Meeting the Wrong Women

The House on Mango Street describes Esparanza Cordero’s life in an impoverished part of Chicago. The life on this street shows her that she needs to escape Mango Street in order to have the life she desires. Through her female neighbors, she understands who she ought not to be. For instance, she does not want to be like Minerva whose husband “left and keeps leaving” her. Each time he beats her, she would ask what to do. However, it does not matter because she will let him return every time he begs for forgiveness. Esparanza cannot allow a man to treat her like a doormat. Another example is Marin who waits at the streetlight for someone to come pick her up and change her life. These females have taught Esparanza to be strong and to depend on herself for the changes in her life. Hence, she needs to rise above Mango Street on her own two feet in order to have a house to call her own.