House On Mango Street Identity

In our ever-changing world, and its societies, the things one is exposed to, in terms of their communities, peers, their own thoughts, etc. can have an impact on what they believe in or their personalities/identities. In simpler words, what’s around you and what you go through can change who you are and what you think of life. These changes occur not only in reality but often times in books and novels. In the texts The House on Mango Street and “Only Daughter” by Sandra Cisneros, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the authors demonstrate how one’s experiences and environment can both positively and negatively impact their identity as well as help them push past social and cultural boundaries, shown through Esperanza Cordero’s observations

She says, “Those who don’t know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we’re dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake...all brown all around.” (Cisneros 28) In this quote, Esperanza speaks with somewhat of a defensive tone, showing that although her neighborhood is generally believed to be one of those less-fortunate, “ghetto” communities, she is still proud of where she lives. Environmental stereotypes can play a major part in what makes someone who they are. Because the majority of Esperanza’s neighborhood on Mango is composed of Mexican-Americans, people judge them based on the stereotypes that go around; therefore, Esperanza sees that people are afraid of the people on Mango. However, she feels safe with her environment. Because of what others think of her, “her people”, and her community, Esperanza determines to privately refute the general belief of where she lives by stirring up her pride. Here, her identity is changed in that although it’s evident that her community isn’t the most fortunate she still decides to stand for where she comes from. Additionally, Esperanza says, “One day I 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[...]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) This signifies how one day, Esperanza will up and leave Mango in search of a better life, and come back to assist the people who weren’t as strong-willed as she was. Her wish to come back to Mango shows how she has changed through her time living there--in the beginning, she believed that she was very unfortunate to be living there, and she