The Influence Of Setting In The House On Mango Street

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The House on Mango Street is a setting-filled story that delves into the life of a young girl and her experiences living in a rundown, crowded home. The setting of Mango Street serves as a catalyst for the main character’s character development throughout the short story, shaping her perceptions and understanding her own reality. The author builds the story so that as it goes on, you understand the setting has moved multiple times as the family has moved countless times, still searching for the home they always dreamed of. The setting helps to build her character development as she feels that this home that they dream of comes along with stability for her and her family. The House on Mango Street is not the dream home as the author stated in paragraph 5, “the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all.” The setting makes her feel as though the dream of getting this home they've always wanted is as far away as ever. The constant movement builds her character as well as her family's failed promises to find the dream home. The author accepts in the story the reality that she will most likely continue searching along with her family for the dream home. …show more content…

The cramped living conditions and obvious poverty create a sense of confinement and limitation. The author dreams of escaping Mango Street, viewing it as if the home is a symbol of her and her family’s stagnant life. The oppressive atmosphere exuded from Mango Street and the small red home affected her character and seemingly motivated her as she stated, “I knew then I had to have a house. A real house in the. One I could point to. But this isn’t