Throughout the book one major theme
is self-definition. Esperanza is a young
girl who is trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. She is surrounded with women who feel trapped
and are abused whether it is from their father or husband. Hearing all of these stories about these
women makes Esperanza realize she does not want that for herself. In this novel, we see Esperanza going through
many phases of life and experimenting with different things as she is starting
to mature. With Esperanza being sexually
assaulted and watching the lives of the older women in her neighborhood, she wants
to do whatever it takes to leave Mango Street. At the end of the novel, it is
interesting to see how much she has matured.
Esperanza realizes that her dream home is not a flat or an apartment,
but in fact a house of her own.
Esperanza wants to feel independent and not have to end up trapped like
many of the women in her neighborhood are.
My favorite part of the novel was the very end. Esperanza says that she
will someday leave Mango Street, but she knows that she must come back for the
rest of the women who can’t get out.
The House on Mango street describes how Esperanza's family came to live at a house on that street, along with her parents, her brothers, and her sister. Before they moved into the house on Mango Street, the family moved around a lot, and she mentions this, saying that she never really had a house of her own to do whatever she wanted without people controlling her and without her landlord banging on the ceiling when they were too loud. Esperanza notes that this is not the house that she envisioned, and although her parents tell her it’s only temporary, she doubts they’ll move anytime soon because they fail to have adequate funds to support them let alone buy a mansion to support her vision of the "American dream." To Esperanza, she has always envisioned moving into a house they could call their own, one that would fit her image of high living, but she soon learns the realities of life and nothing comes easy to people like them; they have to work hard to get what they want. However, the house on Mango Street is a huge improvement, but it is still not the house that Esperanza wants to point out as hers.
ReplyDeleteThe House on Mango Street tells about the coming of age of a young girl named Esperanza. Throughout all her life, Esperanza dreamed of having a nice big house with a yard and a white picket fence, as many would envision, "the American dream." When she came to the United States, it is nothing like how she imagined it to be. She thought that moving to America would mean that everything would be easy and she would suddenly live in an "American home." Esperanza moved from place to place before living on Mango Street. There she lived in a house that was not considered "high living" or a mansion, but it was better than the other places. During her time there, she experiences the hardships immigrants go through when moving to America. Throughout her journey, she gains a sense of maturity and empowerment. Seeing the other women in Mango Street going through abusive relationships and manipulations, she doesn't want to go through the same. Esperanza wants to be different from the other girls that get married at a young age that are deprived from their freedom. She wants to be independent and end up getting married to a man after she has proven herself. In a funeral, three sisters predict that Esperanza will come back to Mango Street in the future to help the others who cant find themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn the house on mango street there is a present theme of gender and identity. As a girl, she looks at all the lives of many women around her and she wishes to not have a life like theres. There is also a theme of identity in gender. She was named Esperanza after her grandmother and she expresses that she doesn't "want to inherit her place by the window"(pg 10) . She is saying that she doesn't want to be trapped like her grandmother was. She doesn't want to sit by the window and hope for a better life, she wants that better life. She wants more than what she sees these women have. It was a shame that she got sexually assaulted, i didn't like that part. But i agree, my favorite part was also the end where she says she will return to the house on mango street. Esperanza wishes for more and wants a house of her own but she realizes that she cannot just leave this house on mango street behind. It's part of who she is and what she learned from.
ReplyDeleteThe style of writing is very childish and innocent. The story-line and actual problems of the story are adult like topping. its almost interesting to see the child's take on the world and her life. This is shown through the way she "hops" around from subject to subject. A childs mind has a reputation for being very random and being very curious.So it is very intelligent that the book is written in the same way. Sense of self-esteem and identity is shown when she starts critiquing herself. For an example her hair, her name, and her looks. Even though she is very young, she is well aware of herself, her surroundings and is articulate about what she wants. Clearly she has been influenced by the American dream and is not satisfied with her current situation.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few common themes in the House on Mango Street. One is loneliness. Esperanza often feels isolated. She is the middle child and doesn't have many friends of her own. She becomes quite independent. Esperanza wants to escape from Mango Street and she expects her education to significantly help her do so. Although, she says she will always come back to Mango street, to help all of those who did not have the opportunity to leave.
ReplyDeleteOne common theme throughout the book is Esperanza's sturggle to find her identity. The most evident example is her dislike for her name. In the very beginning of the book Esperanza doesn't like her name because it is against what she views to be the American Dream. Esperanza portrays her family's proud Latino-American heritage. Soon after that Esperanza wants an edgy reputation in order to attract men but still keep the upper hand in the relationship. However after she is sexually assaulted she changes her mind and ends up being a stranger to herself yet again. In the end Esperanza finds her self in the same way she writes her story; Through her unique voice. In the end Esperanza's identity is her writing. She is able to express her story and struggle through writing.
ReplyDeleteEsperanza's search for herself is very long and complicated. She goes through the novel deciding which traits of each person she likes or dislikes. throughout the book she is very conflicted. Esperanza does not want to end up being like her grandmother, but at the same time she will always have a reminder of her because they share the same name. Even though Esperanza wants to get away from Mango Street it is impossible. Sure, she may move away in the future, but a large part of her will still remain on Mango Street. Her true identity will always belong on Mango Street.
ReplyDeleteEsperanza from the beginning of the book to the very end has a very clear understanding of what she wants on life. Although it takes time to completely define herself, the desire to not inherit her grandmothers place by the window is what distinguishes her from all of her friends. She manages to see that she is better than her environment and once this is established she wants out. The book ends with her saying she's going to leave but promising she'd come back for the people who couldn't make it out on their own.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Self definition is a major theme throughout the story. All we her from Esperanza is what everyonbe expects her to be and she explains what she doe not want to be. Especially when she matures she finds herself and realizes the woman she has become.
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