This semester I was overwhelmed by all the reading I had to do for my 5 English courses. Although I was amazed by one demanded book, Corregidora, its setting and central topic caught my attention immediately. As you know, I always emphasize the importance of self-respect and self-value. As a young writer, I’m involved in empowering women to become more independent and more confident in regards to their persona and their social relationships. I am a strong supporter of self-respect and self-worth; I strongly belief that in order to maintain healthy relationships with others, we should value ourselves as individuals. This is especially true for women. Women these days are involved in very toxic relationships with their husbands, boyfriends, and friends. This is something that has become very common over the years, and we are able to see many cases on television of young girls who were assassinated by their husbands. For the most part, violent relationships go through different stages, but it is pivotal to identify and end the relationship when these signs appear. Corregidora by Gayl Jones is a clear reflection of the violence many women face in their marriages and relationships.
In Corregidora, consistent memories of constant abuse and humiliation are present in the mind of the protagonist, Ursa. Ursa’s head is filled with imagery of violent attacks, especially the ones that were committed to her grandmother and great grandmother. The stories of constant abuse committed by Ursa’s grandfather Corregidor are reflected in her relationship with Mutt. This is for sure an example of how women endure the aftermath of the trauma and abuse experienced in slavery at how it trickles down. Although Ursa is not a slave, she is still influenced by her grandmother’s experiences as a slave. If we pay close attention to the story, we can see how the author uses characters to convey the dominant presence of men. Male domination was a strategy used during slavery. Domination was meant to keep slaves and women paralyzed and submissive to the needs of the slave masters.
As I read the story, I was able to realize that violence comes from a never ending cycle in most cases. This means that if we are exposed to violent behavior, we tend to adopt certain behaviors. As a society, it is important to educate our young girls to be alert to the signs that indicate they are falling into the abyss of a dark relationship. It is also very crucial that parents guide their boys to understand that violence and physical abuse is not acceptable. It’s time to stop thinking that violence is acceptable. It’s sad to realize that violence can indeed be inherited, by this I mean that for many kids, violence is indeed a way of life. In countries like Mexico and India, women are perceived as "object of" rather than human beings that need love and protection. As a writer, it is my duty to speak up for those who are voiceless. To conclude, Corregidora was an eye opener. It made me realize that as a society, there is still a lot of work to be done.
