House On Mango Street Analysis

House on Mango Street Analysis Sandra Cisneros’ novel, The House on Mango Street, examines various key issues within established social systems. As a bildungsroman story, not only is there much growth and development experienced by the character, but from the reader as well. This is because the novel challenges false preset notions that one may have of the main character’s culture. In tearing down custom barriers and voicing out painful truths, there is a deeper understanding of Latina culture in the United States of America. Sandra Cisneros empowers the women who are living in a patriarchal society and her main character, reinforced by her name, Esperanza, gives women just that, hope. Gender is an essential matter in this novel. Sandra Cisneros dedicated the book to women, particularly las mujeres. The amount of oppression suffered by women, mainly colored women is exhibited in this literacy piece. The woman that is repeatedly mentioned on the windowsill serves as a metaphor representing the women who are trapped in a home and must take on the role of a mother, daughter, or wife. As Esperanza describes her neighborhood, she mentions various women whom she does not wish to be like. There is for example, her grandmother whom she was named after. Esperanza hates her name for what it signifies, ‘hope’ and to ‘wait’. She felt that this name

Papa for example is a hardworking man and does what he must do to make ends meet. Esperanza’s family may represent the typical immigrant family; Hence, Esperanza’s parents are both hardworking, loving, supportive and very caring. Many immigrant parents are very selfless and give everything they have for their child to succeed. Esperanza is the Chicana who is fortunate enough to have this support and move ahead in life. Although she may not have the money, she has the support and Sandra Cisneros does a great job emphasizing on the importance of a community, of a family in order to