there are
elements which imply a Latin culture. The most obvious is the use of the word
"naufragos," which translates to "shipwreck victims," to refer to her miscarriages. Most
simply, the use of a Spanish word implies that Grandmother is part of a Latin society.
Also, it is a reference to the closeness of island people to the ocean. They rely on it
for food, business, and contact with other countries. There is also the fact that the
poem is written in English, but it is about a Puerto Rican woman. Though there is
evidence of knowledge of the Puerto Rican society and definite respect for Grandmother,
the speaker seems to be an American, living an American life while keeping a connection
with her Puerto Rican heritage.
Grandmother is a strong woman. She lived a life of sacrifice, giving of herself to every
aspect of her family and community. She accepted the burdens and the gifts of her place
in society. The language of the poem is not overly intellectual or complicated, showing
the simplicity and honesty of Grandmother's life. It is plainly written and flows, as
Grandmother flowed through life, accepting her roles and society's limitations. The
speaker has completely adapted to her new life, as one can tell by the mastery of the
English language which is shown in the poem. Some of the isolated lines show bitterness
which is felt by Grandmother, such as when she says that "Children… / steal your
days." Another example is the last line of the poem, completely separated from the rest
of the thought— "she is claiming back her territory." One can find several emotions
in that one line, from hostility about the time she sacrificed to relief that she can
finally claim her time back.
In her work, Cofer presents many issues of Puerto Rican society. She challenges gender
roles and takes steps to unite the two cultures she lives in without losing either one.
"Claims" tells several stories—the story of an old woman's life and of a female's
place in Puerto Rican society, for example. It has vivid imagery of the old woman, of the
ocean, and of shipwrecks. "Claims" defends a woman's right to be herself, rather than a
slave of society and of her family. In this poem, Cofer once again challenges the
expectations and limitations placed on women by society. It is a complicated work with
many layers of meaning.