In the novella The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the antagonist, Esperanza, struggles with living on Mango Street, a poor, dilapidated neighborhood. Her desire to move to another town plays through the story, as well as her hope to achieve her goal. Throughout the novella, Esperanza’s dream to leave Mango Street develops into wanting more than just to leave, but to help others and provide for them.
At the beginning, Esperanza’s original goal is to leave Mango Street and get away from the harsh situation that surrounds her. The house that she is currently living in is not the house that she has always envisioned; it is not a house that represents the American Dream. She wants a house, “like the houses on TV" (4). Even though she is in terrible conditions, she has hope that one day she could get this ambition of an amazing new life, nonetheless. Further, she feels like she is trapped in the situation she lives in at this moment with no true friends or a beautiful place to live. Despite the fact that she wants to do something about this, she feels that she is, “a balloon tied to an anchor.” (9). Even if she would attempt to fly away, she is attached to something, so is inevitably stuck in her place. Esperanza’s inability to realize what she has displays her immaturity. She is only focusing on more superficial things and thereby showing her prevalent adolescent nature.
As the novella progresses, so does Esperanza’s mindset. Her dream begins to develop into something different. The reader starts to see this change when …show more content…
Even as a woman who comes from a different background, Esperanza was able to hope and be successful to the extent that she is a role model to many young girls. She represents the idea of helping others and standing by herself using strength others did not deem she was capable
At the beginning, Esperanza’s original goal is to leave Mango Street and get away from the harsh situation that surrounds her. The house that she is currently living in is not the house that she has always envisioned; it is not a house that represents the American Dream. She wants a house, “like the houses on TV" (4). Even though she is in terrible conditions, she has hope that one day she could get this ambition of an amazing new life, nonetheless. Further, she feels like she is trapped in the situation she lives in at this moment with no true friends or a beautiful place to live. Despite the fact that she wants to do something about this, she feels that she is, “a balloon tied to an anchor.” (9). Even if she would attempt to fly away, she is attached to something, so is inevitably stuck in her place. Esperanza’s inability to realize what she has displays her immaturity. She is only focusing on more superficial things and thereby showing her prevalent adolescent nature.
As the novella progresses, so does Esperanza’s mindset. Her dream begins to develop into something different. The reader starts to see this change when …show more content…
Even as a woman who comes from a different background, Esperanza was able to hope and be successful to the extent that she is a role model to many young girls. She represents the idea of helping others and standing by herself using strength others did not deem she was capable