Sandra Cisneros' novel "The House on Mango Street" can relate with readers due to its sorrowful portrayal of the challenges posed by cultural and societal discrimination. The characters' experiences reflect issues faced by communities in real life. Through the experiences of Esperanza and her neighbors, Cisneros highlights the pervasive impact of discrimination on their dreams, self-identity, and sense of belonging. This essay explores the parallels between the struggles depicted in the novel and actual instances of discrimination.
The discrimination faced by the characters leads to a sense of isolation from society. The recurring style of Mango Street reads as a place of confinement and isolation. The neighborhood is symbolic of the cultural and societal barriers that prevent the characters from fully integrating into the larger community. This is echoed in Esperanza's reflection, "You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing." (Cisneros, 5). This sentiment emphasizes the isolation that comes from being belittled by one's own culture and the broader society.
…show more content…
The experiences of individuals who speak languages other than the majority language echo the plight of minority communities. The rise of anti-Asian sentiments during the pandemic, documented by [Justin T. (2023)], demonstrates how language barriers can be weaponized to perpetuate stereotypes and fuel discrimination. “At school they say my name funny as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth.” (Cisneros, 11). This only pushes people to be discriminated against and isolated due to cultural