The House on Mango Street | The House on Mango Street

At a glance:

Author: Sandra Cisneros
First Published: 1984
Type of Work: Novel
Type of Plot: Bildungsroman
Time of Work: The mid-1960’s
Setting: A Latino neighborhood in Chicago
Principal Characters: Esperanza Cordero, Sally, Alicia, Elenita, Guadalupe, Minerva, Lucy, Rachel, Magdalena (Nenny)
Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Social realism, Bildungsroman
Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, 1960’s, Self-discovery, Class conflict, Racism, Sexism, Adolescence, Abused persons, Yards or backyards, Class consciousness, Writing, Chicago, Ethnic groups, Violence, Women’s issues, Multiculturalism, Mexican Americans, Mexico or Mexicans, Bilingualism, Latinos
Locales: Chicago, IL

Based on Sandra Cisneros’ experiences growing up in a Latino neighborhood of Chicago, The House on Mango Street is the story of a girl’s search for identity as she comes of age. The narrative covers one crucial year in her life. Esperanza Cordero, a young Chicana, draws her identity from her parents’ Mexican heritage and from the culture of the Mexican American community in which she grows up. She narrates the stories, describing herself, her neighbors, their dreams, and the world of Mango Street. In the process, she gains an understanding of...

The House on Mango Street | The House on Mango Street

At a glance:

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