In the novel, The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros tells the story of a young girl, named Esperanza Cordero, who wants to live in a pretty house, similar to the ones she sees on television, to ultimately achieve the American Dream. Cisneros incorporates many themes and motifs throughout the vignettes to show the reality of Mexican immigrants, like Esperanza, as well as, Esperanza’s search for her identity. Since the novel is written mostly in first person, I felt greatly immersed into the story and felt as if Esperanza was directly telling her story to me. With the immersive feeling of the vignettes, that evoked a greatly vicarious experience for me, the conclusion provided a brief closure that was just enough to provide an appropriate …show more content…
However, this is not the case for the conclusion in the last vignette, titled “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes” because it does include the themes and essential elements of the story. The first aspect I like about this concluding vignette is that Esperanza’s matured character and independent nature are established. Esperanza’s matured character is displayed when she acknowledges that she “belongs[s] but [does not] belong” (110) to her house on Mango Street. Formerly, Esperanza never wanted to be associated with her “sad red house”, but, in the end, “what [she] remember[s] most is Mango Street” (109-110). Additionally, Esperanza’s maturity is shown through her determination to eventually “come back…for the ones who cannot out” (110), because she is staying true to her promise, that she made in the previous vignette of “Bums in the Attic”, of not “forget[ting] who [she] is or where [she] came from” once she “own[s her] own house” (87). Esperanza’s independence is shown when Esperanza says that she “will say goodbye to Mango [because Esperanza’s] too strong for her to keep [Esperanza] here forever [and] will go away” (110), because the repetition of the word “will” signifies Esperanza’s commitment and determination. Additionally, when …show more content…
I feel that the conclusion provides a brief closure, because Cisneros leaves me guessing by not including a final statement that shows how Esperanza’s future resulted. Since the conclusion is left open to interpretation, I am inclined to assume that Esperanza became a successful writer that lives happily in a house of her own who will go back to Mango Street “for the ones [she] left behind” (110). However, that’s just a mere assumption, I never get to find out how Esperanza’s future truly resulted. Cisneros tells the surface of what Esperanza’s life became but she doesn’t conclude with a definite
(Cisneros, pg 43)”. The structural repetition of there gives the indication that both Esperanza and the nun view the flat as an alien place in opposition to the rest of society, causing Esperanza to yearn for different surroundings. A few years later, as a preteen, Esperanza is confronted by three visitors in her home. One of the visitors mysteriously states that Esperanza “will always be Mango Street,” although Esperanza feels ashamed “for having made such a selfish wish” about leaving Mango street. By stating that Esperanza is “Mango Street,” the visitor highlights that Esperanza is part of the community on Mango Street; however, as an outcast, Esperanza aspires to leave for a better place(as evidenced by the wish). Towards the end of the book, Esperanza reflects on her development as a mature writer. When
Esperanza finally comes to the conclusion that she does not need to fit into the mold of Mango Street. She also realizes that by making her own world, she can do bigger and better things and come back to help others on Mango Street. Not everybody can fit into the same mold and Esperanza made her own. . Esperanza leaving shows that she is a leader and hopefully she will have the others from Mango Street follow in her path. Maybe other people will fit into Esperanza’s mold or they will use her as an example. Esperanza used the other women as an example to make something of herself so all of the negative people she meets and has in her life, they made her the person she wanted to be.
Esperanza is the heart and soul of this story. She changes and develops new habits over the course of the book. Because of how the book is written, she’s also the main character who gives the story it’s unity. Everything in the story is told in her perspective anyway so she could be the narrator and the protagonist. Even the stories about other characters have some sort of connection with Esperanza. She is The House On Mango Street, she is Esperanza.
Esperanza was able to provide the audience with an image that was vivid of her surroundings through her diction and tone. Esperanza presents a series of stories that she deals with in her neighborhood as she grows up. Esperanza arose from poverty and always dreamt of having a house of her own. Sandra Cisneros' strong cultural and gender values have a tremendous influence on The House on Mango Street. Cisneros feels that the Mexican-American community is very abusive towards the treatment of women because men are seen as the powerful, strong figure.
Esperanza was a cowardly child who transformed into a brave woman. Alicia and Esperanza had a conversation about Mango Street and Alicia says, “Like it or not you are Mango Street, and one day you’ll come back too,” (Cisneros 107). Esperanza replies with, “Not me. Not until somebody makes it better,” (Cisneros 107). Alicia tells Esperanza that even though she does not like Mango Street, she will still come back, but Esperanza says she will not until someone makes it better. Esperanza does not want to go back to Mango Street even though she is a part of it. Esperanza wants to leave Mango Street for good. Although Esperanza knows she is a part of Mango Street, she does not want to be. The ignorant child believed she could leave Mango behind and forget about where she came from, but little does she know that someone will. When Esperanza decides to leave Mango Street, she says, “They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out,” (Cisneros 110). Esperanza will leave Mango Street to come back and help those who cannot escape. Esperanza is leaving not for herself, but for others. She grasped the understanding that nobody would do anything to help Mango Street, or care about what happens to it, and decides to take matters into her own hands. Esperanza realizes that she has to be the one to change Mango Street. Throughout the story
In an earlier chapter, Esperanza meets with a witch, whom she hopes will tell her future only to be told, “Come back again on a Thursday when the stars are stronger” (72). However, when speaking to The Three Sisters toward the end of the story, they tell her to make a wish and say “You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango Street” (113). Rather than seek out her fate, the Fates (three sisters from Greek Mythology) have come seeking Esperanza. It has been confirmed that her wish to leave will come true, but remind her to remember her experiences as they have shaped who she is. In the article, “Interview with Sandra Cisneros”, Cisneros will tell her students to “make a list of the things that make you different from anyone in this room...in your community...your family...your gender (1). Cisneros uses this very idea in her writings of Esperanza: Her individuality is key- Esperanza’s identity as a writer and her background give her a unique voice that will allow her to speak up for those who have no
Esperanza, the main character of The House on Mango Street, a novella written by Sandra Cisneros in 1984, has always felt like she didn’t belong. Esperanza sought a different life than the ones that people around her were living. She wanted to be in control of her life, and not be taken away by men as so many others around her had. Esperanza wanted to move away from Mango Street and find the house, and life she had always looked for. Through the use of repetition, Sandra Cisneros conveys a sense of not belonging, that can make a person strong enough to aspire to a better life.
Sandra Cisneros' strong cultural values greatly influence The House on Mango Street. Esperanza's life is the medium that Cisneros uses to bring the Latin community to her audience. The novel deals with the Catholic Church and its position in the Latin community. The deep family connection within the barrio also plays an important role in the novel. Esperanza's struggle to become a part of the world outside of Mango Street represents the desire many Chicanos have to grow beyond their neighborhoods.
...working, caring young woman, through hardship and misfortune. This transformation shows that anyone can adjust, and that it is never too late to change your ways and become a different person. Anybody can become nicer if they try, and everyone should, just like Esperanza. By the end of the novel, she realizes how much she has changed for the better, as is shown on the last page of the book (253). “Esperanza smiled and reached over and gently pulled the yarn, unraveling the uneven stitching. Then she looked into Isabel’s trusting eyes and said, ‘Do not be afraid to start over.’” This line, the final line of the entire book, demonstrates that Esperanza realizes that she is different from the person she used to be, and has learned that it was a good transformation. She recognizes that it is a good thing to start anew, and that change should not be feared, but embraced.
In the House on Mango Street, Esperanza is very close to her neighbors and family members. Throughout Esperanza’s life, she has experienced death of a close friend or family. The first death Esperanza experienced was when one of her neighbors, Angel Vargas, died. Esperanza did not take Angel’s death too serious, but it made her
... They didn’t seem to be my feet anymore. And the garden that had been such a good place to play didn’t seem mine either” (Cisneros 98). The play place that was once so innocent and is now a junkyard that reciprocates Esperanza’s innocence that slowly turns into reality. She is growing up. Additionally, she gains enough confidence and maturity to make her own life decisions. This is shown when she makes the important decision of where she wants her life to take her. “I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain” (Cisneros 88). This shows Esperanza’s maturity to make her own life choices by herself. She is finally confident and independent enough to know where she wants her life to take her. Esperanza finally completes her evolution from young and immature to adult-like and confident.
...will pack my bags of books and paper. One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever. One day I will go away.” (Cinceros 110) This shows how Esperanza needs to break free of Mango Street and move on because Mango Street has nothing more to offer a young free mind like Esperanza. She will move far away so she can continue on with her American Dream as one person and not have the weight of her family’s American Dream on her shoulders.
Although Esperanza is constantly reaffirming that she wants to move away from Mango Street, we know by the end novel that she will one day return to help those who will not have the opportunities Esperanza has had in her life. Indeed, in the closing pages Esperanza admits that she cannot escape Mango Street. She can never again call it home, but it has influenced her dreams, formed her personality, and she has learned valuable life lessons from its inhabitants. That is why, explains Esperanza, she tells stories about the house on Mango Street, revealing the beauty amidst dirty streets and unveiling her true inner self, the peace of knowing that her “home is where her heart is.”
Esperanza is a very strong woman in herself. Her goals are not to forget her "reason for being" and "to grow despite the concrete" so as to achieve a freedom that's not separate from togetherness.
In the Book women are looked upon as objects by men whether they are boyfriends, friends fathers or husbands. The girls in the novel grow up with the mentality that looks and appearance are the most important things to a woman. Cisneros also shows how Latino women are expected to be loyal to their husbands, and that a husband should have complete control of the relationship. Yet on the other hand, Cisneros describes the character Esperanza as being different. Even though she is born and raised in the same culture as the women around her, she is not happy with it, and knows that someday she will break free from its ties, because she is mentally strong and has a talent for telling stories. She comes back through her stories by showing the women that they can be independent and live their own lives. In a way this is Cinceros' way of coming back and giving back to the women in her community.