Tuesday, April 1, 2014

What is the symbolism in The House on Mango Street?

By far, the most prominent symbol in the book is the house
itself.  Look again at the chapter "Bums in the Attic."  There is a comparison of the
small, crooked, drab house she actually lives in to the one she imagines for herself. 
One theme of the book is the longing for something more - or a desire to live more
comfortably.  Esperanza's house is symbolic of this desire.  It is the constant reminder
of what she does not have materially.  On the other hand, another theme presented in the
book comes from the idea of hope - hope for something better when I grow up, hope to
always have something better in the future... in this way, the house is symbolic of
stability and protection from the difficulties of childhood.  It gives Esperanza a place
to feel safe so that she is able to create and hold on to dreams of a better future for
herself.


Another symbol in the book is shoes.  Shoes, for
Esperanza, are a symbol of feminity, adulthood, sexualty.  They are a reminder for her
as a child of her desire to be attractive but her struggle to also be
independent.


Finally, trees are symbolic of independence
and strength.  Esperanza takes careful notice of trees throughout her neighborhood and
personifies them.

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