Judith Ortiz Cofer's Abuela Invents The Zero
In Abuela Invents the Zero by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Constancia meets her grandmother for the first time, which leads to her being ashamed of being with her grandmother because she acts and dresses differently; that makes Abuela very sad that her grandmother. The theme is given people with the utmost respect, or you will lose the respect from the other person. To begin, the main character named Constancia and her family picks up her Abuela. Constancia’s mother tells her about the stories of her mother. She tells her “Connie, please be nice to Abuela. She doesn’t have too many years left. Do you promise me, Constancia?...” (Cofer 2). Constancia knows that when her full name is said, her mother means something serious and replies with “Sure.”
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She is mortified to be at mass with her because she preaches loudly. Constancia doesn’t want to do anything with relation to Abuela. Soon, Abuela gets lost during the service:
“I realize to my horror that my grandmother is lost. She can’t find her way back to the pew. I am so embarrassed that even though the woman next to me is shooting daggers at me with her eyes, I just can’t move to go get her. I put my hands over my face like I’m praying, but it’s really to hide my burning cheeks. I would like for her to disappear...” (Cofer 14). She stays still doesn’t help Abuela find the pew she was at.
Finally, when they go home Abuela wants to make Constancia disappear. The tables have turned. Abuela points her finger at her and says in Spanish, “...You made me feel like a zero, like a nothing.” (Cofer 16). Abuela then goes upstairs and locks herself in her room. She tries to explain everything but her mother doesn’t believe anything. Her mother goes into Abuela’s room and hears her side of the story; she comes out with tears in her eyes. She says, “Your grandmother says to tell you that of all the hurtful things you can do to a person, the worst is to make them feel as if they are worth nothing.” (Cofer 18). Then she says, “You should know, Constancia, that if it wasn’t for the old woman whose existence you don’t seem to value, you and I would not be here.” (Cofer 20). Constancia realizes what she has done and reflects on what her grandmother has
She is mortified to be at mass with her because she preaches loudly. Constancia doesn’t want to do anything with relation to Abuela. Soon, Abuela gets lost during the service:
“I realize to my horror that my grandmother is lost. She can’t find her way back to the pew. I am so embarrassed that even though the woman next to me is shooting daggers at me with her eyes, I just can’t move to go get her. I put my hands over my face like I’m praying, but it’s really to hide my burning cheeks. I would like for her to disappear...” (Cofer 14). She stays still doesn’t help Abuela find the pew she was at.
Finally, when they go home Abuela wants to make Constancia disappear. The tables have turned. Abuela points her finger at her and says in Spanish, “...You made me feel like a zero, like a nothing.” (Cofer 16). Abuela then goes upstairs and locks herself in her room. She tries to explain everything but her mother doesn’t believe anything. Her mother goes into Abuela’s room and hears her side of the story; she comes out with tears in her eyes. She says, “Your grandmother says to tell you that of all the hurtful things you can do to a person, the worst is to make them feel as if they are worth nothing.” (Cofer 18). Then she says, “You should know, Constancia, that if it wasn’t for the old woman whose existence you don’t seem to value, you and I would not be here.” (Cofer 20). Constancia realizes what she has done and reflects on what her grandmother has