”The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros’ book The House on Mango Street raises a number of issues that merit further discussion. In this essay, you are to choose a vignette and discuss an issue that is raised by the story. Then, relate the issue raised by the story to your own life. You need not agree with Cisneros’ take on the issue, but in your essay you should use her ideas as a jumping off point for your own understanding of the issue.

You will need to use quotes from the text to support your comments about Cisneros and House on Mango Street. In order to effectively use quotes, you need to do more than just insert them into your paper and expect the quote to explain itself. Instead, you should dialogue with (talk back to) the quote. Explain to your reader what you think the quote means and then respond to that meaning. Quotes should be cited in MLA format.

SOME POSSIBLE ISSUES TO DISCUSS:

Male/Female gender roles (Minerva, Sally, Rafaela, Mamacita, Linoleum Roses) Power dynamics of male/female relationships (same as above, plus Beautiful and Cruel, Monkey Garden, Red Clowns) Adolescence and the developing awareness of the opposite gender (Family of Little Feet, Hips, Sire, Monkey Garden) The experience of shame (House on Mango Street, Rice Sandwich, Bums in the Attic, Monkey Garden) The power of writing (Rafaela, Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes) The responsibility of people to where they came from (Three Sisters, Alicia and I Talking on Edna’s Steps, Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes)