House On Mango Street Canteen
Esperanza aspires to be like the children who are forced to stay at school for lunch without considering that it is because they have no other options. This is because she focuses more on what others have than what she has and often wishes to be like others even when what she has is better. This becomes more evident in chapter nineteen of Sandra Cisneros’ novel, The House On Mango Street, tittled “A Rice Sandwich.” In this chapter the grass is definitely greener on the other side of the fence: Esperanza wishes to be like the kids who “get to eat in the canteen” (43) instead of going home for lunch where she can get better food and see her family. Looking up to the kids that get to eat their lunches in the canteen, Esperanza begs her mother
to allow her to also eat there. She considers these kids to be “special” because “their mothers aren’t home or home is too far away” to go home for lunch (43). Little does Esperanza know is that she is the more privileged one. Because her mother does not have to make her a “rice sandwich” every day because they “don’t have lunch meat” (44). She has the luxury of going home and making a meal that other kids are not able to do. Because Esperanza has the capability of making her own lunch and eating it with her family every day. When she goes to the nun to have her read the note sent by her mother, she sees how bad her conditions could be. Sister Superior made her point out a house that wasn’t her’s that “even the raggedy men are ashamed to go into” (45). But she would still rather admit to living in and ugly flat than speak up and tell the nun where she actually lives. Because she would rather claim to have someone else's home that be judged on her own. But like most of the things that Esperanza thinks she wants, her idea of the canteen was also disproven. The canteen, though “even the name sounds important” (43) really “was nothing special” (45). Only after she was given the thing she had been longing for did Esperanza realize that it was truly not better than what she already had. And like many other times where her jealousy got the best of he Esperanza had to live with her unmet expectations of the world.
to allow her to also eat there. She considers these kids to be “special” because “their mothers aren’t home or home is too far away” to go home for lunch (43). Little does Esperanza know is that she is the more privileged one. Because her mother does not have to make her a “rice sandwich” every day because they “don’t have lunch meat” (44). She has the luxury of going home and making a meal that other kids are not able to do. Because Esperanza has the capability of making her own lunch and eating it with her family every day. When she goes to the nun to have her read the note sent by her mother, she sees how bad her conditions could be. Sister Superior made her point out a house that wasn’t her’s that “even the raggedy men are ashamed to go into” (45). But she would still rather admit to living in and ugly flat than speak up and tell the nun where she actually lives. Because she would rather claim to have someone else's home that be judged on her own. But like most of the things that Esperanza thinks she wants, her idea of the canteen was also disproven. The canteen, though “even the name sounds important” (43) really “was nothing special” (45). Only after she was given the thing she had been longing for did Esperanza realize that it was truly not better than what she already had. And like many other times where her jealousy got the best of he Esperanza had to live with her unmet expectations of the world.