Miss More's Essay: The Pursuit Of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness On August 2nd 1776, The Declaration of Independence was signed; one of the most well known parts of the declaration is the preamble, reading, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness“.(web) This infamous line is what has aspired many to pursue the American dream, which consist of a family, good job, a nice home, and religious freedom. As children we are innocently naive of our surrounding, until upon older age someone points it to us that our lives are not a good as we though them to be; we start noticing and comparing ourselves to others. Inequality

It shows how underprivileged people face disadvantages that have an effect on future generations, how inequality is seen even in people who have been here for generations. The story begins with the introduction of Miss More, as the narrator (Sylvia) describes the women with, “nappy hair and proper speech and no makeup” (28). Showing her immediate dislike for this woman, whom she finds to be another whitewashed black women from the comment of her nappy hair and proper speech. Miss More is an important character in this short story, she makes it her mission to educate the children but not just about math and science, but about life and socioeconomics. Through Sylvia’s character Cisneros gives us a glimpse into the mind and attitude of kids living in these so-called slums. Her attitude and smart comebacks, as well as language is realistic to children living when and where she does. While on a trip to visit the F.A.O Schwarz toy store in New York, which is filled with toys that the kids would never be able to afford, such as that cost $35 dollars, Sylvia then begins to think of all the things that could be done with those $35 dollars. “Thirty-five dollars and the whole household could visit Grandaddy Nelson in the country. Thirty-five dollars would pay for rent and the piano bill too”. (33) This is an important lesson Sylvia and the children learn, they see how society is divided and while some are scrapping by, others

Which correlates with the short stories, further showing that kids pay the consequences of society, many of them raising them selves on the streets, either from losing parent(s) to violence or prison, or parents working three jobs to make ends meet. Both stories show how children are affected, and how their attitude or view on life can be changed. While some preserver their challenges others fall victims to circumstances. Both Stories have a Strong female character, which is appropriate since women are at times paid less than men and fall victims to glass ceiling; and women of color are given even less opportunities. In “House of Mango Street” we see the struggles of Immigrant families, while in “The lesson” we see the struggles of black kids in Ghetto neighborhoods. In the end both “House on Mango Street” and “The Lesson”, are a reflection of our society and the idea of Pursuit of happiness in America, how inequality makes it harder for those who are underprivileged, to pursue it, but Society can be mended, starting with