House on Mango Street Flashcards
(16 cards)
Describe Earl:
a neighbor who works nights as a jukebox repairman and is known for bringing different women to his apartment. The children speculate about his “wife,” but they all describe different women, suggesting that Earl is either secretive or promiscuous.
Describe Darius:
a boy from Esperanza’s neighborhood who is typically considered a troublemaker. However, in a rare moment of insight, he points to a cloud in the sky and says it is God, demonstrating a surprising depth of thought.
Describe Great Grandmother:
Esperanza’s great-grandmother was a strong, wild woman who was forced into marriage and spent her life staring out the window, feeling trapped. Esperanza fears inheriting her fate and being confined by societal expectations.
Describe Rosa Vargas:
a struggling single mother who is overwhelmed by her many unruly children. Her husband abandoned her, and she is unable to control her kids, who run wild in the neighborhood without supervision or discipline.
Describe Rafaela:
a young, beautiful woman who is trapped inside her house by her controlling husband. He fears she might run away because of her beauty. She sends money down to the kids so they can buy her sweet drinks from the corner store, a symbol of her longing for freedom.
Describe Uncle Nacho:
Esperanza’s warm, fun-loving uncle who encourages her to dance at her cousin’s baptism. He boosts her confidence and helps her feel proud and beautiful, despite her embarrassment over her worn-out shoes.
Member’s of Esperenza’s family:
Mama: Esperanza’s mother, a strong and caring woman who is intelligent and talented but never fulfilled her potential. She encourages Esperanza to pursue education and not be limited by her circumstances.
Papa: Esperanza’s father, who works hard as a gardener to provide for the family. He is loving but often exhausted from work.
Nenny (Magdalena): Esperanza’s younger sister. She is immature and somewhat of a burden to Esperanza, but they share a close bond.
Carlos and Kiki: Esperanza’s younger brothers. They are relatively minor characters in the story and are often grouped together. They hang out with other boys and don’t interact much with Esperanza.
Describe th Cadillac:
The Cadillac appears in the vignette “Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin,” where Louie’s cousin arrives in a big, flashy, stolen Cadillac. The car represents a taste of the glamorous, wealthy life that is inaccessible to the residents of Mango Street. It is a momentary glimpse of luxury that ends in a police chase, highlighting the consequences of trying to attain wealth through illicit means.
Describe the Buick:
The Buick is mentioned in “Those Who Don’t,” where Esperanza describes how people who do not live in her neighborhood view it as dangerous. They lock their car doors when driving through, especially if they are in a big, expensive car like a Buick. Here, the Buick symbolizes the barrier between the wealthier, more privileged world and the impoverished, marginalized community of Mango Street.
Describe the house on Mango Street:
small, dilapidated structure located in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago. It is the first house Esperanza’s family owns, but it is far from the dream house her parents envisioned. The house is red with tight steps in front, small windows, and crumbling brick walls. Inside, it has only one bedroom and one bathroom, with only one front door and no yard. The cramped and rundown appearance of the house stands in stark contrast to the spacious, white houses Esperanza imagines and longs for. Despite its shortcomings, the house symbolizes both the struggles of Esperanza’s family and the hope for a better future.
What are Esperanza’s dreams?
Esperanza dreams of escaping the poverty and limitations of Mango Street. She yearns for a house of her own — a spacious, beautiful home that she can be proud of, unlike the cramped, run-down house her family owns. She aspires to be a writer and gain independence, rejecting the conventional path of marriage and domesticity that traps so many women in her community. Ultimately, she wants to leave Mango Street but also vows to return for those who cannot escape.
What is Esperanza’s physical description?
Esperanza describes herself as having “lazy” hair that never obeys barrettes or bands. She is self-conscious about her appearance, particularly her name, which she feels does not fit her. While Cisneros does not provide extensive physical details, we can infer that Esperanza has brown skin and dark hair, reflecting her Mexican-American heritage.
What is Esperanza’s lifestyle?
Esperanza lives with her parents, two brothers, and younger sister in a small, shabby house on Mango Street. Her family struggles financially, and she is acutely aware of their poverty. Despite this, Esperanza attends school and finds solace in writing. Her home is a place of crowded living and modest means, but it is also a source of familial warmth and cultural identity.
What are Esperanza’s hobbies?
Esperanza’s main hobby is writing. She fills her notebooks with poems and observations, using writing as an outlet to express her feelings and dreams. She also enjoys spending time with friends like Rachel and Lucy, riding bikes and exploring the neighborhood.
What are Esperanza’s beliefs?
Esperanza is a keen observer of the world around her, and she believes in the power of words and storytelling as a means of escape and self-expression. She is determined to carve out her own identity, separate from the expectations placed upon her by her culture and gender. Esperanza rejects the notion of being confined by traditional roles and is determined to shape her own destiny.
Describe Edna’s Ruthie:
Ruthie is the grown daughter of Edna, the landlord who owns the building next to Esperanza’s house. Despite being an adult, Ruthie behaves in a childlike, whimsical manner, playing games with the neighborhood children and finding joy in simple things, like candy and stories. She is described as having a wide, childlike smile and an innocent, dreamy demeanor.
Ruthie once had opportunities to leave Mango Street and live a fuller life — she was married and even had a chance to work downtown — but for reasons left ambiguous, she returned to her mother and now lives in a state of arrested development. She is caught between adulthood and childhood, unable to fully move forward.
Ruthie’s character serves as a cautionary figure for Esperanza, representing the consequences of not pursuing one’s dreams and the dangers of remaining trapped in the familiar, even when it is stifling.
