David Anthony Herrera

10/16/18
Period 1

Esperanza is a Mexican American girl. She is 13 years old and she dreams of living in a
house of her own one day. She also dreams of leaving mango street because it’s a bad
neighborhood . Mango street is the street she lives on. 3 things that shape her identity is
family,growing up, and neighborhood, this is what makes Esperanza a strong person.

For example, the vignette “4 skinny trees” shows growing up. Esperanza says “They are
the only ones that understand me, I am the only one that understands them. Four skinny trees…
there strength is secret.” (74)In this vignette there are four skinny trees outside of Esperanza’s
house. She talks about why she likes them and how she connects with them. When Esperanza
is talking about the trees she says there secret is strength meaning she gets her strength from
the trees.

In addition, in the vignette “ A house of my own” there’s a quote that says “ not a flat. Not
an apartment in back. Not a mans house. Not a daddy’s. A house of my own.” In the vignette
she talks about her own house she got that’s not a mans.” (108) Esperanza is all grown up and
she says how she has a house and how she achieved her dream of having a house all to
herself without a mans help. This part of book along with others show how she is strong.

To add on, the vignette “ Papa who wakes up tired” has a specific quote that means a lot
to Esperanza and the reader, Esperanza’s dad speaks the first four words then Esperanza is
speaking the rest in this quote . “ Your Abuelito is dead… because I’m the oldest, my father told
me first and now I have to tell the others.”(56) The vignette talks about Esperanzas grandpa
dies and her father tells her all about it. Esperanza has to of been strong and tell her siblings
that her grandpa died.

To summarize these three vignettes show that Esperanza is strong. Some may argue
that gender is a theme that’s shapes Esperanza’s identity. That’s not the case because if she
was a boy she would have gone through the same things and would still be strong even if she
was a boy. The 3 things that shape Esperanza’s identity is family, growing up, and
neighborhood made Esperanza strong. It matters for Esperanza’s to be strong because I can
prove my point to the reader that Esperanza is strong by analyzing the quotes and vignettes in
House on mango street.