How Does Esperanza Use Language In The House On Mango Street

The one aspect that separates humans from other species is the ability to use language and create names. The combination of letters and syllables which make up a name is a powerful piece that distinguishes one individual from another. A name is given at birth and is one of the most personal characteristics which provide a sense of uniqueness and belonging. In the book The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the main character Esperanza is so consumed by the negativity in her name that she begins to perceive herself in the same manner and believes that inheriting her grandmother’s name will cause her to share a similar fate.

From the beginning, Esperanza dislikes herself because of her name. She describes her name as “…sadness, it means

waiting” giving the story an overall negative tone (Cisneros 10).

By using many analogies, she convinces the reader that her name is sad and depressing. Esperanza starts by comparing her name to the number nine, and since nine is not as perfect as ten, she feels the same way about her name. She continues to describe the negativity and states that her Spanish name is a “muddy color” (10). The muddy color is a reflection of impurity, which represents how Esperanza feels towards her name. She also highlights the sadness by comparing it to the depressing records that her father hears while shaving. Esperanza then elaborates on the origin of her inherited name by describing her grandmother’s story. She says that her grandmother, “…was a horse woman too, born like me in the Chinese year of the horse” (10). The importance of the comparison between her grandmother and a horse signifies that she is powerful, independent, and free-willed, like a stallion who loves to explore new land. Since Esperanza is also born in the year of a horse like her grandmother, she believes she is strong, rebellious, and

independent who wants to break free from her culture. For examples, women in the Mexican culture are expected to be submissive, whereas the men dominate and makes all the rules. It is not unusual in the Mexican society for men to abduct the women and treat them like a prize. Esperanza demonstrates this point by explaining that her grandmother was kidnapped, “Just like that, as if she were a fancy chandelier” (11). Due to her innocence, she believes that if she does not change her name, she will inherit the same fate as her grandmother who, “...looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow” (11).
Esperanza continues to build on the negativity by saying that, “At school they say my name funny as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth,” which indicates the frustration she feels when her name is not pronounced properly (11).

She also dislikes the texture of her name. She says that, “…in Spanish my name is made out of a softer something, like silver, not quite as thick as sister’s name…,” which illustrates that even though Esperanza feels that her sister’s name is uglier than her own, she believes Magdalena has a better texture overall (11). She then states that her sister can at least “…come home and become Nenny” (11). In this line, Esperanza describes that when her sister comes home she has a new identity, unlike herself. Nicknames are given to an individual as a form of love and closeness, which only her sister experiences as Esperanza says, “But I am always Esperanza” (11). She does not feel loved or significant enough to obtain a nickname, which convinces her that she is worthless. She strongly believes that a name defines an individual and by carrying the name Esperanza, she will always carry her grandmother’s miserable legacy. She also believes that the negativity of her name is weighing her down and preventing her from living her life. Esperanza does not want a nickname nor does she want to be called her grandmother’s name for the rest of her life. With that strong belief, Esperanza envisions changing her name and states that,

“Something like Zeze the X will do” (11). She decides on the unusual name of Zeze the X because it represents a blank slate, which will give her a new beginning. By picking an odd name like that, Esperanza believes it will give her an opportunity to create a new identity which will be free from any existing ties. Her outrage and anger towards the negativity of her name and its history causes Esperanza to exaggerate the issue of a name. She is too young and naïve to understand that a name does not have an impact on the personality of an individual. A name is simply a piece of information that identifies an individual. A person can choose to change their name many times in their life, but their character will continue to remain the same. A name can often reveal one’s gender which invites endless expectations. In the Mexican culture, a person with a female name is expected to behave in a certain manner and follow the native traditions. With this concern in mind, Esperanza selects a gender neutral name which is unique and different, to represent that she will not be restricted to a specific culture or by her gender and there will be no expectations from her.
Growing up in the Mexican culture of male dominance, the young Esperanza is too naïve to understand the relationship between a name and a personality. Throughout the story with her negative obsession towards her inherited name, she convinces herself that her fate will be similar to her grandmother’s. The label of the name, its history, and representation heavily discourages Esperanza. She dislikes the pronunciation, the texture, and the way name sets up the boundaries for her. Esperanza feels that her inherited name prevents her from having her own identity, which leads her to envision a change of her name. By selecting a name that is odd and unique, she believes that not only will she change her destiny, but also perceive herself as an optimistic individual.