Cathy Queen of Cats Summary

Cathy is Esperanza's neighbor who claims to be a distant relation to the queen of France. Surrounded by cats, she pretends to befriend Esperanza. However, Cathy tells Esperanza that she is moving north of Mango Street, mostly because the neighborhood is getting bad. She does not realize what she says and whom she says it to, as Esperanza's family has just moved into the neighborhood.

Cathy Queen of Cats Analysis

The neighbor Cathy represents the class divide in America. She embodies the migration to suburbia and the clash of culture between varying ethnicities in the United States. Because both children are quite young, they do not necessarily realize the cause for such animosity or frustration. However, when Cathy tells Esperanza she is leaving Mango Street because it is becoming a bad neighborhood, Cathy does not necessarily understand...