The House On Mango Street Extract Analysis
Journal 5
The novel “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros deals with the formation of identity, and looks at the challenge of being in between two different cultures and identities and not really belonging to either side, because you not really one, but not really the other either. This extract emphasises the need to not accept anyone’s definition of your life, the need to define your own life.
The House on Mango St portrays the challenge of being caught in between two cultures, and in this particular extract the main protagonist is caught between being Mexican and Anglo-American. This ethnicity reflects the ethnicity of the author, Cisneros. Cisneros is also from a mixed ethnicity, being Mexican and American. Growing up, she realised the importance of not accepting anyone else's definition of her, as she was neither fully Mexican or American, and to live her own life. This is reflected in the novel when one of the old ladies says to Esperanza that “You cant forget what you know. You can’t forget who you are” showing her how important it is to hold onto your individual traits and personalities to remain true and …show more content…
Showing that coming back to were you are from helps shape who you are and sets a strong foundation on which to define who you are, if you know your origin and don't leave it behind. Its important not to forget what your identity is, because if you don't know, then others will influence and define you into a being that you aren’t, they will force you into a definition that doesn't quite fit, and its vital that you have the correct fitting definition of yourself, and the only way to get the correct fit is to define yourself. You know you the best and thats why your the only one that can define you. Thats why knowing your origin, and coming back to were you are from is important, like the old ladies tell Esperanza in the extract from The House on Mango
The novel “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros deals with the formation of identity, and looks at the challenge of being in between two different cultures and identities and not really belonging to either side, because you not really one, but not really the other either. This extract emphasises the need to not accept anyone’s definition of your life, the need to define your own life.
The House on Mango St portrays the challenge of being caught in between two cultures, and in this particular extract the main protagonist is caught between being Mexican and Anglo-American. This ethnicity reflects the ethnicity of the author, Cisneros. Cisneros is also from a mixed ethnicity, being Mexican and American. Growing up, she realised the importance of not accepting anyone else's definition of her, as she was neither fully Mexican or American, and to live her own life. This is reflected in the novel when one of the old ladies says to Esperanza that “You cant forget what you know. You can’t forget who you are” showing her how important it is to hold onto your individual traits and personalities to remain true and …show more content…
Showing that coming back to were you are from helps shape who you are and sets a strong foundation on which to define who you are, if you know your origin and don't leave it behind. Its important not to forget what your identity is, because if you don't know, then others will influence and define you into a being that you aren’t, they will force you into a definition that doesn't quite fit, and its vital that you have the correct fitting definition of yourself, and the only way to get the correct fit is to define yourself. You know you the best and thats why your the only one that can define you. Thats why knowing your origin, and coming back to were you are from is important, like the old ladies tell Esperanza in the extract from The House on Mango