The House on Mango Street Test

The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street is the narrator's current home. She is unnamed so far but has 3 siblings named Carlos, Kiki, and Nenny with Mama and Papa as well. She doesn't remember her old houses well but she remembers moving a lot. Though when she got to Mango street she was amazed as she didn't have a landlord or wouldn't get in trouble for noise and had her own backyard. But it is still not the house they imagined that would have real stairs and good running pipes. When she pointed out her house to the Nun she was embarrassed and knew she had to have her own house just the way she wanted in the future.

Hairs

The unnamed narrator tells about her family having all different types of hair. With her having lazy hair that will not cooperate with barrattes or bands. Her mother's hair smells like bread though. The warm bread that comforts you and allows you to sleep in her bed when you are scared. Mama's hair smells like bread because it is comfort food and that is exactly what Mama does to the narrator.

Boys and Girls

The narrator says that boys and girls are completely different as Kiki and Carlos are each other's best friends but not best friends with Nenny and the narrator. Kiki and Carlos she says speak to them at home but not outside of that. Though Nenny cannot be her best friend either because she is too young and neither the Vargas kids because of how crazy they are. She swears that she will have a best friend in the future but as of now she is a balloon tied to an anchor which means she is stuck and cannot fly to the sky with her great ideas.

My name

We finally find out the narrator's name and it is Esperanza. In English the name means hope but in Spanish it means too many letters she claims. It was also her great-grandmother's name. She wishes to have met her great grandmother as she was a wild horse of a woman, who was independent by herself and refused to marry anyone. That was until her grandfather basically kidnapped her. Esperanza hates how the kids at school say her names with weird tones and syllables. She wishes she could make herself a new name, some as crazy as Zeze the X.

Cathy Queen of Cats

Cathy is Esperanza's neighbor and related to the queen of France. Cathy thinks she is superior because of this and sees the rest of Mango Street as poor. Cathy loves cats and has them all over her house. She is very judgemental to poor people and thinks she is better than everyone else because she is technically royalty. She says she is moving away from Mango ,but she says that Esperanza can be her friend before she goes.

"Two girls raggedy as rats live across the street" (12)

Our Good Day

Esperanza meets Lucy and Rachel. Lucy and Rachel are siblings that came from Texas. They are trying to buy a bike from Tito. All three of them are sharing the bike and take turns riding it by switching off every day. They all slowly become friends.

"This bike is three ways ours" (15)

Laughter

Esperanza explains her and her sister, Nenny and how their identity and relationship is different from Lucy and Rachel's. Esperanza explains that her and her sister do not share a trait that makes them stick out as siblings like Rachel and Lucy do with their big popsicle lips. Esperanza also explains that while she was driving by, she saw a house that looked like Mexico.

"Look at the house, I said, it looks like Mexico" (18)

Gi'ls Furniture Bought and Sold

Esperanza explains how she is slightly familiar with an old junk store where she bought a used refrigerator one time. The worker doesn't turn on the store lights unless you have money. Esperanza bought a Statue of Liberty replica to feel more American and Nenny wanted to buy a music box.

"Everything is on top of everything" (19)

Meme Ortiz

Meme Ortiz is a boy whose real name is Juan and is called that by everyone except for his mother. He lives in the house that Cathy's family used to live in. He has a sheepdog that has two names, one in english and one in spanish. In his back yard, there is a big tree where the kids have a climbing competition on which they call the Tarzan. Meme won the contest but he broke both arms.

Louie, His cousin and His other cousin

Louie is a boy whose family lives in the basement under Meme Ortiz's house. One of his cousins is named Marin whose family is Puerto Rico. She never comes out because she has to babysit Louie's sisters. His other cousin is never named, but we meet him when one day he shows up to the house in a yellow Cadillac. He gives everyone a ride in the Cadillac, and they admire the windows that open and close using only a button. When they get back to Louie's house, they suddenly hear a siren, and Louie's cousin throws them all out of the car and speeds away.

Marin

Marin is one of Louie's cousins who takes care of Louie's little sisters for him. Her boyfriend lives in Puerto Rico, and she is going to go there to see him once she has enough money. Esperanza says that she never gets to see Marin unless her aunt comes, then Marin comes out and lights a cigarette. Marin is also described as very pretty, and the boys will come by and say stupid things to try to impress her.

Those who don't

This chapter talks about how people stereotype Esperanza's neighborhood. They think that the neighborhood is dangerous because it is filled with people who are not from America. But the people that live there know that the neighborhood is safe because they all know each other.

There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do

The old lady's name is Rose Vargas and she has more children than she can handle. Her husband left her a long time ago so she doesn't have anyone to help her with the kids. The kids are described as wild and they show this when Angel Vargas "learned to fly" and he then crashed into the ground with blood flying everywhere.

Alicia & I Talking on Edna's Steps

Alicia reminds Esperanza that she is from Mango Street and forever will be a part of her.

"Like it or not you are Mango street" 107

A House of My own

Esperanza dreams of owning a house that only belongs to her, with purple petunias. Vignette shows her desire for freedom.

"Only a house quiet as snow, a space for myself to go, clean as paper before the poem" 108

Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes

Esperanza reflects that writing helps her through pain such as not belonging. She accepts she will leave Mango street one day, but promises to come back for those who cannot leave.

"They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind" 110

1st job

is about how Esperanza get her 1st job because she needs money. She works at pan photo finishers. She had to have her aunt already work there and had to lie about Esperanza's age so she could work there. She had to wear white gloves and put photos in envelopes. A quotee from this symbolizing her direct blind obedience is " that's all. I didn't know where these envelopes were coming from or going. I just did what i was told."

Papa who wakes up tired in the dark

is about Esperanza's abuelito dying and how her family must be quiet. Her father tells Esperanza then she tells her siblings because she is the oldest. She also visualizes a scenario where her papa dies and she would hold him in her arms

Born bad

is about how how her and her siblings pick someone to imitate and usually it is: wonder woman, the beatles, or marilyn monroe but then they change the game to people they do know

A Rice Sandwich

In "A Rice Sandwich", Esperanza asks her mom to make her a rice sandwich and a note telling Sister Supreme, the head nun of Esperanza's school, that they were too poor to make their own food for lunch, so Esperanza could eat in the canteen. Esperanza is jealous of her friends that eat in the canteen. Esperanza's mom makes a rice sandwich and writes a note saying that they lived too far away, and it makes Esperanza too skinny. Esperanza's mom's note did not get the right point across to Sister Supreme. Sister Supreme then points to the worst looking house on a nearby street and says that Esperanza lives there. After saying this Esperanza cries because Sister Supreme had assumed she lived in the worst house on the block. She then eats her rice sandwich crying while all of the other kids watched her.

Chanclas

In "Chanclas", Esperanza is given nice new clothes for her little cousin's baptism in the Precious Blood Church. Although she is given nice clothes, she is ashamed ,because she has to wear bulky and brown saddle shoes. Her mama says that she is sick from eating too many tamales, but Uncle Nacho tells her that she had too many of this, then tilts his thumb to his mouth, symbolizing a drink. Esperanza immediately understands that her mother is drunk, and she acts maturely. While she sits in her chair ashamed, her feet appear to grow bigger, symbolizing her growing anxiety and embarrassment, but when Uncle Nacho invites her to dance, and she is no longer ashamed of herself, her feet begin to shrink back to normal. Uncle Nacho makes her feel confident by telling her she is the prettiest girl here and dancing with her. The vignette ends with Esperanza feeling happy, and her mother being proud to be her mother.

Hips

In "hips", Rachel, Lucy, Nenny, and Esperanza talk about women's hips. They talk about how it helps with motherhood and being a woman. They even say that if you do not get hips that bloom like roses, then you are a man. Nenny then says that hips are to rock babies with and sing lullabies to, which the others think is dumb. Then Rachel, Lucy, and Esperanza sing songs about women with hips, but Nenny just hums to herself which symbolizes the other three growing up into womanhood, while Nenny is still "just a little baby".

Red Clowns

In Red Clowns Esperanza starts by saying that Sally lied to her. Then she describes Sally being taken away by a "big boy". Esperanza calls out to Sally but she does not hear her. A boy grabs Esperanza and she is sexually assaulted. She then goes on to say that the world, magazines and books, had lied to her. This whole scene describes Esperanza being abused at the carnival and Sally not being their for her.

Linoleum Roses

In linoleum roses, Sally is married to a marshmallow salesman before eighth grade. Sally says she is happy because she can buy her own things but her husband is angry and does not let her have friends. She is also not allowed to look out of the window. It is obvious that her husband is controlling and possibly abusive to her.

The Three Sisters

The three sisters are at the funeral of Rachel and Lucy's baby sister. The sisters ask Esperanza what her name is and when she tells them they say she is special and that she will go very far. They tell her that when she leaves she must remember to come back. They say she will always be Mango Street. She must remember to come back for the ones who can't leave as easily.

"Beautiful and Cruel"

In Beautiful and Cruel Esperanza remarks how she is the "ugly daughter" and how she has decided to not grow up yet. She says she is not the woman in the movies with red lips who is "beautiful and cruel" as that woman drives men crazy. She ends the chapter murmuring how she has begun her own quiet war. "I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man" (89)

"A Smart Cookie"

In A Smart Cookie, Esperanza discusses about how her mother is a "smart cookie" as she can speak two languages, can sing an opera, and knows how to fix a T.V. Esperanza also remarks how her mom is nervous and how she used to draw in her free time. Now her mom draws with a needle and thread. She also now mainly cooks oatmeal and remarks how she could have been something. Esperanza overall highlights the sacrifices her mom makes because of her and her siblings and comments how she loves them. "Today while cooking oatmeal she is Madame Butterfly until she sighs and points the wooden spoon at me." (91)

"What Sally Said"

In What Sally Said, Esperanza discusses how Sally is physically abused by her father and covers up for it. Her father later promises how he will never hit her again, but later whips out his belt and whips her because she talked with a boy. Exclaiming, "You're not my daughter, you're not my daughter" (93)

"The Monkey Garden"

In The Monkey Garden, Esperanza feels a disconnect and a reality check with her friend Sally. At the beginning of the vignette, Esperanza remarks about how she wanted to commit suicide in the monkey's garden, yet it failed. Later in the vignette Sally is around boys and makes jokes with them. Esperanza doesn't understand them highlighting how she is childish and unwilling to face adulthood. Esperanza is also jealous and rude of Sally to the point where Sally says "go home" and the boys say "leave us alone". Esperanza later reaveals that she wanted to commit suicide and was just a childish drama queen who refused to face adulthood. "They were laughing. She was too. It was a joke I didn't get." (96)

Alicia Who Sees Mice

Alicia is a young woman and her mother has died so she has to take on the role of doing laborious work around the house. She goes to college despite having to take a long bus ride there and back so that she won't have to be a "maid" her entire life. She stays up late studying and she claims that she sees mice at night but her father denies this and says she should be asleep getting ready to work tomorrow. This vignette highlights the society of how women are valued less than men and the mice symbolizes poverty. Quote: "Is afraid of nothing except four-legged fur. And fathers." - symbolizes abusive fathers and social hierarchy in their neighborhood.

Darius & the Clouds

Esperanza explains that she loves the sky among other things such as butterflies and flowers. Darius, who does not like school, pointed to a cloud and said it looks like God. Esperanza thought that this was wise. This vignette symbolizes the sky as freedom and how anyone can be wise. Quote: "That one there. See that. That's God." - shows how Darius has wisdom and can think despite his "stupid" appearance.

And Some More

Esperanza, Nenny, Lucy, and Rachel are all playing outside one day and Esperanza says that the Eskimos have thirty different names for snow. They then start talking about different names for clouds and people. Nenny makes a huge list of names for the clouds in the sky. They then begin jokingly insulting each other. This vignette shows the playful personality of Esperanza and her friends. Quote: "No, she says. That one there is Nancy, otherwise known as Pig-eye." - shows the start of their playful conversation about cloud names.

The Family of Little Feet

Esperanza starts describing a family with feet. Someone walks by and gives Esperanza, Nenny, Rachel, and Lucy a bag with shoes - high heeled shoes. The girls put them on and are surprised at how "womanly" their body seems with these shoes on. Mr. Benny warns them that wearing those shoes will lead to consequences but the girls don't listen. Soon men start looking at them weirdly and one even flirts with Rachel. The girls all run away home and Lucy hides the shoes under their porch and her mom throws them away but nobody is upset at this. This vignette highlights how men have superiority and try to take advantage of girls. It also shows how Esperanza wanted to grow up and be like a woman. Quote: "We are tired of being beautiful" - the girls don't want to wear the shoes and be beautiful because there are dangers to this.

Elentia, Cards, Palm, Water

Esperanza visits Elentia trying to learn more about her future. Elenita goes by witch woman since she can "see in the future". She sees people's future by looking at cards, their palms, and water. Esperanza was wanting to live in a big house away from Mango Street, but she actually got a house from the heart which Esperanza did not want. The Witch also says she can not tell the future because the stars aren't out. ''Come back Thursday when the stars are stronger''. Esperanza is frustrated by this because she didn't get the answer that she wanted and left disappointed.

Geraldo No Last Name

Esperanza met a guy named Geraldo, who is an immigrant from Mexico, and was dancing with him one night. Later that night, he was killed in a hit and run accident and no one knew anything about him. No one knew his last name. He was a nobody. He had no family near him or anyone that knew him. Esperanza was sad that someone can be forgotten in such a short amount of time, especially immigrants. "He wasn't anything to her. He wasn't her boyfriend or anything like that. Just another brazer who didn't speak English." This quote signifies that people can be forgotten after they die and Geraldo was just another guy from Mexico.

Edna's Ruthie

In Edna's Ruthie, Ruthie, Edna's oldest daughter, behaves like a child which sets her apart from other adults in the area. Edna did marry someone,but then ran away showing that she could not handle the adult task of being married. Ruthie instead plays with the neighborhood kids which the kids like but the adults don't. This shows that she is stuck between living as a child and taking the next step of being an adult. Sandra Cisneros is highlighting that not all adults achieve the stability kids hope for as adults. "Ruthie, tall skinny lady with red lipstick and blue babushka, one blue sock and one green because she forgot, is the only grown-up we know who likes to play." This quote was said at the beginning of thechapter, and it shows that Ruthie is the only adult on Mango Street that likes to play like a kid. This shows how she is stuck being a kid and won't grow up.