The House on Mango Street Themes #2 by Alexander Strizver

Claim

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-24 15:41:43 UTC

Due to the circumstances in which they live, the children in The House on Mango Street experience a loss of innocence.

Innocence

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:07:23 UTC

Quotation #1

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:08:35 UTC

“You girls are too young to be wearing shoes like that. Take them shoes off before I call the cops, but we just run.” (page 41)

Explanation #1

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:15:21 UTC

The girls decided to try on the high heels they got from a neighbor. They were too innocent to know that what they were doing was inappropriate for their age. When they walked in public wearing high heels, they received attention, but it was unwanted attention from creeps. Luckily, a man confronted them, telling them they were too young to be wearing shoes like that, as the shoes are often used as a flirtation device for adult women. The girls decided to run away due to fear, which shows they still have innocence in them because they don't want to get in trouble.

Quotation #2

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:19:15 UTC

“I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to.” (page 5)

Explanation #2

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:23:06 UTC

When Esperanza was going to her new home on Mango Street, she expected the house to be huge and beautiful, only to be disappointed when she got there. When she got to her new home, it was a small, rickety house, and Esperanza became disappointed. She lost innocence here because kids usually expect their dreams to come true, but in the quotation, Esperanza stated she knew one day she would have a house she could look up to, but there's also a chance there couldn't be, showing a sign of maturity, and an adult mindset.

Quotation #3

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:25:26 UTC

“All night the boy who is a man watches me dance. He watched me dance.” (page 48)

Explanation #3

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:30:12 UTC

Esperanza was out dancing at her cousin's baptism party. When she was dancing, she noticed she was being watched by a man. The man wasn't watching her dancing; he was watching her because he seemed interested in her. This shows Esperanza experiences a new type of attention that is not meant for girls her age. Esperanza loses innocence here because she is now experiencing a new type of attention that deals with interest from a man in Esperanza. Esperanza enjoys the attention as she feels grown up and admired.

Quotation #4

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:32:34 UTC

“He said it was his birthday and would I please give him a birthday kiss… he grabs my face with both hands and kisses me hard on the mouth and doesn’t let go.” (page 55)

Explanation #4

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:35:41 UTC

When Esperanza is working at her new job, a man approaches her. He was interested in Esperanza and asked for a kiss. Esperanza was hesitant, but he said it was his birthday, and he grabbed her face and kissed her. Esperanza hated it and was in shock. Esperanza clearly loses innocence here as she is now experiencing grown men having an interest in her and forcing her to kiss them. Esperanza has an adult mindset now, as she has to worry and is nervous that more grown men will repeat this incident.

Image Explanation

alexanderstrizver — 2025-09-25 12:35:54 UTC

This image is a perfect representation of the loss of innocence. When you see an image with a kid in it, you would assume it'll be colorful and pretty, but this image is in a black and white tone. The girl also seems sad in the picture as she is dangling her stuffed animal bear, and her head is down. For a kid, you expect them to be happy, hugging their stuffed animal, but this kid in the picture is doing the exact opposite. This is why this image is a perfect representation of the loss of innocence.