Plot Overview

Esperanza and her family move to

a one-bedroom home in Chicago
on Mango Street. The place is
definitely not what she expected.
Throughout the story, Esperanza
struggles to find her place in the
world. Later on, Esperanza desires
to leave her poor neighborhood
because she wants to grow up. She
spends time with her friend Sally
and gets a job. Esperanzas
friendship with Sally ends with them
getting sexually assaulted at a
carnival. Esperanza returns her
focus on Mango Street. She thinks
back of all the memories shes had.
She accepts that that is her home
but aspires to have a place of her
own in the future and be
independent.

About the Author

Sandra Cisneros was born in
Chicago in 1954. She was the third
child and only daughter in the
family of seven children. The
House on Mango Street was
published by her in 1984. Cisneros
can also be considered a poet. She
has written other pieces such as:
Woman Hollering Creek and Other
Stories, Loose Woman, Caramelo,
Vintage Cisneros,Have You Seen
Mary, and A House of My Own:
Stories From My Life.
Historical Context
Average Cost of new house $86,730
Median Price Of and Existing Home
$72,400

Average Income per year $21,600.00

Average Monthly Rent $350.00

The House on Mango Street

Author
Juan Flores
September 18, 2016

Essential Quotes

I knew then I had to have a

house. A real house. One I could
point to. But this isn't it. The house
on Mango Street isn't it. (Chapter
1, Paragraph 1)
The boys and girls live in separate
worlds. The boys in their universe
and we in ours. My brothers for
example. They've got plenty to say
to me and Nenny inside the house.
But outside they can't be seen
talking to girls. (Chapter 4,
Paragraph 1)

Reflections
Seems like a sloppy book. This is
because it is written in vignettes instead
of the usual chapter style. It deals with
Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl,
and her experiences growing up in

Character Analysis
Esperanza is the protagonist and
narrator. Everything in the story is from
her point of view. She is a young latina
girl who is ashamed of being poor. She
struggles to fit in and loves to write.
Nenny is Esperanzas younger sister.
Nenny can be considered a pain in the
butt to Esperanza. As the story
progresses, like any clich, they start
to bond more and grow closer. Nenny
understands her older sister unlike
anyone else.
Then there's Sally. Sally is the
gorgeous one. You know, the one that
always has a group of dudes talking to
her. However, this causes her father to
beat her everytime shes with a boy.
She becomes one of Esperanzas
closest friends throughout the story.

Themes
Coming of age: step up, take
responsibility.
Sometimes its hard to find or
define yourself: she has to
persevere even without help.
You dont always get what
you want: cope with
disappointment, hold on to
hope.
Life is about working hard:
help your family when they
struggle.
Accept yourself: value
yourself.
To find freedom, go out and
seek new experiences.

Motifs and Symbols

Shoes
Shoes in the story frequently create
images of adult feminine qualities. So, for
Esperanza they create the picture of the
conflict she feels between the beginning
of her sexual attractiveness and her
desire to be independant
Trees
Esperanza shows admiration for the trees
in her front yard.She relates to the trees
because they dont seem to belong in
Mango Street. They persevere even
though the concrete that tries to keep
them in the ground. Esperanza believes