The main character, Esperanza comes from a lower-class Hispanic family. She is bothered by what people say to her because of her familyās socioeconomic status, āI knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isnāt it. The house on Mango Street isnāt it, states Esperanza. She feels she is better off living somewhere else, āI remember the most is Mango Street, sad red house, the house I belong but do not belong toā says Esperanza. She wants to leave Mango Street and start aĀ new life Ā āShe does not hold me with both arms. She sets me freeā, states Esperanza. Lastly, to find a house where she can live with her family and feels like a house, āOur house would be white with trees around it, a great big yard and grassĀ growing without a fenceā, says Esperanza.
Professor Laura Westengard
Email: lwestengard@citytech.cuny.edu
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 am and by appointment
Office/Mailbox Location: Namm 503
Phone Number: (718) 260-5761-
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
Sounds like the typical American dream, but why the red house bothered her growing up confuses me, if anything it is different and separates her from the normative.
I get the feeling that Esperanza doesn’t fully appreciate things. She’s always wanted a home, now that shes obtained one, she’s acting snobbish. Surely if her parents had more economical status they would get a nicer house, but she would have to cope with this one instead of crying how crappy it is and similar to her apartment building.
I agree with this post, also like Josh said I think Esperanza doesn’t fully appreciate what she has. It’s true that her family doesn’t have the money to buy something better but it doesn’t mean you have to treat the house like garbage.
Esperanza wants to live a life that she knows she can’t live