Commentary on House On Mango Street Essay

The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Cisneros is a collection of poetic prose. Cisneros writes in the voice of a child growing up in impoverished South Chicago. Throughout the collection of poems, Cisneros writes about the Cordero family and how they value their Latino culture and their Roman Catholic religion.

Sandra Cisneros poem The House on Mango Street is focusing on Esperanza and her family living in an impoverished neighborhood on Mango Street. Living with Esperanza are her parents, Carlos and Kiki, and her youngest sister Nenny. Esperanzas family moved many times before settling on Mango Street, so many times that she cant remember. We didnt always live on Mango Street, before that it was Loomis, before that it was Keeler, and before that it was Paulina, and before Paulina I cant even remember. Cisneros repeated use of before emphasizes the numerous times that Esperanzas family has moved throughout her short life before finally making Mango Street her permanent home. Esperanza describes the house as small and red with tight steps in front and the windows so small you'd think they were holding their breath. Bricks are crumbling in places, and the front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in." Cisneros use of the metaphor front windows so small youd think they were holding their breath paints a vivid picture of Esperanzas small impoverished house.

Esperanzas house is not how her family envisioned it. Their dream house would have running water, working pipes, and real stairs like the ones on T.V. The house would also have a washroom big enough to accommodate her big family. The outside of her dream house is white with a big unfenced yard and with trees. While her family describes their dream house, Esperanza remembers her house is the polar opposite, tiny, falling apart and without a yard. While realizing this, it makes Esperanza disappointed and sorry for herself for the improvised house she has.