American History

Denouement is a narrative device in which an author ties together a story’s events to create a resolution—a conclusion that is clear and decisive. The ending of “American History” is as clear and decisive as the assassination that brings an end to the Kennedy years. Eugene’s mother’s rejection of Elena forces an end to Elena’s infatuation. This is Elena’s first experience of racism and classism. That night, Elena mourns the loss of Eugene, though she knows that she ought to be mourning President Kennedy’s death.

Cofer frequently uses juxtaposition to illustrate the myriad differences between the residents of Paterson—a midsize city in Northern New Jersey that exemplifies the nation’s diversity and changing demographics. Cofer contrasts Eugene’s idyllic house, which seems better suited to a neighboring suburb, to El Building, which is crowded and has dirty windows. She also illustrates the differences between Eugene’s white Southern family, which lives in the neighborhood but apart from it, and Elena’s Puerto Rican one, which shares a cultural connection to many of the other residents in El Building.

Finally, there are juxtapositions centered on characters’ physical appearances. Next to Gail, who is “the biggest of the black girls” (19), Elena clearly feels a sense of physical inadequacy. She wants her body to look different. She also wants to jump rope as dexterously as Gail and the others do. However, the inadequacy that Elena feels around Eugene’s mother is rooted in something that Elena cannot yet quite understand. Elena’s description of the woman’s “halo of red hair” suggests an angelic physical quality that contrasts with the woman’s behavior (26). Cofer’s use of juxtaposition illustrates the complexity of Elena’s world—particularly her rich and evolving inner life—and a culture whose norms cannot yet meet her needs.