Esperanza Sandra Cisneros mention in an interview that " The House on Mango Street" is a representing of her child life. Stating that its more like an invented autobiography. She made the character, Esperanza, when she as fresh out of grade school (NPR). It was the emotion of feeling displaced, and very uncomfortable as a person of color that arose this character. In the story, The House of Mango Street", Cisneros explains that Esperanza, in the beginning, doesn’t like where she is living. That she views herself as the opposite of the house that she is living in. Esperanza knows that she wants more, and dreams to accomplish a lifestyle that she is conformable in. In the beginning, Esperanza explains that she has moved a lot in the past, so …show more content…
much she can not remember most of them (Cisneros). She is at that age which children's are able to wrap their minds around the environment and social culture. She notices a pattern, that when she moves and additional child enters the family. Being warped into a family of poverty, she continues to dream of a better life for her and her family. She explains the obvious, that it's unpleasant and gives a realist view at what they have gone through. Her parents always told them that when they would when the lottery, they would buy a house like on tv (Cisneros). This always gave Esperanza hope for every time they would play. But she is quick to understand that every time they moved, it wasn’t getting better for them. Her parents are painting this elaborate picture in her head, for the soul purpose to inspire her that there is a bright side or thing are going to get better. Her hope doesn't stay high for any longer as they move from house to house. She knows that the story that her mother tells them before bed is false and she can put the pieces together. It's ironic that her name means 'hope' in English, and she is holding onto any faith that’s out there for a better life.
She feels embarrassed and does not want to represent for where she lives. Her living situation, she views it as France at the end of World War 2, with empty lots and burnt down building (Sagel). Cisneros explains that she retreated inside herself during this part of a time in her life. Esperanza in this situation feels nothing but ashamed and thrives for a better outcome. When she mentions the house on mango street, she describes that the house has a very small window; so small that it feels like they are holding their breath. Esperanza could be stating this is how she feels in this time of her life. Helpless and hopeless to the point that she is drowning in the amount of stress that she is going through. What fueled this reaction of embarrassment is when the nun asked her about where she lives. The nun in the story asks Esperanza numerous time about her living situation. They way she asked made Esperanza " feel nothing inside" (Cisneros). Children's at this age haven't really experienced the concrete base of the social culture that they living in. They can understand to apply logic and reasoning to certain events. Like with the nun, Esperanza knows that she doesn’t live in a great neighborhood but she understands where the nun is coming from with the ****In on "you live …show more content…
there?". Living in poverty, Esperanza has been through some struggles. Stating that she has gone through an experience that not many people have dealt with. " We were using the washroom next door and caring water over in empty milk gallons"(Cisneros) shows the sacrifices they made for daily human needs. She seems to be more family oriented, and is prepared for anything. She knows that things can change very fast, like what happened to the house with the broken pipes. They had to move fast because it they knew it was not livable. She knows that her parents want the best for them and that they are trying their best in providing the essentials. Towards the end of chapter one, Esperanza knows that she wants to be proud of where she lives.
Its nature for children's to clam things. Esperanza expresses this by stating " I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to" (Cisneros). Physical item that make them feel good is what Esperanza is trying to feel. Its hard to cope with the disbelief of the fancy home, but she knows that this fancy house is not coming any time soon. Esperanza looks at the bright side of the events in her life. She is looking for a place to reinvent herself . In a sort of a way to break from what she has inherited from her culture. She is determined to live in a better home with her family, but ultimately learns that she will be in that current position for some
time. Work Cited Sagel, Jim. "Sandra Cisneros." Interview. Publishers Weekly 29 March 1991. 74-75. 'House On Mango Street' Celebrates 25 Years." NPR. NPR, 9 Apr. 2009. Web. 12 Apr. 2016. Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. New York: Vintage, 1991. Print. Knopfgroup. "The House on Mango Street - The Story." Knopfgroup. YouTube, 2009. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
(Cisneros, pg 43)”. The structural repetition of there gives the indication that both Esperanza and the nun view the flat as an alien place in opposition to the rest of society, causing Esperanza to yearn for different surroundings. A few years later, as a preteen, Esperanza is confronted by three visitors in her home. One of the visitors mysteriously states that Esperanza “will always be Mango Street,” although Esperanza feels ashamed “for having made such a selfish wish” about leaving Mango street. By stating that Esperanza is “Mango Street,” the visitor highlights that Esperanza is part of the community on Mango Street; however, as an outcast, Esperanza aspires to leave for a better place(as evidenced by the wish). Towards the end of the book, Esperanza reflects on her development as a mature writer. When
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 meets up with 3 elderly sisters at a wake. One of the older women affirms Esperanza’s secret wish to leave Mango Street, but makes her promise that she will come back one day. Esperanza tells Alicia that she feels like she doesn’t have a home but Alicia convinces her that like it or not that Mango Street is her home and no matter what she will have to come back to make Mango Street a better place because the mayor is
Esperanza wishes she could change where she lives. Even though Esperanza moved to a nicer house, she still does not like the house on Mango Street. Esperanza’s parents made the house they were moving to seem luxurious. Upon arrival, Esperanza realized “the house of Mango Street is not the way they told it at all. It’s small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath” (4). Even though the house on Mango Street is an improvement, it is still not good enough for Esperanza. Esperanza says, “I knew I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn’t. the house on Mango Street isn’t it” (5). She dreams of one day having a bigger and better house. The new and improved house will be a place for others to come and stay, “some days after dinner, guests and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble. Rats? They’ll ask. Bums I’ll say, and I’ll be happy” (87). Dreaming of moving to a new house not only gives Esperanza the feeling of control and independence, but makes her
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 th...
The author of The House on Mango Street and the producer of The Color Purple are able to integrate numerous important thematic ideas. Many of these ideas still apply to our current world, teaching various important lessons to many adolescents and adults. The House on Mango Street is a collection of vignettes written by Sandra Cisneros, a Mexican-American writer. The novel depicts many aspects of Sandra Cisneros’ life including racism, and sexism that she and the main character face. The novel revolves around Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl, who is growing up in Chicago as she faces the various struggles of living in America. The various vignettes reveal many experiences Esperanza has with reality and her navie responses to such harsh
Esperanza encountered a few tense situations: “The seventh time we drove into the alley we heard sirens… real quiet at first, but then louder. Louie’s cousin stopped the car right there where we were and said, Everybody out of the car. Then he took off flooring that car into a yellow blur” (24). This being told by Esperanza makes the intense situation seem more innocent. The reader is put into Esperanza’s shoes while she is going through theses situations. This point of view expresses Esperanza’s feelings in a better way and gives the book some excitement in what would be dull places. It also helps readers understand what Esperanza is feeling and connects them to adolescent feelings. This helps the reader connect to Esperanza and her
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
Esperanza builds her strength off the mishaps that occur while living on Mango Street. In the vignettes, Esperanza describes some very interesting things that take place on Mango Street. She recalls a time when Sally befriended her and told Esperanza to leave her alone with the boys. Esperanza felt out of place and was very uncomfortable and very ashamed to be in that situation. She wanted more from life than that, so she left the scene.
The House on Mango Street presents mainly women who are “assenting readers” and who influence Esperanza to change. She does not realize in the beginning of the novel that she can challenge the male supremacy because she has grown up with it. She never realized that she simply agreed with their viewpoints until she becomes aware of her own sexuality. Esperanza then realizes this can be used against men but that it can come with a price when she is raped.
“Someday, I will have a best friend all my own. One I can tell my secrets to. One who will understand my jokes without me having to explain them” (9). These are the longing words spoken by Esperanza. In the novel The House on Mango Street, Esperanza is young girl experiencing adolescence not only longing for a place to fit in but also wanting to be beautiful. This becomes complicated as Esperanza becomes more sexually aware. Throughout the novel, Cisneros argues the importance of beauty and how Esperanza deals with beauty as a part of her identity. When Esperanza meets Sally a new friend, Esperanza’s whole world is turned upside down. Esperanza’s views on beauty change from a positive outlook to a negative one by watching how beauty has damaged Sally’s life.
Although Esperanza is constantly reaffirming that she wants to move away from Mango Street, we know by the end novel that she will one day return to help those who will not have the opportunities Esperanza has had in her life. Indeed, in the closing pages Esperanza admits that she cannot escape Mango Street. She can never again call it home, but it has influenced her dreams, formed her personality, and she has learned valuable life lessons from its inhabitants. That is why, explains Esperanza, she tells stories about the house on Mango Street, revealing the beauty amidst dirty streets and unveiling her true inner self, the peace of knowing that her “home is where her heart is.”
... They didn’t seem to be my feet anymore. And the garden that had been such a good place to play didn’t seem mine either” (Cisneros 98). The play place that was once so innocent and is now a junkyard that reciprocates Esperanza’s innocence that slowly turns into reality. She is growing up. Additionally, she gains enough confidence and maturity to make her own life decisions. This is shown when she makes the important decision of where she wants her life to take her. “I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain” (Cisneros 88). This shows Esperanza’s maturity to make her own life choices by herself. She is finally confident and independent enough to know where she wants her life to take her. Esperanza finally completes her evolution from young and immature to adult-like and confident.
Sandra Cisneros' strong cultural values greatly influence The House on Mango Street. Esperanza's life is the medium that Cisneros uses to bring the Latin community to her audience. The novel deals with the Catholic Church and its position in the Latin community. The deep family connection within the barrio also plays an important role in the novel. Esperanza's struggle to become a part of the world outside of Mango Street represents the desire many Chicanos have to grow beyond their neighborhoods.
At the beginning of the book, Esperanza is shameful of the financial status of her street and house. She showed this when she said “I knew I had to have a house. A