Ezperanza's Observation In The House On Mango Street

The story begins with a little girl who describes her life through her observations. We then learn her name is Ezperanza. Most sections in The House on Mango Street are brief and fragmented. Cisneros does this in order to reflect the characteristics of a young girl. Most children have shorter attention spans, and because of this, Cisneros strings fragments of observations together to allow her writing to match that of a young girl’s. Although brief, I believe Cisneros does a fantastic job of allowing readers to see through a child’s point view. The descriptors she uses perfectly portray a child that may have less experience in the real world than that of an adult who has.

Previously mentioned, Cisneros writes to characterize the observations

She relays the information that her names means “hope” in English, but “sadness” and “waiting” in Spanish. Her name symbolizes not only her character, but the book as a whole. Though saddening, hopeful and strong.

The novel continues as Ezperanza learns more about herself through the actions of others around her and the things she witnesses. (351)

V. “You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I lived there. I nodded” (Cisneros, 5)

This example is one of the first to exemplify society. The nun had asked if Ezperanza had lived in the run down apartment, shaming Esperanza for her class and race. Many examples like this that display the injustice within society, I chose this one because it is the first to appear. The nun had judged Ezperanza based on her race and class after seeing her apartment, the disgust evident in her tone when speaking to Ezperanza.

They think we’re dangerous. They think we attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake.” (Cisneros, 28)

Here, Ezperanza explains the people that do not live in the neighborhood who wander here accidentaly. She understands the injustice within the society in which the people that enter are afraid to be robbed. She explains that she isn’t afraid of the people that live here because she knows them, and explains that those who don’t are plagued by stereotypical injustice. (61) “The boys and the girls live in separate worlds. The boys in their universe and we in ours.” (Cisneros, 8)

At quick glance, you may interpret this statement made by Ezperanza as just a common saying from a child who doesn’t want to associate with boys. However, Ezperanza is showing the readers her knowledge of injustice between males and females. A section previously, Ezperanza had mentioned her understanding of this injustice by giving an example of a comparison between Mexicans and Chinese. Where the men in each culture both like their women to be weak. Thi syatement confirms that although Ezperanza may be young, she is able to comprehend the injustice within society.