Milcha Sanchez-Scott's "e;The Cuban Swimmer"e;. A Journey of Self-assertion

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject American Studies - Comparative Literature, grade: excellent, Mansoura University, course: drama, language: English, abstract: "e;The Cuban-swimmer"e; is a seven-scene play in which Milcha Sanchez-Scott depicts the individual's need of self assertion as a major theme. Self assertion, according to her, is a metaphor standing for one's true identity, a symphony combining one's individuality as well as one's cultural legacy. The play follows the life of the Suarezs, a displaced Cuban family who rode the ocean to take refuge in the United States. They have migrated from Cuba in search of a secure sense of self-worth. The central character among these people is Margarita Suarez, a nineteen-year-old Cuban girl, who tries to win a swimming race in the ocean as a Cuban not as an American. Margarita takes part in this race in search not only of the "e;Cuban pride"e; but also of her own self-assertion. In her play, Sanchez-Scott uses Margarita's story as an allegory for the whole immigration experience which Latin Americans had to go through. Milcha Sanchez-Scott was born in a multicultural family. Her father was a Colombian man who lived in Mexico; her mother is Indonesian with Chinese-Dutch roots. Jane T. Peterson holds that her [Milcha s] heritage reflects a diversity of ethnic and cultural influences . She is regarded as a playwright of powerfully expressive plays. Her works consistently reflect her concern with racial and political issues, particularly with the Latin woman s struggle for spiritual survival. Latin American heritage and the sense of this culture form the ultimate base of Sanchez-Scott s material. Much of her writing reveals her concern for Latin women and their families. Peterson is clear about the idea that Milcha Sanchez-Scott s work frequently explores woman s experiences in Hispanic-American bicultural context .