Student Question
What is the theme of Judith Ortiz Cofer's poem "The Changeling"?
Quick answer:
The theme of Judith Ortiz Cofer's poem "The Changeling" centers on the restrictive roles imposed on women by society. The speaker, a young girl, imagines a life of adventure and freedom when dressing in her brother's clothes, experiencing a brief escape from societal expectations. However, she is ultimately reminded of her place in the domestic sphere, highlighting how societal norms suppress women's true desires and individuality, leaving them feeling invisible and confined.
One theme in "The Changeling" by Judith Ortiz Cofer is the expected role of women.
The speaker of the poem longs for adventure. When she slips into the "dungarees" of her brother, she is allowed the freedom to imagine a world that is denied to her in everyday life. With her long hair hidden and her body transformed into a "boy shape" with rough clothing, the young girl imagines "manly feasts" filled with "rum and music." Her imagination transports her to a life in the "mountains," which are full of "battles and brotherhood." In this imagined world, the young girl makes her father smile, and she is seemingly filled with pride as she "struts" around the room.
However, this life of adventure can only exist in the young girl's imagination. Suddenly, she is ripped away from her merriment and is scolded for sitting with men. Instead of enjoying a world full of conquest and cheerfulness, the young girl is reminded that her true place is in her mother's kitchen, where she feels invisible.
The poem examines society's prescribed roles for women and the societal barriers women are often expected to remain hidden behind. From an early age, this young girl is learning that she should deny her true passions in order to conform to societal expectations. The hopeless tone in the final lines demonstrates the way the "real world" often oppresses the true desires of women, leaving them feeling "invisible," even in their own homes.
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