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There are many major life decisions we need to make as part of growing up. The choices we make can be traced back to several factors. Often these major decisions are influenced by those we are close to as a child. Esperanza discovers the impact her upbringing in the novel House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros. She discovers that her culture and those she looked up to determined the person she became because of the things she learned from their choices. In House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros suggests that the community we live in or the society we’re part of determines our individuality. The impacts of those we are closest to in our societies often have the greatest effect. Esperanza becomes more independent because of the influence …show more content…
of her family members.Her mother plays a key role in helping her discover her desire to lead an independent life. When her mother was trying to make sure Esperanza did not follow in her footsteps, she told her a story of how her life could have been different or better, making an allusion to the opera by saying “that Madame Butterfly was a fool” (Cisneros 90), showing her dislike of her. This shows that her mother does not approve of basing one's whole life on a man, or not being able to live without them like Madame Butterfly. Hearing stories of her grandmother also inspired her. Since the beginning of the novel when Esperanza was very young she says she doesn't want to be exactly like her grandmother, from whom she inherited her name, because she “[doesn’t] want to inherit her place by the window” (11). The window in this passage is symbolic of isolation, as her grandmother is stuck inside observing life through the window instead of being a part of it. This shows that Esperanza is already deciding she doesn’t want to be trapped in a marriage like her grandmother was. Esperanza decides that she isn't going to follow in the footsteps of her female relations and live a life of servitude towards a husband, as was typical in their society. As both her mother and her grandmother have regrets about how their lives have turned out, Esperanza views the idea of marriage as a less desirable outcome for her life than living alone and being independent. Observing the results of the decisions of her peers has a great impact on how Esperanza decides she should live her life.
Marin, who becomes one of Esperanza’s friend soon after she joins Mango Street from Puerto Rico, has a great influences on Esperanza’s life. Esperanza explains her mindset of waiting for a way to escape Mango Street by saying she “Is waiting for a car to stop, a star to fall, someone to change her life,” (27). The motif of “waiting” is brought up in this quote, as Esperanza observes Marin is spending her life constantly waiting. This differs greatly from the ideas of becoming independent Esperanza has. One of the things the quote says she is waiting for is “a star to fall” which represents wishes coming true, as wishes are made on a falling star. This idea of just wishing things will turn out and or “someone to change her life” shows a very passive way of living mostly because the cultural influences, as Esperanza when discussing the supposed unluckiness of her being born in the month of the horse as a female states, “I think this is a Chinese lie because the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their women strong” (10). Marin’s decisions to behave in a way that follows the idea of women being less strong, or powerful than men shows she is being influenced by the ideas of the cultures she is growing up around. The fact that Esperanza views that quote as a lie when Marin follows that ideology implies she does not want to share the same lifestyle or choices she sees Marin
making. Alicia also influences the choices Esperanza makes. Alicia is another female on Mango Street, but she differs from the others as she is trying to get a college education to leave. As Esperanza also wants to leave Mango street she looks up to this character, who she describes the life of by saying, “Two trains and a bus, because she doesn’t want to spend her life in a factory or behind a rolling pin”(31,32). The “rolling pin” is normally used by women and is used in this passage as a symbol for domestication. This shows that Alicia is trying to better herself through education to break free from the role of the women, or the domestication, being placed on her by society. Later in the novel she uses this liberating force of education to help Esperanza discover more about herself. When Esperanza complains about not having a house Alicia explains “Like it or not you are Mango Street, and one day you’ll come back too” (107). This metaphor Alicia makes comparing Esperanza to Mango Street emphasizes the fact that growing up on Mango Street influences all parts of Esperanza’s life and the decisions she makes. This helps Esperanza to realize Mango Street made her the person she is and she has to return to help. Throughout the novel Esperanza learns more about herself through the actions of friends and the influences of her society. This self discovery allowed her to see that she needed to come back to the town she was from and help the people there who couldn’t leave like her. This self discovery allows people to better understand themselves and their purpose. It can help people understand not only who they are but why they behave the way they do. The knowledge we acquire from those around us and the impact of culture determine how we live. Often those close to us influence the decisions of our lives.
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
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
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.
Modern society believes in the difficult yet essential nature of coming of age. Adolescents must face difficult obstacles in life, whether it be familial, academic, or fiscal obstacles. In the House on Mango Street, Esperanza longs for a life where she will no longer be chained to Mango Street and aspires to escape. As Esperanza grows up on Mango Street, she witnesses the effect of poverty, violence, and loss of dreams on her friends and family, leading her to feel confused and broken, clinging to the dream of leaving Mango Street. Cisneros uses a reflective tone to argue that a change in one’s identity is inevitable, but ultimately for the worst.
As an American short story writer, Sandra Cisneros was influenced by her mother. She made her get library cards and check out books to read when she was young. During her childhood experiences and ethnic heritage as the daughter of a Mexican father and Chicana mother, Cisneros adresses poverty. She is best known for the award winning House On Mango Street in 1983.This book mainly focuses on the treatment of woman in a Chicano community. The House on Mango Street as well as her recent books, Woman Hollering Creek and other stories have won critical condition of hispanic woman. She wrote the house on Mango Street which started without high expectations. Critics say that this book was highly acclaimed, but she then wrote a poem called The Wicked Wicked Ways, and it was perhaps the most widely read. As today, Sandra Cisneros is considered the most visible chicana in literary circles. She received her first fellowship in 1982,an which allowed her to write full time.She writes in very descriptive; yet simple language creating images through personification. She descriptively wrote on the House on Mango Street about Esperanza’s colorful world of beauty and ugliness. She is a writer who writes in her own way, she wanted to write books that were as unique as her. The books she writes are not like any other books she had checked out form the library or read in school. She wrote about her childhood memories and also the every day language she heard in her “vecindad’ meaning neighborhood in Spanish. She lived in an apartment that had no attic, she felt homeless because neither did she have cellars or crannies but, only a basement which consisted of spiders and mice where no one wanted to store things down there. She then realized that s...
As the chapter opens, the first impression of Sire is one of a James Dean type of character. Sire and his friends are just sitting on their bikes, pitching pennies, or in other words, gambling. Esperanza tells us that she is scared of them, which makes me wonder why she would be afraid of them? She then says how her dad calls him a “punk.”
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.
Many are confined in a marriage in which they are unhappy with, and are reductant to make a change. Some are committed to make a change for themselves. Esperanza ponders each one of these women's lives. Through each role model Esperanza gains crucial life lessons on how to overcome different life hardships. Through some women like her great-grandmother and Ruthie, Esperanza learns she must take control her fate, to avoid marrying young, and not let a male figure dictate her future. Other women like Alicia, Esperanza learns to keep pursuing goals in life and to take control of her destiny no matter what obstruction may lay ahead. From Esperanza’s role models, the moral lesson that can be taken away is to be proactive about your life and to shape your own future. Everyone is a role model to somebody in their life. Strive to leave a positive message behind for the ones shadowing in your
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
Imagine being born into a rich, wealthy family, where your last name is respected and well-known by many. To say, living in a big, beautiful house and able to wear fancy silk dresses, so fortunate, that you have servants to cook and clean for you, and every year when it’s your birthday, it’s celebrated big, just as Esperanza Ortega did. Throughout the story of Esperanza Rising the author Pam Munoz Ryan ( 2013) illustrates an image to the reader of a young, rich, Mexican girl who is forced to mature and grow up much faster than expected. Correspondly, at the beginning of the book, Esperanza lives a rich life, to say, she had it “all,” but a sudden tragedy quickly changed her and her family’s life, whereas by the end of the story, Esperanza
The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is often asked by teachers, parents, friends, and family addressing younger children. It would seem that most Americans have within them the sense that dreams do have the potential to become reality. People often choose to see the “bright futures” of children in order to reassure them they can be anything they want to be. It seems as though there are no barriers to reach a goal if enough hard work is applied. Does this truth transcend cultural divides? Do people of minority in the United States have the same hope about their futures as the majority does? Sandra Cisneros depicts the unique dreams of Mexican-American women despite cultural depression in her story The House on Mango Street.
In the book The House on Mango Street, written by Sandra Cisneros, the main character, Esperanza, was affected by many external forces, including family. Esperanza is a young teen who just moved to Mango Street, and she doesn’t like her house because it’s ugly, and she dreams of another house that her family has promised one day. “I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window (Cisneros 11). This was in reference to her great grandmother who didn’t want to marry, but Esperanza’s great grandfather kidnapped her and forced her to marry, where Esperanza’s great grandmother never forgave him and looked out a window for the rest of her life. Esperanza didn’t chose her name, her family did, and she didn’t chose who her family is either. The external force of family is an issue in real life just as it is in this novel, and the teens learn to either love it or hate it.
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.
Esperanza’s rebel role model, Marin, is a clear example of a woman accepting their role in society, depending on a man. Marin teaches Esperanza things so Esperanza sees Marin as a source for her everyday needs: “I like Marin. She is older and knows lots of things. She is the one who told us how Davey the Baby’s sister got pregnant and what cream