I have learned what a child’s innocence is like as I read this book. The House on Mango Street is told through a young girl’s voice and her maturity shows. Multiple times I have found myself explaining how the grown up world is to Esperanza in my head. I want to teach her right from wrong and tell her that the things she sees going on in the lives around her are not right. Abuse is never okay and we should always help those who do not have the same privileges are we do.
Esperanza’s friends Sally and Minerva are both abused. Sally is abused by her father and Minerva is abused by her husband. Esperanza really wants to help both of these girls, but she feels like there is nothing she can do if the girls keep going back to those who abuse them. In life we have to learn that we cannot help those who refuse to help themselves. It hurts as a child to know you have no control over a situation and some things Esperanza just can’t understand. Sally enjoys the boys’ attention, because she gets the wrong attention from her father. Esperanza didn’t understand why Sally didn’t want to be saved from having to kiss all of the boys in order to get her keys back. From the rejection of the boys and Sally, Esperanza wanted to just die.
We can see Esperanza’s innocence and true spirit in the chapter “Bums in the Attic.” She says
“One day I’ll own my own house, but I won’t forget who I am or where I came from. Passing bums will ask, Can I come in? I’ll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house.
Some days after dinner, guest and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble.
Rats? they’ll ask.
Bums, I’ll say, and I’ll be happy.”
She wants to give a helping hand to anyone she can. She knows the struggle of everyday life in the poor community and wants to give back to those who have taught her a lesson.
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| Esperanza cries in the garden by herself after the rejection from her so called friend Sally. |
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