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The House On Mango Street Identity Analysis

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The House On Mango Street, written by Sandra Cisneros, tells the story of a poor Latina teenager named Esperanza growing up in America. Esperanza, the main character, is a kind and helpful girl. Many factors, like her moving around often and not liking her name, contribute to Esperanza’s identity. However, growing up in a poor Chicago neighborhood contribute most to Esperanza’s identity. The biggest factor that shaped Esperanza’s identity is the environment in which she grows up in. Growing up in her neighborhood thought Esperanza that sometimes the world’s judgement is unfair. “Those who don’t know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we are dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people …show more content…

In her neighborhood there is a junk store where the shopkeeper will only turn the lights if you have the money to buy something. When she wanted to experience eating in the lunchroom, the lunch lady was so unpleasant to her that she cried. “One day I’ll own my own house, but I won’t forget who I am or where I came from. Passing bums will ask, Can I come in? I’ll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house”(87). This shows that Esperanza will be kind to those below her unlike the shopkeeper and the lunch lady. This makes her a kind hearted human being and that is part of who she is. Growing up in a poor Chicago neighborhood shaped Esperanza to be a kind, compassionate person who knows her worth and doesn’t judge people by sight. Some may argue that moving around often is a more important aspect of Esperanza’s identity than growing up in the neighborhood that she did. They may assert that because moving around a lot caused her to become a self-reliant person. Esperanza did not form many connections with people her own age. However, growing up in her neighborhood caused her to mature as a human and give her the characteristic that make her who she is. As you can see, growing up in the neighborhood that she did, contribute most to Esperanza’s identity. It caused her to be a self-loving, kind, compassionate and not judging

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