The House On Mango Street Compare And Contrast

The House on Mango Street is a story that follows the life of a young Hispanic girl name Esperanza. Each chapter is a short story told in first person by Esperanza about the trials and tribulations of growing up. Esperanza is such a relatable character; I personally feel connected to her and her story. She and I have many similarities, both of us having several siblings, which we had to look after, each of us struggle to find a place where we fit in, having to get a job at a young age.
In “The House on Mango Street”, we find out about Esperanza and her family’s living arrangements; how they rented apartments and how her parents’ dream of having “a real house of [their] own for always so [they] wouldn’t have to move each year” (Cisneros 4). They dreamed of having a home with running water, a big yard, a basement, at least three bathrooms and “real stairs, not hallway stairs, but stairs inside the houses like on T.V.” (Cisneros 4). Although, they get a home of their own, the house they get is nothing like their dream house. The house on Mango Street is a small red run-down house with the bricks crumbling and a swollen front door and a tiny yard. Esperanza dreamed of having a home she would be proud to live in, one that would provide her with the safety and privacy she dreamed of . Instead, she got a home she was

embarrassed by; a house that made her feel like nothing.
Growing up people often made me feel less than because of what I had or lack there of. I, too, had to move around a lot and had to share what little I had with my four young brothers. People always had a way of making me feel like nothing because of where I came from. I always felt left out growing up, although I had younger brothers, kinda like Esperanza did in “Boys & Girls”. Esperanza craved the chance to “have a best friend all [her] own” (Cisneros 9); someone she could trust with her secrets but instead all she got was a younger sister who was her responsibility.
Throughout the book, Esperanza constantly has to look after her younger sister, Nenny, whose real name was Magdalena, and come to her rescue. For example, in “Hips” , when Nenney says, “ if you don't get [hips] you may turn into a man” (Cisneros 49); Esperanza immediately adds “that’s right”, so her friends, Lucy and Rachel wouldn’t poke fun at Nenny. Although she doesn't actually agree with her. You can tell that Esperanza cares about Nenny despite repeatedly being annoyed and embarrassed by her. You can tell Esperanza tries her best to be a good big sister to Nenny.
As the eldest child of five, I can relate to her and her attempts to be a good older sister.

As the eldest, I’m expected to be a good example for my younger siblings and do right by them. Being responsible is apart of being the older sibling and my first job was where I got my first real taste at being responsible. The first job I ever had was at a pool, where I was expected to be on time, explain the rules of the pool , and keep track of the entrance fees. It was a pretty simple job much like Esperanza's first job. She got a job at the local photo print shop because she needed money and she wanted “an easy job [like] the kind other kids had (Cisneros

53).
Esperanza appears to be a typically girl of a working class family. She plays double dutch, rides bikes with her friends and spends time with her family. She, like many other young girls, tries to find her place in life and make her dreams come true. Her life is different from most girls, however she remains a character many can relate to.