Alhambra, Amizsa: I believe that Minerva and Sally have influenced Esperanza to only depend on herself in order to escape Mango Street because both, Minerva and Sally, rely on men in order to escape. The two are very similar asthey both wait or have waited till one day a man decides to marry them just to escape Mango Street. For example, the looking out the window motif that's always mentioned. But really, in result of this, they're not getting any freedom. The first woman who has influenced Esperanza to only depend on herself is Minerva. In "Minerva Writes Poems" it explains how Minerva already has two kids and a husband, at an age around Esperanza's. Also talks about Minerva's husband, "who left and keeps leaving." Minerva relied on a man--married