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Culture is a common theme appearing in quite a few Vignettes throughout The House on Mango Street. 

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Culture is a common theme appearing in quite a few Vignettes throughout The House on Mango Street. 

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Esperanza grew up in a large family, often struggling with money. Esperanza's family is from Mexico, making her a Latina or a Chicana, which is an American citizen descending from Mexican culture.  Culture often identifies Esperanza and how it has affected her personality.

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In the vignette "Meme Ortiz" it develops the theme of culture because Meme and his family moved into the old house of Cathy and the area is becoming more multicultural. Meme and his dog both have english and hispanic backgrounds to them. which is unseen in this specific neighborhood. People will later learn to accept each others differences and create a community.

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The chapter Those Who don't, Esperanza explains how others see in on her neighborhood. How when they arrive in her neighborhood, they are scared. Esperanza explains how everyone knows everyone, and they trust each other. No one is afraid of the other because they are all different. The people in Esperanza's neighborhood all come from different homes, situations, upbringing and cultures. Despite their difference, they all come together as a community.

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The theme of culture is presented more emotionally than the readers expect in the chapter "Papa Who Wakes up Tired in the Dark." Esperanza explains how her Grandfather had passed away. She then goes on to explain how her relatives and other Mexico-living people send off their loved ones away. Esperanza then explains how much her father means to her, and how hard he works. This chapter explains how Esperanza's culture deals with death.

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Reading this chapter "Geraldo No Last Name," brings out how some natives struggle with culture remorse or distancing themselves from their home country. Esperanza explains how Marin met this young man, Geraldo, dancing one night out on the town. No one significant in her life, when he was hit by a car. Esperanza goes to explain how Marin deals with his death when she takes Geraldo to the Emergency Room. Esperanza then continues to say, "And his home is in another country. The ones he left behind are far away, will wonder, shrug, remember. Geraldo, he went North... we never heard from him again (Cisneros 66). Esperanza explains Geraldo left his home country, and his family will never hear from him again. The way Esperanza explains this situation, almost makes a reader believe she knows about this subject and it may happen more often than we know.

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"All Brown all around, we are safe. But watch us drive into a neighborhood of another color and our knees go shakity-shake and our car windows get rolled up tight and our eyes look straight. Yeah. That is how it goes and goes" (Cisnero 28).

In this quote, Esperanza explains how outsiders see her neighborhood as dangerous but the community within is strong and comfortable with each other. Some people may not understand how these folk live, and why they live this way, but despite their difference, the neighborhood has their own culture and way of living.

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Simile in There was an Old Woman She Had so Many Children She Didn't Know What to do

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Simile in There was an Old Woman She Had so Many Children She Didn't Know What to do

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"The kids bend trees and bounce between cars and dangle upside down from knees and almost break like fancy museum vases you can't replace (Cisneros 29).

In this chapter, Esperanza introduces the Vargas family and their situation. Rosa is a single mother who cares for her children, 'too many of them', as Esperanza explains. She also explains how the father of the children just up and left, without leaving anything behind. Esperanza explains how hard Rosa works to help the children. Culture does not always affect family issues, but Esperanza seems to explain the Vargas family situation as if it happens often with families around her. Mothers being stay at home moms while their husbands work, and then up and leaving the mother with the children.

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In this Chapter, Esperanza introduces her new and temporary friend Cathy, who owns many cats. Having Cathy introduced in this chapter is significant in her growth as a person, but Esperanza explaining Cathy's situation shows how culture can affect friendships and individuals future. At the end of the Chapter, Esperanza states, "a little farther away, everytime people like us keep moving in (Cisneros 13). Esperanza knows her family is different from typical families but wants to stray away from that stereotype.

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In my picture it represents families moving to the states and how its a BIG jump and risk. They are two different countries with two different cultures. It can be difficult to leave family members behind and leave a culture and life that you are so familiar to. In the picture I drew you can see that the word culture gets more faded as you move farther away from where the heart of the culture stands. For example in The House On Mango Street, Meme Ortiz and Geraldo "no last name" both left Mexico and it was difficult for them to adapt to the new culture being presented and they share their struggles with moving to the states.

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Esperanza went to a school who had a special lunch eating area for kids that lived to far away. Although Esperanza didn't live far, she didn't live close, but either way she wanted to eat in that special place. Esperanza decided to ask her mother to write a note so that she could be eligible to eat there but when she handed the note to the nun they said no and told the principle. Esperanza had to show the principle where she lived and he said she could eat there today but NEVER again. This shows that her community comes from all different upbringings, situations, and cultures but come together as a community and help each other out.

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Ive decided to add this TED because it related to community and culture. Ibrahima Sow, describes how
Culture Shock + Compassion = Community
In The House On Mango Street, there were many different families and individuals that had came from Mexico or else where and showed it was very hard for them to adapt to the new culture. The neighborhood that Esperanza and her family lived in was very diverse and despite there upbringings and cultures they all come together as a community. By doing so it made it easier for the people who were struggling because they felt the compassion and from them went on to join the community and grow.

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Culture Shock + Compassion = Community | Ibrahima Sow | TEDxYearlingRoad

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I choose this article because in The House On Mango Street there are multiple different cultures and culture means a lot to Esperanza's neighborhood. This article talks about culture identity issues (what it is and who might have difficulties with it) I think its important to know so that you can see and understand their problems trying to find their identity in their culture in the vignettes.

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What are cultural identity issues?

Cultural issues cover a broad range of concerns including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and disability. Culture is a term that we use to refer to beliefs and customs employed by a particular group. Cultural identity issues have a relationship to mental health both in terms of different attitudes to wellbeing, self, personality and family, as well as issues surrounding struggles with identity and feelings of belonging. It can be difficult to find your place in two different worlds and to feel that you are accepted when you are a minority in one.

Who might have difficulties with their cultural identity?

Some people experience confusion about their identity as first or second generation immigrants, especially where their upbringing was different from their ethnic and cultural background or that of their parents. It can be hard growing up different in a majority culture, or not being able to identify with the culture of their background. Meeting the expectations of two different cultures can put pressure on the individual. Immigrants and their children may struggle with adjustment or experience discrimination in such areas as school, work and other closed communities.

People with mixed-race backgrounds may also have issues with cultural identity. A 2014 report - Mixed Experiences - growing up mixed race: mental health and wellbeing - found that those with mixed-race backgrounds were more at risk of mental health issues because of their struggle to develop an identity.

There may also be specific challenges in mental health diagnosis and treatment because of different cultural understandings of mental health, the role of family and religion. In some cultures the stigma of mental health is even greater than it is in the culture at large.

How can therapy help?

Therapy is not one size fits all, but you can find a therapist who is sensitive to cultural diversity and difference and/or familiar with the client's ethnic background and language. You can look for a therapist who speaks your language using the welldoing.org directory; you can also use our questionnaire to filter by BAME and LGBTQ+ affirmative therapists. The therapist will know when to generalise and when to individualise, to help you work out if your feelings are related to issues around your cultural identity or a different, underlying problem.

Further reading

Last updated 27 July 2016

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Cultural issues cover a broad range of concerns including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and disability. Culture is a term that we use to refer to beliefs and customs employed by a particular group.

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Culture played a huge role in The House on Mango Street. Esperanza grew up dealing with quite a few different cultures and it helped shape her as a women. Esperanza and I are very similar when it comes to wanting to be independent and different from our families or cultural stereotypes. I grew up in a very raciest town and Esperanza grew up in a not so good neighborhood. Our cultures were completely different, but we both had the desire to be different. Our culture in this world is changing everyday and we have to learn to adapt. I believe culture is huge in helping shape a person but not defining them. Overall, I love this book. I enjoyed watching Esperanza grow as a person because it made me realize i’ve changed too.

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Has culture ever had an impact on you personally, your family or your friends? How did you cope? 

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Has culture ever had an impact on you personally, your family or your friends? How did you cope? 

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Do you believe younger generations affect culture and change from older ways?

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Do you believe younger generations affect culture and change from older ways?

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How does Esperanza’s culture differ or relate to yours of your own? 

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How does Esperanza’s culture differ or relate to yours of your own? 

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In The House On Mango Street the main "character" Esperanza lives in a neighborhood filled with Hispanic Americans, everyday she sits and sees the struggle of those who want and hope to  preserve there culture while also living  productive lives in American culture. We heard stories of their past and current struggles throughout the vignettes and see how everyones stories is similar but also extremely different. It brings me joy seeing that Esperanza's neighborhood welcomes with open arms and compassion because yes, there are a lot of people who do that in American culture but recently I've seen an absurd amount people who don't and are hateful to those people that come from different cultures and countries. Culture is very important to me because I believe its a big part of what makes us diverse and adds spice to each person. Taking pride in where you stem from or come from is amazing and is what makes each and every person unique. Ive enjoyed watching Esperanza grow into her identity and become someone who defies the odds of her community.

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Throughout the vignettes we have seen Esperanza grow tremendously. In the beginning we saw that Esperanza was a naive, innocent girl who was confused about her identity and was shameful about her current lifestyle to now seeing a woman who is independent, strong, and has a strong identity. Her community in the neighborhood that The House On Mango Street stands, guided her through tough situations and gave her a whole new viewpoint on life. Through hearing stories of peoples hardships, struggles, and upbringing to the new culture, Esperanza gains realizations of what life is really like. Esperanza comes to the realization that she has to be carful about certain things even if they seem small in the moment, later they will create a big impact on life. Her community surrounded her with different cultures and viewpoints of life and showed her what she wants for herself.

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"Those who don't know any better come into our neighborhood scarred. The think we're dangerous" (Cisneros 28).

This quote helps develop the theme culture because it shows that outsiders think people in Esperanza's neighborhood are dangerous and a treat. They come from a different lifestyle and culture they don't see from the inside that the community is filled with very kind people. Shows that individuals are quick to judge if they look or seem different.

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"His name was Geraldo. And his home is in another country. The ones he left behind are far away, will wonder, shrug, remember"
(Cisneros 66).

This quote helps develop the theme culture because its describing how Geraldo struggled with culture remorse and the struggle that came leaving his home country. This happened a lot in the neighborhood and you could see and experience as a reader them coming together as a community aside from their differences.

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'Then as if she forgot I just moved in, she says the neighborhood is getting bad" (Cisneros 13).

This quote helps develop the theme culture because it shows that throughout the vignettes the neighborhood becomes better because they all come together as one with compassion and as a community. They accept each others cultures and learn to work with each other.

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"At school they say my name funny as if they syllables were made out a tin roof of your mouth" (Cisneros 11).

This imagery is made by using descriptive details to describe her name and paint a picture in the readers mind about how hard it is to pronounce her name. Esperanza's  has history behind her name and it connects to her hispanic culture. In Spanish her name means Hope and although she might not like it because she doesn't want to following in her great-grandmothers footsteps her name has culture surrounding it.

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"My name is the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday mornings"
(Cisneros 10).

This metaphor describes and shows culture by bringing up Esperanza's hispanic culture. Showing what music they listen two, what her name is based of off , and ect. Her family hopes for a better life in America but have not yet achieved that.

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Simile in Papa Who Wakes Up Tired In The Dark

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Simile in Papa Who Wakes Up Tired In The Dark

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"Esta muerto, and then as if he just heard the news himself, crumples like a coat and cries, my brave Papa cries. (Cisneros 56).

In this quote Esperanza is describing what happened when her Papa told her that her grandfather died. The theme of culture is presented more emotionally in this quote. It explains how the Hispanic culture deals with death. Esperanza is describing her dad as "crumpling like a coat" to show the affect the death made on her Papa.

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"Two girls raggedy as rats live across the street"
(Cisneros 12).

These girls don't seem like they wear clean clothes or just not clean at all. They don't act put together or proper. This shows that the "culture" in the neighborhood is quick to judge based of looks.

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"Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor" (Cisneros 9).

In this metaphor Esperanza compares herself to a red balloon because her house is painted in red paint. Esperanza feels trapped and held down in her house with no hope for the future. In her neighborhood there is a stereotype that no one will have a good future and wont make it very far in life and that is exactly what Esperanza is afraid of.