Bicultural Identity Formation in American Multicultural Young Adult Literature: A Study in Cofer's Call Me Maria

Abstract

This study aims at shedding light on the portrayal of the Hispanic-American experience in Judith Ortiz Cofer's novel First Person Fiction: Call Me Maria (2004), emphasizing the ways in which Cofer represents her adolescent protagonist, Maria, who manages to forge a bicultural identity in multicultural America. How the protagonist responds to oppression and inequality and how the family and society are responsible for shaping one's cultural identity are main questions to be answered in this study. More specifically, the paper draws on the theoretical tenets by Charles Taylor in his essay "The Politics of Recognition" in which he states the main issues related to the politics of multiculturalism. He focuses on the demand for recognition and dialogue in the formation of identity for ethnic minorities. Furthermore, the paper highlights the cardinal role that language, parent-child relationship, and school play in the formation of the protagonist's identity. It concludes that Maria's positive attitude towards her cultural heritage and past as a Puerto Rican-American girl helps her to overcome all the obstacles she faces in a multiethnic society. Ultimately, she managed to fulfill her dream as a poet, reach self-recognition, and construct her identity as equal and unique.