Summary:
Discusses the novel, The House on Mango Street. Questions if the character of Esperanza should be considered a hero.
In life many people set goals for themselves. For some people it maybe a goal such as obtaining a high test grade and for others it maybe to one day own a race car. Everybody has a different outlook on life and everyone has different goals in which they one day hope to achieve. The people who achieve their goals are those who are motivated and determined to do so. When these goals are achieved it is then when you are a hero to yourself.
Growing up as a child in a poor family, Esperanza Cordero was very ambitious. She was ashamed of her family and her house, and she always had dreams of one day having a beautiful house on a hill, with flowers all around. A house she wouldn't be ashamed to point to and say it was hers. She knew it wouldn't be easy but it was what she dreamed of and she was determined to achieve it no matter what.
Her father had told her that people who went to public school turn out bad. She knew that she had to turn out good in order to get her self on the track to attain her goals. So Esperanza decided that she did not want to attend public school. Unfortunately her parents were unable to afford to pay for school.
Determined to go to catholic school, Esperanza got a job at age 14 to help pay for her school tuition so she could receive and better education which would help her to accomplish other goals later on in her life.
With all of the bad things going on around Esperanza, she was very optimistic and made the best of everything she could. For example, in chapter one, Esperanza explain how she and her family had always grown up poor and that they always had dreams of one day owning a big beautiful house like the ones that they saw on television. One with a back yard and a basement. When Esperanza's family was forced to move her parents had purchased the first house that they could afford so they wouldn't have to continue paying rent. The house was nothing like what they had spoke of or dreamt about. But Esperanza states, "I then knew I had to have a house. One I could point to. But this isn't it. The house on Mango Street isn't it. For the time being, Mama said. Temporary, says Papa. But I know how those things go.." Within this paragraph it shows that Esperanza isn't exactly happy about where she is living but she is going to make the best of it and do what she has to do to get out of there and have a house of her own. One that she can point to.
Another example of optimism portrayed by Esperanza was that despite her horrible first experiences with the opposite sex, (as in chapter 21, The First Job and chapter 39, The Red Clowns) she still has dreams of sitting outside at night with her boyfriend, but she has set standards higher than most of the women around her.
As we read these vignettes we learn about a girl who was very unhappy with her lifestyle and embarrassed of her home. From the time she was very young she had dreamt of many different goals she one day would like to accomplish. As we follow her as she grows up we see her get through many bad experiences, yet she remained optimistic and always kept a positive thought for the future. We also saw her attain many goals such as going to the school she wants, and obtaining her house on the hill. Once her main goals were accomplished, Esperanza returns back to the streets in which she found her inner self and the environment that inspired her to fulfill her ambitions. So when asked, "Is Esperanza Cordero is a hero"", I would have to respond that yes I do think she is a hero. A hero to herself, for keeping her eye on the positive and going through with her ambitions and attaining her goals.
This is the complete article, containing 684 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
