Fie Moraga's 'Waiting In The Wings': An Analysis

After reading many profound stories about illness, I have come to the conclusion that Cherríe Moraga’s Waiting in the Wings is the best story that reflects upon the politics of illness. Waiting in the Wings is the best reflection of politics in illness because it is such a pure and raw story that everyone can connect to in some way. Illness does not discrimination and it effects many layers of a person. Not only physical problems while one is ill but also psychological problems arise as well. Waiting in the Wings provides the best reflection on the politics of illness because it brings up questions regarding faith, identity, health, and mental stability and how they begin to shape a person’s life. All these types of questions were normally …show more content…
They show how times are changing and family can be found anywhere. Blood is not the only factor that constitutes a family. All a family is suppose to do is to provide an emotional and moral support for each other, which Ella is doing. Ultimately, you choose who your family is and support your family in return. With all this homophobia at this time it seems clear that even bigot ideas can be seen as an illness. Society is plagued by homophobia, sexism, and racism throughout Waiting in the Wings and with this theme of illness it only seems fitting that ideas can be viewed as illnesses as well. Moraga shows how the politics of illness do not simply apply to our physical bodies but to our thoughts and beliefs as …show more content…
Examples of illness bringing about death include Audre Lorde with cancer, Moraga’s friends with AIDS, and even Rafael, Moraga’s son, was close to death because he was born pre-maturely. The most controversial aspect of death was Moraga’s decision to include AIDS in this piece. AIDS was known as the “gay disease” at that time was rarely talked about. Moraga’s friend Ronnie has told her that he is HIV positive. Even though he is not near death there is this looming fear “of his imminent death” (73). Illness is capable of taking over someone’s life and consume them. Moraga connects this theme of death with the birth of her son. Born pre-maturely, Rafael was near death many times thus beginning Moraga’s journey on her struggle with her faith. She has been surrounded by so much death but now she so afraid of death as I have been with the emergence of my son into the world” (59). Moraga begins to realize that she must come to terms with this cloud of illness and death that surrounds her because she needs to deal with her own personal struggles and support her