The House On the Corner of The Future and Past

I really actually enjoyed The House on Mango Street . Despite the vignettes, I feel like there was a structure and chronological progression over the course of the story, even though it was unclear oftentimes. For a while, I thought that Esperanza was 16, until I found out that Sally was only 13. And now thinking on that, Esperanza was pretty young to have such determined dreams, and to be told that she must leave Mango Street in order to return for others. That whole concept also now makes sense, because most of the story is spent either describing Esperanza's perspective and experience on things, or the tragic lives of others.

Among other things, I found the three sisters to be rather curious. Firstly, they seem unrelated, but there is a close connection between the three of them. They remind me of the three evil witches in MacBeth, because they juxtapose each other. The witches in MacBeth are messengers of the Devil, bringing about the demise of people and causing trouble. The three sisters seem to be good people, because they encourage Esperanza on her dream of escaping Mango Street, and tell her to save others. However, both sets of witches are "magical." Esperanza describes sisters to be strangely knowledgeable about her future and her thoughts. There is also sense that the three witches/sisters from both stories have very connected minds. Furthermore, the sisters vanish very suddenly, like the MacBeth witches. (whooosshhhhooshhosshhh *Anthony's vanishing sound effect*). The two sets of witches are opposites of each other.

At first, in the novel, I wasn't sure how each little story could possibly tell the life and maturing of Esperanza, but it has. I actually tried reading this book the summer before fifth or sixth grade, but I remember that I understood very little of the symbols and meanings behind each experience in the vignettes. Now, I am glad I can appreciate the creativity and emotion behind Esperanza's conclusions and perspectives.

I also find it coincidental that Esperanza wanted to be a femme fatale, like the beautiful but powerful women she saw in movies. Personally, I don't think she is a femme fatale, and I don't expect her to be. She is too considerate of others, and though she wants independence from men, she doesn't seem vengeful. On the other hand, Catherine, from Wuthering Heights, was nasty, and had little care for others. Catherine ruined Heathcliff and Edgar, but Esperanza did not do that to anyone. She took care of herself, and tried to help others, without putting herself in those type of femme fatale conflicts.

Oh, hahah, I almost forgot to address the title of my blog. Okay, so last blurb. By the end of the story, I think Esperanza finally understood that though she wanted Mango Street to remain in her past, Mango Street has defined her goals and future. Because of her experience there (the disappointment she felt and determination to escape), she will eventually find a way out, and come back to help others. Mango Street is essentially the greatest factor of her past, and the greatest force to bring about her future.