The House on Mango Street follows Esperanza as she watches the world from her Latino perspective. Esperanza pays special attention to women as she interprets the world around her. She looks at everything from their language barriers to the oppression they face. Esperanza uses these observations to create a map of her life based on the people she observes. As she begins to see the difference between her life and the lives of those she observes, she decides to point out these differences. Esperanza has an observational point of view and documents her observations. This gives her a voice and allows her to take control of her life.
Esperanza’s aunt Lupe offers her the best advice: “Remember to keep writing. You must keep writing. You will be free.” (Cisneros, 61). The language barrier poses a serious obstacle to the main characters. Esperanza explains that Mamacita is reluctant to come out of her house because she fears speaking English. Esperanza is the only one who sees language as a barrier to this woman. Mamacita has even been separated from the child she loves as her son learns English. Esperanza reminds us that her own father also faced the same problem when he arrived in America. For three months, he could only eat “hamandeggs.” The author uses language as a tool to help overcome any situation. She understands how important it is to learn and know the language. This realization is her way of justifying and expressing that just by publishing her writing, she has achieved a little freedom and a tiny amount of control in her life.
Esperanza’s observation that women have little control of their lives is a theme throughout the story. Sally’s abusive father, who is overprotective and abusive towards her, keeps Sally in the house. Rafaela is locked in her house by her husband while he’s out. Esperanza sees how the lives of women living on Mango Street turn out and wishes her own life was different. However, Esperanza’s observations don’t quench her sexual curious. She tries to be beautiful by wearing high heels, but finds it tiring. She becomes curious as she observes the boy Sire. She is adamant that she has to show him her face because “I didn’t want to be scared by anyone’s gaze, not even mine” (Cisneros, 72). She is in control of the situation, as she’s still observing her reaction. She is intrigued by the fact that there are reactions like this. In “Red Clowns,” however, she is unable to control the situation. She had believed that it was a sexual encounter about affection or love. In reality, it’s all about control. She yells, “Sally, I lied. He wouldn’t leave me. He said I love you, I love you, Spanish girl” (Cisneros 100). Esperanza thinks that she is now on her way to living a life as women do in Mango Street. This puts an end to her attempts at being “beautiful but cruel”. She believes that relationships are a form control, which will give her the same life as the women from Mango Street.
Esperanza’s view of both her surroundings and her home reveals how she differs from those who live on Mango Street. She also gains some control over the course of her own life. She observes her surroundings and tells their stories. This sets her apart. She observes the women in her environment and considers their lives to be possible models for her life. She expresses her desire to move away from Mango Street, and to live a different life than the women she is surrounded by. She wants to be in control of her life. She has a different perspective on home than the other women. Epseranza translates Mamacita’s words when she speaks of Mamacita and Mamacita longing to return home into “Home is just a photo” (Cisneros 7). Home is not something she can remember; it’s something she has left behind. Mamacita was removed from the home she felt she belonged in. Esperanza, on the other hand, has never been anywhere. She says, “No, I don’t live here. I shake my head, as if I could erase the year that I have lived here.” I don’t fit in. I don’t want to ever leave this place… I have never owned a house. Not even a picture…I only dream about it” (Cisneros, 107). Esperanza is able to see her future home, while the women from Mango Street see it in their past. Esperanza does not need to spend time thinking about the past in order to reclaim it. She can instead focus on creating the home that she imagines. It is impossible to change the past, but it is possible to change the future. Esperanza gains a little control of her life with this knowledge. With her ability to write and speak, she can shape her own future and escape Mango Street.
