Examples Of Figurative Language In The House On Mango Street

The House on Mango Street Essay
The House on Mango Street is a novel by Sandra Cisneros. It is set in a poor, Latino neighborhood around 1960. The main character, Esperanza, is expected to get married in order to support herself. However, Esperanza strives for independence, and seeks to end the cycle of abusive patriarchy that holds Mango Street in thrall. Through the use of syntax and figurative language, Cisneros establishes that a sense of not belonging can fuel an individual’s desire for a better future.
When Esperanza is struck by the realization that she is not accepted in society, she aspires to bring a more hospitable environment to fruition. At the beginning of The House on Mango Street, Esperanza is questioned by a nun about where she lives. The condemning tone of the harridan shakes Esperanza, causing her to state, “There. I lived there… I knew then I had to have a house. A

real house.

(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

referring to Mango Street, Esperanza poetically states that she is “too strong for her to keep me here forever,” but that she will “have gone away to come back.” Through the power of individuality, Esperanza realizes that she can break free from the hold of Mango Street, and that she, as an outcast, must aspire to change the very structure of Mango Street. Esperanza’s individuality keeps her separate from society, but her separation pushes her towards reweaving the very fabric from which her culture is wrought.
Through the use of syntax and figurative language, Cisneros establishes that a sense of not belonging can fuel an individual’s desire for a better future. Esperanza, who is not content with her place in society, feels the need to change the very order of things. At first, Esperanza only wants to acquire a house, but as time goes on she seeks to undermine the patriarchy of her society. The journey of Esperanza is cyclic.