Sandra Cisneros Essay

“We know what we are, but not what we may be.” These words of William Shakespeare describe the struggle of searching for self-definition and identity. The novel The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, exemplifies the human struggle to find one’s purpose in life. The main character, Esperanza, grows in her search for identity throughout the novel by observing others. Events that emphasize this growth are when Esperanza discusses her name and the history of it, her poems that she shares…

a desire for a sense of belonging. Whether it is at their jobs, schools, or amongst their friends, people will always search for acceptance. The House on Mango Street, a novel beautifully crafted by author Sandra Cisneros depicts a young Latino girl's prolonged search for an identity. Cisneros portrays the young girl's evolution throughout the book by using ethnic and thematic elements. Through many hardships and life-changing experiences, Esperanza slowly blossoms from an innocent child into a…

The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, is a coming of age novel about Esperanza Cordero, a young girl growing up during the 20th century in a society ridden with prejudice. The characters feel the need to assimilate into American culture and society and give up their Spanish heritage in the process. To demonstrate this process, Cisneros utilizes literary elements throughout her writing, such as metaphor to enhance the central theme in Esperanza’s narrative that self-expression in a…

shown through the novella The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The House on Mango Street takes place in a mexican neighborhood which isn’t the best. It’s a poor, rough, and not very friendly neighborhood. The book starts when she is 12 or 13 and talks about her life and challenges till age 17 or 18. Esperanza negative view of herself slowly changes as she begins to focus on her larger community and her place within it. Through this, Cisneros shows that knowing and accepting where one…

True success is something people have to work for. For some, this is nearly impossible. In The House On Mango Street, a novella by Sandra Cisneros, Esperanza lives through a tough environment, but comes out strong. Growing up on Mango Street really shapes a person. Whether they are changed for the better or worse, is partially up to them. Esperanza perseveres and learns from her experiences, ultimately living a good, successful life. She has many role models in her life. Many of the women are in…

Sandra Cisneros’ book The House on Mango Street she discloses what life is like growing up in the Barrios of Chicago while being a young woman in poverty. The House on Mango Street is unique in the narrative it tells because it is not a movement out of poverty narrative that is generally told. Cisneros’ book tells the coming of age narrative through a feminine perspective as young Esperanza navigates her way through poverty. Through a close reading of “Hips”, “Sally”, and “Beautiful & Cruel” I…

What is “Eleven” saying about the world of children vs the world of adults? The world of children is often thought of as trivial, insignificant, etc. compared to the issues and concerns that involve adults. In the short story “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros is about Rachel’s eleventh birthday and reveals that children are hesitant to stand up to adult authority figures. Mrs. Price confronts Rachel with an ugly red sweater that she believes belongs to her. When Rachel is unable to stick up for…

Sandra Cisneros, the author of ‘The House on Mango Street,’ shows how an unlikely connection forms between the narrator Esperanza and the natural world around her— namely trees and plants— that somehow help her find the innate strength and inner peace that resides within her. Esperanza’s first bond with greenery is shown in the very first vignette, ‘The House on Mango Street,’ where she is disappointed at the lack of a front yard and only finds some comfort in four struggling little elm trees on…

Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, readers sink into the depths of a significant period in a character’s life when she explores the real world and uncover its secrets. Esperanza has finally moved to a house on Mango Street, however, as she interacts with the people and things in her surroundings, she discovers that there are many hardships packaged in life—the presence of racial detestation, the captivity of status and gender, and the reality about a person’s character and desires. Cisneros…

Mango Street (1984), Sandra Cisneros expresses the story of a young, indigent girl, Esperanza, who had recently moved onto Mango Street and is ashamed of the family’s shabby new community. Cisneros develops the story through a series of vignettes that express Esperanza’s experiences in her new home like the people she meets, their lives, hardships they face, obstacles that she has encountered, how they’ve affected her, and how her mind was changed. Through these vignettes, Cisneros uses various…