Symbolism In Our Good Day By Sandra Cisneros

Everyone is hidden behind their mask, scared to show their real identity and afraid to be judged. Sandra Cisneros used the symbolic meaning of shoes and feet to taunt this human trait. Cisneros used shoes to represent mask and feet as our intrinsic nature. Cisneros used Esperanza to make the reason we hide behind our disguise more visible as she acknowledged one’s pain to endeavor to conceal our real intentions was to face others and to get protections by revealing Esperanza’s experience in her own perspective. To do that, Cisneros used shoes and feet to show the need to fit in, the protection they seek for, and the cruel reality of age breaking the mask. As Cisneros reveal the need to fit in, she also began to notice the pain from putting

In the vignette “Our Good Day”, shoes and feet were used to represent the price we pay to fit in as we hide behind our fake mask. In this case, the “price” is not used to describe the money value. Instead, it is used to compare the loss from hiding behind the mask. When Esperanza says, “They are wearing shiny Sunday shoes without socks. It makes their bald ankles all red, but I like them”(Cisneros 15). Cisneros used the redness of their ankles to symbolize the pain they are going through to hide behind their shiny Sunday shoes. Their effort of trying to fit in and meet other’s standard is hurting themselves both physically and mentally. As Esperanza and her friend, “ ...ride fast and faster. Past my house, sad and red and crumbly in places”(16)... They were laughing and they didn’t care about what the others think about them because they knew they’re are not focusing on their real self. In contrast “And Some More” when Lucy Guerrero said, “...your mama’s ugly like...um…… like bare feet in September”(37). It appeals to the reader how without shoes, without the protection mask, we are ugly in the cold. However, the September cold symbolizes the harsh reality in the eyes of others. It represents the human nature of judging and excluding. Therefore, the only protection you can rely on is your

In the vignette, “Minerva Writes Poems”, Minerva watches as “ Out the door he goes. Clothes, records, shoes. Out the window and the door locked”(85). Minerva realizes her husband’s true self after he has taken off his mask. After years of familiarity, their mask starts to crack and finally it will be broken. When Cisneros describes the shoes to be out the window, she meant Minerva's realizations of the different shoes, or masks he wore was actually an illusion. She became aware of his real self and cannot help but regret their relationship. As Minerva goes to Esperanza, “ ...black and blue and asks what can she do”(85). She can no longer make an effort to put her mask back on for her heart is too scattered and scarred by the real nature of her husband. In the vignette “Sire”, Esperanza described Sire’s girlfriend, Lois, to be, “ ...barefoot, and I saw her barefoot baby toenails all painted pale pale pink”(73). The pale color which can be used to symbolize innocence cause Esperanza to be jealous of Lois at some point because she thought Lois was perfect even under her mask. However, she didn’t know the nail polish was actually a second layer of disguise Lois put on to keep her image in front of others in order to fit in. If Esperanza can realize the mask was actually a facade, she may notice how important she is. In the The House on Mango Street, Cisneros used shoes and feet