In "The House on Mango Street," Sandra Cisneros tells the tale of a youthful, Hispanic girl, named Esperanza, living in a low-class society. The story is told through a number vignettes all pertaining to a theme of some sort. For example, in the chapter "A Smart Cookie," Cisneros portrays the immense difficulties faced by those living in poverty. She cunningly uses many distinct techniques to highlight the important values of the chapter. First Cisneros writes in a tone that shows Esperanza's family is seemingly bound to their financial status for eternity. Also Esperanza's mother's striving for self-actualization shows some of the struggles the impoverished would face, and to add contrast between the lives of the rich and the poor Cisneros expresses the details of both standards of living.

When Esperanza's mother was younger she was also poor. Fear and shame overwhelmed her because she didn't have attractive cloths...