Entrapment In The House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros

Freedom is the ability to make decisions and take action by oneself, however when taken from you, freedom feels like a final, desperate attempt to take a breath as the water consumes the entrapped whole. Freedom is a necessity, but when that necessity is taken it can be described as entrapment. Entrapment is the restrictions put on a person by another or, it can affect many negatively as it may cause stress, fear, or abuse. For example various women are in situations like this; where they bear many children and must carry through without a husband, held captive by an abusive husband, or beaten to a pulp for no reason. Various struggles can be made to be free, but to truly be free one must get stand up to the cause of the entrapment.

Though this may be the only way to escape
Sandra Cisneros, author of various books, depicts the horrors of entrapment through many different women; women who are bound by invisible chains to their homes and husbands.

“The House on Mango Street” emphasizes on this issue, even broadens to explain other controversial matters such as abuse, misogynistic views, and stereotypes. The protagonist, Esperanza Cordero moves to Mango Street where she must witness the abuse affecting her friends, neighbors, and family. Either Sally a close friend, Mamacita a neighbor, or her own mother handling 4 children. Over the course of the novel Esperanza changes physically and mentally. Through the use of imagery as well as complex, descriptive vignettes Cisneros epitomizes the misogynistic views within Esperanza’s

community.
Cisneros portrays poor life decisions and life-changing results of those decisions made. For example Esperanza’s close friend “Sally”, “[Sally moved to] another state where it’s legal to get married before 8th grade” (Cisneros p. 101). Sally relocated because of her abusive father; he would abuse her substantially by hitting her “just like a dog” leaving her “face all beaten and black” (Cisneros p. 92) . Sadly Sally still couldn’t seek refuge despite moving with her new husband as he seems to be just as violent as her father. Standards within the community represent girls getting married young, and bearing many children. Esperanza pursues a future other than the bar her society has set for her. She “[Intends to] leave the table like a man” to leave Mango Street with the confidence a man has, and gain the respect a man would usually gain within an area of general populace (Cisneros p. 84). Cisneros outlines autonomous characteristics within Esperanza.
The idea of a model woman in the eyes of another woman within this small patriarchal society is notably low.

In the vignette During Sally’s time in Mango, she was approached by a few boys around the same age; they took her keys and stated that they would not give the keys back “unless she kissed [them]” (Cisneros p. 96). Furious at this statement Esperanza leaves to one of the boy’s mother and briefly summarizes the issue, sadly enough she asks “what do you want me to do” (Cisneros p. 97). Cisneros wants to convey that it is common for men to be contempt with women, especially young boys who look towards these men as role models. It is mandatory to present oneself in a respectful way to set a proper

example.
Another victim of the misconduct of women is Rafaela, a neighbor of Esperanza. Rafaela is a damsel in distress, trapped like Rapunzel, or Cinderella dreaming of the day their “Prince Charming” is to come. In spite of this though, Rafaela isn’t imprisoned by her family or dreaming of her “Prince Charming”, but rather she is held captive by her own “Prince Charming.” He seems to be over-protective and “is afraid that [She] will run away” because she is too good for him, her unblemished beauty would be bound to attract other men (Cisneros p. 79). Keeping her locked up will prevent her from ever leaving his grasps. Cisneros delineates literal entrapment with Rafaela; she is facing the consequences of making certain, life-altering changes.
Esperanza doesn’t want a life where a man is in complete control over her; she wants to avoid this by leaving Mango forever. She wants a “house quiet as snow, a space for [her] to go” to be far from Mango forever. To not end up like Mamacita, Rafaela, or Sally, being completely submissive to everything. Although Esperanza seeks this, she will come back to Mango; “For the ones she left behind. For the ones who cannot get out” like her mother and others (Cisneros p. 110).