Esperanza's Hair In The House On Mango Street

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I believe that Esperanza focuses on the hair of her family because it is an adolescent and silly way of categorizing those around her. Early on, Esperanza takes little notice of the boys and men in her neighborhood and in her life in general. She talks about the hair of the men in her family in very plain ways, “Carlos’ hair is thick and straight”, etc. Her descriptions of hair are based on looks, but they are also based on what she thinks of that person. The men in her life don’t take up much of her thoughts, at least initially. Only her father gets an interesting description, “his hair is like a broom, all up in the air”. It’s not a rousing endorsement. Typical for a pre-pubescent girl, she is unhappy with her looks and her situation. She describes her hair as “lazy”. …show more content…
Esperanza cannot wait to be mature and sophisticated. She is at the point in her life when she is looking to branch out and be more independent and in charge of her life. She describes her mother’s hair “like little candy circles”. I believe she is very attached to her mother at the start of the book and she looks up to her admiringly. Esperanza also finds security in her mother’s embrace (hair) during the times in which her mother allows her to sleep in her bed. “my mother’s hair, my mother’s hair…sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe,… it is the smell when she makes room for you on her side of the bed”. Esperanza’s description of her mother’s hair tells you of mother’s importance to her. It also sets the tone for Esperanza’s immaturity at the start of the

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