Shoes In The House On Mango Street

Words: 1055
Pages: 5

Esperanza’s experiences have lead her to the realization that she is not able to stay on Mango Street if she craves to achieve autonomy. Throughout the novel, shoes have been a recurring symbol of sexuality. This symbol appears for the first time when Rachel, Lucy, and Esperanza receive high-heels and decide to wear them and travel on a short walk. When they find that this has quickly attracted the attention of much older men, they remove the shoes immediately. They can now remain as children and no longer be viewed as sexual objects, while the shoes are off. This symbol appears once again when Esperanza envisions her future dream house. She imagines that there are shoes set beside her bed. This suggests that she wishes to one day have control of her own sexuality. Mango Street influences Esperanza to temporarily discard her sexuality because in order to achieve independence, one must sacrifice what is familiar to them.
People of Mango Street are trapped by their marriage since they had previously believed in the ideal that their marriage would allow them to be happier. Many women of Mango Street are trapped in their apartments by their husbands or fathers. Mamacita portrays one example of this statement, “iAy! Mamacita, who does not belong, every once in a while lets out a cry, hysterical, high, as if he had torn the only skinny thread that kept her alive…”
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The many trapped women of Mango Street have taught Esperanza that her independence is much more important than her sexuality. So she must abandon her sexuality, in order to achieve her desired autonomy. Throughout the novel, trees portray another symbol for Esperanza. She relates to the trees since they appear to not belong on Mango Street. Mango Street has shaped Esperanza to become independent and sufficient in her near and distant