The House on Mango Street revolves around one girl who has a lot of trouble finding her true identity. She struggles with ethnicity, gender, cultural inheritance, sexuality, and economic status. She is trapped in the same system all her relatives are in. She lives in a poor neighborhood that her family never bothers to get out of. "My mother says when I get older my dusty hair will settle and my blouse will learn to stay clean, but I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain." This quote explains how she's unwilling to conform to the expectations placed on her by her gender. "One day I will pack my bags of books and paper. One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever." This shows how she will not do what everyone else is doing. She doesn't want to stay on Mango Street for the rest of her life and be poor like the rest of her family. "She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn’t be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window." This quote is explaining how she wants to be an individual and not conform to the society around her- poor and trapped.
By Esperanza not conforming to her family and neighbors actions of staying on Mango Street and not wanting to be successful in life, she can go out in the world and be successful. By leaving Mango Street behind she can experience so much more. She can get a better education and get a job instead of staying at home. Not only could she be successful, but happy. When she finally figures out what she wants to do in life, she is willing to do anything to get there. Her grandmother and other family expects her to stay in the neighborhood and never do what she wants to do or become. By her being an individual, and having individual thoughts, she could become wealthier and happier. She would also be closer to achieving the American dream. The quotes above strongly prove how much of an individual she is and how motivated she has become in chasing her dreams.
By Esperanza not conforming to her family and neighbors actions of staying on Mango Street and not wanting to be successful in life, she can go out in the world and be successful. By leaving Mango Street behind she can experience so much more. She can get a better education and get a job instead of staying at home. Not only could she be successful, but happy. When she finally figures out what she wants to do in life, she is willing to do anything to get there. Her grandmother and other family expects her to stay in the neighborhood and never do what she wants to do or become. By her being an individual, and having individual thoughts, she could become wealthier and happier. She would also be closer to achieving the American dream. The quotes above strongly prove how much of an individual she is and how motivated she has become in chasing her dreams.