Plot Overview

The House on Mango Street, written by

Sandra Cisneros, focuses on a year in
the life of Esperanza. Esperanza is the
protagonist/main character in the story.
She, along with her family, move to a
house, located in Mango Street.
However, the house Esperanza moves to
is not what she had in mind and wishes
to have lived somewhere else. As soon
as she moves in, she makes friends with
Lucy and Rachel. She meets other
characters like Sire, her crush. Through a
series of vignettes the author writes a
year in Esperanzas life. She introduces
the characters and explains how they are
relevant to the story. Esperanza is seen
growing up and having to mature
throughout that one year that we see her.
She understands she won't live in the
house she has dreamed of and learns to
cope with her disappointment. She later
then gets a job to pay for Catholic School
that her parents can't afford. At the end of
the story Esperanza states, One day I will
say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for
her to keep me here forever. One day I must
go.

About the Author

Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago in
1954. Her inspiration for writing The
House on Mango Street was her own
experience on how she had never shared
where she had lived and how her culture
was portrayed, she felt, was a lie.

Reflections
The House on Mango Street was an
interesting reading experience for me. At
first I was a little confused and uneasy as
to how I would comprehend the story.
However, later on I understood it a better
and credit the author for writing the story
in vignettes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKG
6DBT0EvY
http://www.sandracisneros.com/bio.php

The House on Mango Street

Sandra Cisneros
Paola Yamile Camargo
9/16/16

Essential Quotes
In English my name means hope. In
Spanish it means too many letters. It
means sadness, it means waiting.
No, this isnt my house I say and shake
my head as if shaking could undo the
year Ive lived here. I dont belong. I dont
ever want to come from here.

Historical Context
Published: 1984
Culture: Puerto Rican
Original Language: English
Country: United States of America

Character Analysis
Esperanza: she is the protagonist in the
story who has to face growing up and
maturing
Sally: a girl who used to be friends with
Esperanza but does not talk to her
anymore
Nenny: Esperanzas little sister
Marin: a woman from Puerto Rico and
she lives with her cousin's family
Minerva: has two children and is married
but is most like Esperanza
Carlos and Kiki: Esperanzas little
brothers
Alicia: Esperanzas friend who works hard
and whose mom died

Themes
Possible themes for the story would be:
- coming-of-age: step up and take
responsibility
- make the most out of what you have
- sometimes its hard to find or define
yourself
- persevere even without help and
sympathy
- you dont always get what she wants
- cope with disappointment/ hold on to
hope
- life is about working hard and help your
family when they struggle
- accept yourself/ value yourself
- to find freedom, go out and seek new
experiences
- to define herself } you may have to
break the rules

Motifs and Symbols

Esperanzas name: Her name is a symbol
because her name means hope in
English.
Self definition: Esperanza struggles to
define who she is. For example, she
desires to change her name.
Trees: Trees seem to be a symbol in The
House on Mango Street since in the
chapter Four Skinny Trees , Esperanza
talk about how she does not fit in the the
ones who do fit in are The Four Skinny
Trees.