Maria

Maria is the main character and narrator of the novel “Call Me Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. Maria is a beautiful 15 year-old native of Puerto Rico who has moved with her father to New York, the land of his birth, to battle his depression and homesickness. Maria greatly admires her father. Maria is also the daughter of Mami and Abuela, both of whom have remained behind in Puerto Rico. Maria is the best friend of Whoopee and Uma. When the novel begins, Maria feels lonely, lost, and as though she has no purpose in life. She feels out of place in New York’s barrio as a Puerto Rican, and has difficulty mastering Spanglish. Nevertheless, Maria is a deeply sensitive girl who sees the beauty in all things. This is translated into the poetry she writes. Her sadness and homesickness are always temporarily done away with when she...