The House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros

1297 Words6 Pages
When writers are first coming to the drawing board to think of a story to create, most of the advice given to them is “write what you know.” This was perfect advice for Mexican-American writer Sandra Cisneros, who draws upon her coming-of-age events throughout her childhood and adolescence in “The House on Mango Street.” Drawing from life stories, her alter ego “Esperanza” describes everything from the house she lived in, to the hair on people’s heads. These personal stories show a stark contrast for any reader of a different culture, and confirm feelings for those of the same culture. However, these stories include themes that are essentially the dealings of growing up, something that most all, including myself, can relate to. The structure of the collection of stories is as bright and exuberant as the words she uses to describe them, often sporadic and intuitive, something that feels like a teenager would write. Her narrative tone as Esperanza sets her unique upbringing into the spotlight, along with the figurative language and persona she uses to communicate her perspective. The relation into this story I feel the most is the simple struggles of the surrounding cultures and happenings on Mango Street, that inform much about how you’re raised and see the world. Through this, Cisneros comments both on the culture she was raised in, and makes you question the one you were raised in, as she recounts her distinctive formative years. The opening of “The House On Mango
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