Silent_Dancing

Judith Ortiz Cofer’s descriptions of her memories of Paterson, New Jersey in the beginning of the essay have negative connotations. Cofer uses words like “banged,” “rattled,” “hiss,” and “punctuated” to vividly describe El Building (Cofer 2). I believe she did this in order to emphasize the fact that she felt out of place. Her memories in the United States were “all in shades of gray” (Cofer 2), which implies that they were dull, boring, and unimportant compared to Puerto Rico. However, later in “Silent Dancing,” she seems to be troubled with deciding whether or not to become assimilated into the American culture. She also expresses that it is “both comical and sad to watch silent dancing” (Cofer 7). In other words, she misses her original culture, but on the other hand, she thinks it is silly to watch a home video without music because it does not make sense. Music helps aid the setting and situation. It is easier to determine what is happening in a visual when there is sound. Cofer’s essay refers to the two different poles, which are the traditional, unassimilated Puerto Rican culture and the seemingly rebellious, assimilated American culture. Cofer’s brother’s girlfriend, who represents the Puerto Rican pole, “sits up formally” and “is a pretty girl,” but “her posture makes her look insecure” (Cofer 4). Cofer’s cousin, who represents the American pole, wears “a tight, sequined cocktail dress” and holds “a cigarette expertly” (Cofer 4). Her description of the Puerto Rican pole sounds uptight, while her description of the American role is carefree. I believe she compares the two women to emphasize the confidence of the assimilated and the insecurity of the unassimilated. However, she also expresses the sin, an abortion, of the Americanized, cocky cousin and the excellent quality, humbleness, of the respectable Hispanic woman. I think she changes her opinions about the two women because she is continually changing her mind about which attitude is better. Her father is pro-assimilation while her mother is against assimilation altogether. While Cofer’s father buys a Christmas tree, her mother continues to grocery shop in Spanish stores. I believe Cofer is not sure what to think about assimilation. I think she expresses her confusion by constantly placing Spanish diction mixed with English. It may represent that she is now fully assimilated into American culture, but still remembers and embraces her Puerto Rican origins. She repeats “La Gringa” in order to emphasize that it is frowned upon to try to assimilate by most of the women in her family. Cofer switches from paragraphs of italics to normal print throughout the essay. The italics represent the home video, or silent dancing. I believe she put the home video description in italics to emphasize that it is crucial for the whole essay. The one five-minute clip shows the “flavor of Puerto Rico” that Cofer wants to remember. This video is the only visual she has for memories of the Puerto Rican community in Paterson. I believe that the silence Cofer is referring to means that the minority feels inferior to the superior white Americans so they do not speak up for themselves. The minority keeps quiet since they are not assimilated and do not fit in with the rest of the American population. Personally, I believe Cofer enjoys the American life better on the basis of the shopping and eateries. She comes from a rich family, so she is able to afford the more expensive items, such as a television. However, I think she keeps her Hispanic culture close to her.