Giving Up the Ghost Cherrie Moraga “La Salvadora” (pgs. 23-35) By: Claudio Agosto

Cherrie Moraga Born September 25, 1952 in Whittier, California A Chicana writer, feminist activist, poet, essayist, and playwright. A faculty member at Stanford University Drama Department and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity Received Bachelor’s Degree in English from Immaculate Heart College in 1974 Received Master’s Degree in Feminist Writings from San Francisco State University in 1980 Notable Works: This Bridge Called My Back, and Heroes and Saints Notable Awards: Critics’ Circle, PEN West and American Book Award.

Summary (Scene 8) Amalia tells Marisa to forgive her for what she is. Amalia describes how when Alejandro died, she died. She continued to bleed on her hotel sheets even though her tubes have been tied for years. The blood would not stop until his GHOST would pass me or become me. She felt her womanhood leave her and Alejandro being born inside of her and saying, “Ay mi Marisa! Te deseo! Te deseo! Marisa!” (pg. 24)

Summary Continued... (Scene 10) Marisa informs us that she was once raped but never wanted to believe she was raped. But Corkey KNOWS she was Corkey was raped by a Catholic School Janitor in 7th grade. During the act of rape, Corkey is reminded of her father and begins to yell, “Papi! Papi! Donde estas Papi! Donde estas Papi!”(pg 28) When the Janitor replies, “Aqui estoy! Soy tu Papi!”(pg 28) it calms her down and makes her not want to fight it but just get it over with. The Janitor made a hole in Corkey and convinced her that she is and forever will have a woman’s body.

Summary Continued... (Scene 11) Amalia is in her bedroom with a picture of Alejandro under a lit candle. Marisa comes in drunk asking her where she has been! Marisa has been waiting for 3 months since July. Amalia tells Marisa that Alejandro had drowned himself because she left him and that she could never completely love her like she loved Alejandro. (Scene 12) Marisa describes how she thought she could actually save Amalia and she treasures every sexual moment with her because Amalia was her religion and the one who got away.

Analysis Amalia tells Marissa that she has to forgive her for not being completely lesbian When Alejandro dies, Amalia’s feelings towards him resurface and realizes that she could never completely forget him. Therefore, she could never completely love Marisa the way she loved him. Marisa shows that she had grown up to be strong minded. She will not walk in fear or want to think she “took.” But Moraga uses Corkey to explain to the audience her true insights on what was going on in her mind during the act. (Her father) Throughout the play Moraga uses Corkey as a way for Marisa to show the Audience how she has changed throughout her experiences growing up. Corkey is also used to involve the audience. She provides the audience with Marisa’s emotions and thought processes during her childhood, which creates a sense of empathy.

A Random Thought During the Play! In the play, I believe the ghost is each individual character’s past and their pasts will continue to haunt them until they learn to “Give up the Ghost” and focus on their future because the past is already written and the future is still up to you! (A bit cheesy but it works in my head!)