Rice Sandwich By Sandra Cisneros Analysis

Everyone wants to be inimitable, incomparable. The story “Rice Sandwich” by Sandra Cisneros is all about that, fitting in. About a young girl wants to be with the “cool kids,” who hung out in the canteen. About a young girl who was chasing the wrong thing. Don’t be special, because it will cause a lot false uniqueness and a lot of misery.
Do not try changing to a different person, because it’s a lie. For example, Esperanza wants to be special, and wants to be with “The special kids… get to eat in the canteen. The canteen! Even the name sounds important” (1). Esperanza is lying to herself, and making herself believe that eat in a certain place will make her special. Though really everyone is special in some way, one person may be able to swim really well, but some else can’t, but can study effectively. Also, if every human was exactly the same, then how would a species like us survive? Humans have to be diverse, because it more useful, as a species. Furthermore, Esperanza pleads with her mother, “Everyday at noon my chair would be empty. Where is my favorite daughter you
For instance, Esperanza when talking to the principal starts “to cry. I always cry when nuns yell at me” (2). Esperanza is crying, because she knows that she will not be able to eat in the canteen, and that the principal is criticizing her. She is having her dream crushed, and it’s breaking her heart. What is more is that after Esperanza talks with the principal she eats her lunch in the canteen, but she “ate my sandwich , the bread already greasy and the rice cold”(2). This symbolizes the misery, and how cold the aftereffect is. The irony of it is she left home cheerful that she got a sack lunch with a delicious rice sandwich, but in the end in despair, and a disgusting sandwich. The fact is that the end result is not the best, and the best option was to not be envious of others who appear to have a better