Daniela Lopez

Ms. Shaffer
English 1 GATE
9/20/16
The House on Mango Street Essay
In The House on Mango Street, a girl named Esperanza, was ashamed about many things
in her life. Esperanza was ashamed of where she lived, her name, where she came from, and
about being herself. This short story or novel, written by Sandra Cisneros, tells about how
Esperanza grows and experiences new things while she lives in Mango Street. She learns that she
learns that she might not like where she comes from but she has to learn to accept it. Esperanza
has her ups and downs while living in Mango Street. From making new friends, to meeting the
wrong people, Esperanza learned that when you meet new people only some of them will be real
with you. Throughout The House on Mango Street a theme that I found was that you cant
always have what you want, so be grateful for what you have and who you are.

In the story, Esperanza says, The house on Mango Street is ours, and we dont have to
pay rent to anybody, or share the yard downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and
there isnt a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom. But even so, its not the house wed
thought wed get it (3). This quote highlights that Esperanza was happy that they had gotten
their own house, but she thought that the house was going to be nicer and shows that you cant
always have what you want. This quote shows that imagery and sensory details about why
Esperanza liked her new house and why she didnt.

One of the sisters told Esperanza, When you leave you must remember to come back
for the others You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango Street. You cant erase
what you know. You cant forget who you are (105). By examining this evidence, one of the
sisters tells Esperanza that you should be proud of where you come from and shouldnt be
ashamed of your culture. What one of the sisters tells this to Esperanza, it is foreshadowing
that she might regret what she has said and done by the end of the story.

At the end of the story Esperanza says, I like to tell stories. I am going to tell you a
story about a girl who didnt belong They will not know I have gone away to some beck. For
the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out. (110). The idea of her quote underlines that
Esperanza might not like where she came from but she has to accept it and live on with it. For
this reason, it is an important part of the story because what one of the sisters told Esperanza
was rephrased in this way because she accepted being from Mango Street.

Overall, Esperanza learned many valuable lessons while living on Mango Street apart
from the ones mentioned. For example, you dont have to follow the stereotype form your culture
or what people expect from you and being independent isnt a bad thing. All of the quotes from
The House on Mango Street relate to the central idea which is that you cant always have what
you want, so be grateful for what you have and who you are. So, whenever you feel ashamed
about who you are or what you have just remember that everyone is unique in their own ways.