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The house on mango street analysis
Essay on female figures in literature
Female characters american literature
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In the novella House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Esperanza is an individual who discovers the power of language through her experiences. On the other hand, in the film the Whale Rider directed by Niki Canaro, Pai is a character who illustrates the power of tradition through family ties and connections. From a girl who moves into a house in Chicago in the search to find the ‘real her’ to a girl named Pai who lives in Australia and makes an impact on her Grandfather’s culture, Pai and Esperanza are individuals who are influenced by family, culture, traditional beliefs, respect, and gender equality. Even though these two characters share qualities which make them similar, they both lead different objectives and journeys.
Pai’s family
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is made up of her grandfather, grandmother, and father who all have a strong relationship with Pai. Although they bear some similarities, the differences between Pai and Esperanza are clearly shown by how their family relationships are valued differently. In addition to this, Pai also has a significant role in the interactions with her family and how they impact her relationship with them. In the movie, Pai’s grandfather, uncle, and father attended her concerts and watched her performances in multiple scenes which the director emphasizes on how Pai’s family values her effort in her performances and in her hobbies. Furthermore, Pai’s relationship must be strong between her and her grandparents since her family is making the time to support her which is different than Esperanza’s relationship with her family: “My mother says when I get older my dusty hair will settle and my blouse will learn to stay clean, but I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain.” Esperanza illustrates how she wants independence from family norms and how she wants to change herself and grow independent from what her family is used to. Not only does this demonstrate how Esperanza values her own opinions and her own voice more than her mother’s perspective, but also the power of independence and individuality in a woman’s perspective which is different than Pai’s objective when it comes to family. As the scenes transition from the hospital to the ocean’s waves, Pai is influenced by the actions of her grandfather and grandmother who play a role in family ties. As Pai tries to fix the ropes which grasp a hold onto her ancestors and family bonds, she realizes the importance of her identity and what role she plays in the family. In one scene, Pai becomes more distressed over time in her performance because her Grandfather couldn’t make it because of the whales on the beach. The emotional significance of this event in the film shows how even though there are conflicts between her and her Grandfather in transitioning to a stronger family relationship, she still values and looks up to her father which demonstrates how she doesn’t want to break away from family strengths, but the fact that she still loves her Grandfather and the fact that she still wants to stay connected. All of these factors tie into the ultimate difference between Pai’s and Esperanza’s ultimate goal in life: Pai wants to seek individuality and feels like that her family’s stories have taught her the problems and conflicts in their lives and she seeks to change them quietly, communicating with the thoughts in her mind and perceiving how she could have changed the imbalances in her life. On the other hand, Pai is aware of the positive and negative impacts on her family and wants to tie in the ropes which hold ancestral bonds in order to maintain a healthy and strong relationship. Without a doubt, Pai’s actions demonstrate her desire to change her status and lack of authority to her father. In contrast to Esperanza, who seems to worry less about how she could change this issue in her life and taking action, Pai is a girl who holds a strong stance on how change must happen in order to understand the fact that her limited obligations lead her to events in the story which lead to her resistance being influenced in a way that she seems hopeless and treated less equally than her Grandfather who is a man. Her actions also demonstrate her will to change her Grandfather’s mind, how a woman has the same capability and skill in order to be a leader and be one of the factors of change for the community. The boundary on which separates Esperanza’s and Pai’s situation concerning gender equality is the fact that Pai’s actions demonstrate her will to change gender inequality in comparison to Esperanza, who perceives this fact to be wrong yet doesn’t take much action on it. “My great-grandmother. I would’ve liked to have known her. a wild horse of a woman wild she wouldn’t marry. Until my great-grandfather threw a sack over her head and carried her off. Just like that, as if she were a fancy chandelier. That’s the way he did it. And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn’t be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window.” Esperanza is told a story about her great-grandmother.She did talk about how she doesn’t want to inherit her place by the window, but she doesn’t take any action on the issue of gender equality. In addition to this, this influence connects to the fact that gender equality is associated with the issue of marriage and not ancestral associations which is Pai’s issue with gender equality. In a specific scene in the Whale Rider, Pai is in the finished canoe with her grandfather and the other men. The finished canoe represented moving forward, to transition into a different perspective about women. The power of women in family is increased and people look up to Pai because of the fact that her grandfather realizes that she has equal values as her grandfather. “ Them are dangerous, he says. You girls are too young to be wearing shoes like that. Take them shoes off before I call the cops, but we just run.” You see, Esperanza is aware of how men have more obligations and more options, but the factor that differentiates this similarity that Pai and Esperanza share is the fact that Pai ran away from the issue of inequality instead of directly confronting it like Pai did. The symbolism of shoes shows Esperanza’s views on sexuality and the power of women. But, when she runs away with the shoes, it shows how Esperanza is not confronting or wanting to change something about this but only to apply this change to herself and other women without solving the issue directly. In Pai’s reality, her lifestyle revolves around the culture of the prophet of the Whale Rider and the experience of understanding and diving deeper into her culture's roots and transitions, as in, what could change in the future, and where is my role in this?
From dancing and singing, chanting and performing, telling the fables and story of the Whale Rider and his adventure riding the whale, she participates in a role with a significance that is bigger than herself. Being influenced in this way, she realizes how important it is for her lifestyle to be influential in the face of learning her role and traditions edited and revised in order to understand the Whale Rider better. Esperanza’s involvement in cultural views are more focused on the power of language rather than the impact of family roots and traditional activities. “...But I believe she doesn’t come out because she is afraid to speak English, and maybe this is so since she only knows eight words.” Esperanza learns that the lack of languages (which associates with her sense of culture) can mean powerlessness and a lack of confidence. In other words, she is more observant of her surroundings than engaging and constantly learns by listening. On the other hand, Pai uses the Taiaha to practice fighting with a boy which is a traditional activity practiced in her culture. This piece of evidence connects with the impact of family roots because of the fact that ancestors have had a different perspective of culture than she …show more content…
does which means that she’s impacting people's perspective slowly by ‘rebelling’. In the scene where Pai and her grandfather were by the unfinished canoe and the rope broke, so her grandfather, went to go get another piece of rope to go fix it. But Pai fixed the rope. In this movie. the rope symbolizes family ties or connections. Since Pai fixed the rope. symbolism involved shows how Pai plays an important role in this sense of connections and bonds. This piece of evidence shows the sense of leadership for the future generations, and how she is ‘chosen’ to lead her people through the sense of culture. (Her dad got mad at her for fixing the rope because it was a man’s duty too, so she could be influenced by her grandfather in this way too) Family takes role as a powerful influence for Pai, while, for Esperanza, her friends take on a bigger influence in her life.
In the movie, Pai hears the argument between her grandfather and father about having a daughter instead of a son. What this demonstrates is how Pai has the power and the issue of family roots and how she is constantly influenced about her family’s perspective on her identity. If we consider the reaction of Pai, her family influence impacts her because of the fact that she is more aware of how her grandfather thinks of her and how her family might perceive her as. “If you give me five dollars I will be your friend forever. That’s what the little one tells me. Five dollars is cheap since I don’t have any friends except Cathy who is only my friend till Tuesday.” In this situation, Esperanza seems desperate when it comes to paying Lucy money in order to be her friend.It also shows how her friends have taken on a huge influence on her because of the fact that she feels like she needs friends in order to fit in the House on Mango Street and feel comfortable with herself in this once new neighborhood. In one scene, Pai becomes more distressed over time in her performance because her Grandfather couldn’t make it because of the whales on the beach. Pai certainly values and looks up to her Grandfather although he dislikes her for trying to change their perspectives on culture, but he still loves her. Her tears and emotion in that scene was caused because of
how her Grandfather influences her in a strong way. Pai’s relationship is much stronger in comparison to Esperanza’s because she is emotionally affected and their strong relationship could be found directly from the scenes. From a girl named Pai who resides in the streets of Chicago being influenced by friends, family, the power of language, and the stories written in the hearts of her family, she is an individual whose objective and goals are different than those of Pais. As Pai sails and leads the people in the finished canoe, we can understand how Pai and Esperanza lead different lives and their purpose serves a different island and a different theme.
In the book, Esperanza doesn’t want to follow the norms of the life around her; she wants to be independent. Esperanza states her independence by stating, “Not a man’s house. Not a daddy’s. A house all my own,” (Cisneros 108.) The syntax of these sentences stick out and are not complete thoughts, yet they convey much meaning and establish Esperanza’s feeling of not belonging. Esperanza’s feeling of not belonging is also emphasized when her sisters tell her that the events of her life have made her who she is and that is something she can not get rid of. Her sisters explain that the things she has experienced made her who she is by saying, “You will always be esperanza. You will always be mango street. You can’t erase what you know” (105.) What her sisters are trying to tell her is that the past has changed her but it doesn’t have to be a negative thing; it can be used to make her a better person who is stronger and more independent. Esperanza realizes that the things around her don’t really add up to what she believes is right, which also conveys the sense of not
Esperanza is a young girl who struggles with feelings of loneliness and feeling that she doesn’t fit in because she is poor. She always wanted to fit in with the other kids and feel like she was one of them. She loves to write because it helps her feel better about herself writing about her life and her community. Writing helps her with
Esperanza tries to be a good friend to Sally, but ends up appearing immature and silly. Esperanza feels shame, as she “wanted to be dead”, to “turn into the rain”, and have “my eyes melt into the ground like black snails” (Cisneros 97). With sensory-rich imagery, the author uses similes and metaphors to describe Esperanza’s feelings of utter mortification as she embarrasses herself in front of Sally. Esperanza becomes confused about her newfound sexuality and her loss of innocence when she begins acting strangely, yet awkwardly around boys. She doesn’t know whether to act like a child or an adult because although she wants to be mature and glamorous like Sally, and she gets exposed to the harsh nature of society. The disillusioned view of becoming mature and having boys notice her is especially realized by Esperanza when she gets raped at a carnival. Through detailed imagery, Cisneros describes the dirtiness of the boy, elaborating on “his dirty fingernails against my skin” and “his sour smell again” (Cisneros 100) and the confusion and anger from Esperanza. After this experience, Esperanza blames Sally instead for covering up the truth about boys and is heartbroken about the real truth of sexuality and men. It is clear that Esperanza vividly remembers this awful experience, and just reflecting on this experience causes her thoughts to
Esperanza, a Chicano with three sisters and one brother, has had a dream of having her own things since she was ten years old. She lived in a one story flat that Esperanza thought was finally a "real house". Esperanza’s family was poor. Her father barely made enough money to make ends meet. Her mother, a homemaker, had no formal education because she had lacked the courage to rise above the shame of her poverty, and her escape was to quit school. Esperanza felt that she had the desire and courage to invent what she would become.
Symbolism is the key to understanding Sandra Cisneros’ novel, “The House on Mango Street”. By unraveling the symbolism, the reader truly exposes the role of not only Latina women but women of any background. Esperanza, a girl from a Mexican background living in Chicago, writes down what she witnesses while growing up. As a result of her sheltered upbringing, Esperanza hardly comprehends the actions that take place around her, but what she did understand she wrote in her journal. Cisneros used this technique of the point of view of a child, to her advantage by giving the readers enough information of what is taking place on Mango Street so that they can gather the pieces of the puzzle a get the big picture.
In the poor slums of Chicago, a family living in poverty struggles to get by. In the book, House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Esperanza is a twelve year old girl who lives with her family in the Windy City. She lives with her three siblings and both parents on Mango Street. Esperanza has no control over her life and family’s poverty. People who have no control over their life desperately seek change. Esperanza seeks to change her name, her home, and her destiny as a way to control her life.
Women are seen as failure and can’t strive without men in the Mexican-American community. In this novel you can see a cultural approach which examines a particular aspect of a culture and a gender studies approach which examines how literature either perpetuates or challenges gender stereotypes. Over and over, Esperanza battled with how people perceived her and how she wished to be perceived. In the beginning of the book, Esperanza speaks of all the times her family has moved from one place to another. “Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor, and before that we lived on Keeler.
Esperanza is relying on her childhood to help her through life she feels like “a red balloon tied to an anchor” (9,1,3) This passage describes that Esperanza singles herself out for her differences instead of her similarities and she knows it. She also sees her differences as a source of her isolating herself. She floats in the sky for all of the rest of us to see, dangling from a string. Esperanza is longing on for an escape like a balloon similar to her experiences with our society. However against the face that Cisneroz gives her a light voice, doesn't mean that it's not just as strong and
In the short story “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros, make Esperanza the main character. Esperanza expresses herself in traditional words, her own feelings about life. The image of the The House on Mango Street is located in a poor neighborhood, where this young girl and her family present emotions becoming into a hope of a better life. These feelings led Esperanza convert the idea to own a beautiful house into an obsession. The image of Esperanza and her House becomes a symbol of different ideas such as shame, fantasy, independence, confidence and hope.
Esperanza ponders how she inherited her grandmother’s name, but does not wish to inherit her experiences with marriage. When speaking of how her grandmother was married, Esperanza remarks, “my great-grandfather threw a sack over her head and carried her off. Just like that, as if she were a fancy chandelier” (Cisneros, 11). Through a simile, Cisneros exemplifies that women allow themselves to be objectified and trapped, which removes their freedom and hinders their progress towards their dreams. This is also identified when Alicia’s father finds her studying late at night and speaks with her about her duties as the woman of the house. Alicia’s father alludes to her that, “a woman’s place is sleeping so she can wake up early with the tortilla star” (31). Through this metaphor, Cisneros indicates that in Hispanic culture, women let themselves be pressured into putting duties at home
Throughout The House on Mango Street Esperanza learns to resist the gender norms that are deeply imbedded in her community. The majority of the other female characters in the novel have internalized the male viewpoint and they believe that it is their husbands or fathers responsibility to care for them and make any crucial decisions for them. However, despite the influence of other female characters that are “immasculated”, according to Judith Fetterley, Esperanza’s experiences lead her to become a “resisting reader” in Fettereley’s terminology because she does not want to become like the women that she observes, stuck under a man’s authority. She desires to leave Mango Street and have a “home of her own” so that she will never be forced to depend on a man (Cisneros 108). During the course of the novel Esperanza eventually realizes that it is also her duty to go back to Mango Street “For the ones that cannot out”, or the women who do not challenge the norms (110). Esperanza eventually turns to her writing as a way to escape from her situation without having to marry a man that she would be forced to rely on like some of her friends do.
The House on Mango Street is the tale about a young girl named Esperanza who is maturing throughout the text. In it Esperanza documents the events and people who make up Mango Street. It is through this community that Esperanza’s ideas and concepts of the relationships between men and women are shaped. She provides detailed accounts about the oppression of women at not only the hands of men who make up Mango Street but also how the community contributes to this oppression. As the young girls and women of Mango Street try to navigate the world they must deal with a patriarchal society that seeks to keep them confined. By growing up in this environment where women are confined Esperanza seeks desperately to depart from Mango Street for fear
At first, Esperanza is young, insecure, and immature. Her immaturity is apparent when she talks about her mom holding her, saying it is, “sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you and you feel safe” (Cisneros 6-7). This shows Esperanza’s insecurity because her mom is still a big comfort source to her. She feels a false sense of comfort because her mom is there and will protect her. In addition, Esperanza’s immaturity is shown through her dislike for outsiders of the neighborhood when she says, “They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake” (Cisneros 28). This indicates how defensive and protective Esperanza is towards her barrio by calling outsiders stupid for reacting the way they do, even though she dislikes Mango Street....
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 class we read the book House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the main character Esperanza lives in a lower working class neighborhood and street called Mango Street dealing with poverty. Her house is an important symbol in House on Mango Street. It represents Eperanza’s process of maturing as a person and the change in her perspective of poverty and struggle being shameful, to it being something to embrace and use as motivation. This is a very important part of the story because it is in many aspects where we are from that make us who we become. This is interesting to see in the book as her opinions and perspective of things inside and outside of her neighborhood are shaped by her experiences.