The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street

Esperanza is young latina girl who grows up on Mango Street. She is ashamed of where she’s from and is trying to define herself in the process of finding of her place in the world. In the book, each chapter is its own story that ties together into the next. Esperanza narrates the story by telling the reader that she and her family had just moved into their first house, however, she doesn’t like it. She later introduces the readers to her neighbors, the neighborhood, and the conflict that lies within it. The perspective of the book shows verbal and physical abuse between husband and wife, crime, poverty, and struggling families and businesses. Esperanza experiences curiosity, wanting to grow up, be independent and move away from Mango Street.

As the story pursues on Esperanza is given adult responsibilities. For example, she had to console her father on the death of his own father and getting a job. She starts to find it hard to find her place in the world and on Mango Street. Esperanza sees women on her street get abused and treated unfairly by men. She also sees single mothers raise their own kids and fathers beat their kids. One day Esperanza go to the carnival with her friend Sally who was hooking up with a boy (she was sexually experienced) meanwhile, Esperanza was getting raped and sexually assaulted by a boy. However, the book doesn’t say that word for word but by context clues, the idea is pretty clear. Eventually, time goes by and Esperanza contemplates about never coming back once she leaves Mango Street and living a life she pictured.

Identify, defining self, women, unity, emotional and mental mindsets, hopes and dreams, and a place to call home are themes that are given in this book. The protagonist (Esperanza) wanted to overcome isolation and feel as if she belonged. Esperanza had to accept her gender, culture, economic well-being, her name, as well as her identity. Another topic that comes up often but never discussed is society and class. Esperanza never mentions it but from her descriptions and story, you can visualize what society was like in that setting. The idea of home is especially important and the main focus in Esperanza's story. Of course Mango Street wasn't always home for her. There was always the apartments and landlords until Mango Street but Esperanza accepts where she’s from but leaves and promises