Analysis Of Sandra Cisneros's House On Mango Street

What allows a person to control their future? One of the best answers to this question comes from House on Mango Street, a novella by Sandra Cisneros. In her novella, Cisneros presents the theme that an individual’s future is determined by the individual’s self-confidence and determination to succeed; if a person has these qualities, they will determine their own future, while a person lacking these qualities will let others determine their future for them.

A person with self-confidence and determination has the power to determine their own future, as shown by two characters in House on Mango Street: Alicia and Esperanza. Alicia is one of the few girls in Esperanza’s community who possesses self-confidence and determination. In “Alicia

Sally is a common occurrence in Esperanza’s community; she lacks self-confidence and determination. In “Linoleum Roses,” Esperanza describes Sally’s post-marriage life. She says, “Sally says she likes being married because now she gets to buy her own things when her husband gives her money… Except he won’t let her talk on the telephone. And he doesn’t let her look out the window. And he doesn’t like her friends, so nobody gets to visit her unless he is working. She sits at home because she is afraid to go outside without his permission.” Sally lacks the qualities of self-confidence and determination; due to this, she lets herself fall into a trap disguised as marriage. Now, she has no control over her life. Her husband decides everything for her, and she is afraid to say no to him. Sally’s lack of two important qualities lets her give herself away to her husband. Now, her fate lies solely in his

In “Minerva Writes Poems,” Esperanza explains how Minerva’s life makes her miserable. She says, “She is always sad like a house on fire—always something wrong. She has many troubles, but the big one is her husband who left and keeps leaving… Next week she comes over black and blue and asks what can she do? Minerva. I don’t know which way she’ll go. There is nothing I can do.” Minerva’s husband is the main cause of her misery. He is the reason she has a huge responsibility and insufficient resources to fulfill that responsibility. Minerva has much reason to kick out her husband and keep him out — but her lack of self-confidence and determination makes her afraid to stand up to her husband. Minerva’s husband has caused so much pain for Minerva, yet he is the one who controls her future. Minerva can not escape her husband; she does not possess the qualities necessary to do so. Sally and Minerva both demonstrate that if a person lacks self-confidence and determination, they will let others determine their