Examples Of Figurative Language In The House On Mango Street

Identity is what makes up every individual. Some people think an identity is just their physical traits, but it is so much more. Everyone's identity is made up of their goals, thoughts, feelings, actions, etc. Within the stories, “Abuela Invents the Zero”, “The House On Mango Street”, and “The Outsiders”, there is a similar theme that shows that the characters don't know their own worth or belonging. Abuela feels like a nothing, Esperanza knows she doesn't belong there, and Ponyboy and Cherry feel separated by the stereotype. All three stories use figurative language, mainly metaphors, to express their feelings. Abuela Invents the Zero”, “The House on Mango Street”, and “The Outsiders” all use metaphors to explain that they struggle with knowing

She uses metaphor to get her point across. In the story, she says, “You made me feel like a zero, like a nothing,”. After her granddaughter left her wandering in church when she was lost, Abuela felt worthless because nobody cared enough to help her. Abuela also says, “...of all the hurtful things you can do to a person, the worst is to make them feel as if they are worth nothing.” Because she is so hurt by her granddaughter's choices and actions, she gives a whole new meaning to the number zero. She uses metaphor to compare herself to zero, a number with no value, to show her granddaughter how she was wrong and selfish in how she

The excerpt used helps readers understand that they were separated by a stereotype and they are more alike than different. In the story, Cherry and Ponyboy are talking and they realize they have been put into these boxes. Cherry, a Soc, is known as the rich, spoiled, selfish person while Ponyboy, a Greaser, is known as a poor gang member who beats people up. Cherry says, “The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I’ll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you’ve never heard of.” Just because people see one side of the Socs or one side of the Greasers, there is always more to the story. “but there was a basic sameness. I thought maybe it was money that separated us.“No,” Cherry said slowly when I said this. “It’s not just money. Part of it is, but not all.” Greasers and Socs have just separated themselves, assuming it's because one is rich and the others aren't, but really they are quite similar. “The Outsiders” uses the comparison of their stereotype to how they actually are, and it helps them realize who they are as a