Black, white, and orange illustration of Esperanza standing in front of a building or structure

The House on Mango Street

by Sandra Cisneros

Start Free Trial

Beautiful & Cruel Summary

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Esperanza thinks that she is ugly, and that no man will want to marry her, unlike Nenny, who has pretty eyes. Her mother says she will become more presentable as she grows older, but Esperanza does not want to be tame. She wants to have power, like the beautiful, cruel women in the movies. She has begun the fight by leaving the table the way men do, “without putting back the chair or picking up the plate.”

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Previous

Bums in the Attic Summary

Next

A Smart Cookie Summary

Loading...