House On Mango Street Symbolism

On The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the small book is made up of many vignettes. Within the vignettes are many symbols that are scattered across the book. Sandra Cisneros does a good job of implanting these symbols in different parts of the story. As the protagonist, Esperanza narrates significant events in her life, she talks about certain objects and colors that symbolize greater things. It is mind bobbling as to how Cisneros was able to create a piece bound by many symbols that were at the same time secretly hidden for only careful readers to find. When I finished reading the book, a symbol that I found significant was the color red.

Red is referred to different times in the book. The color red symbolizes dependence and being tied down to doing something. When Esperanza talks about her difficulties finding a true friend, she explains

"Someday I will have a best friend all my own. One I can tell my secrets to. One who will understand my jokes without my having to explain them. Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor." (9)

Esperanza describes what she wants in a best friend. She sees many other people with best friends but can't seem to find one of her own. Without a best friend, she is alone. She can have other friends but not one that she has a greater connection with. Because of this, she sticks out like the color red. Esperanza is a balloon that needs to float up, to continue fulfilling it's duties, yet she is tied to an anchor. This means that Esperanza has no best friend and because of this she is forced to stay by herself and wait until she fits in and can be untied and be let free from the anchor.

In another part of the book, Esparanza says

"But the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all. It's small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you'd think they were holding their breath." (4)

What this means is that her house is too small for her. The bad quality of it is described in the color of the house, red. Red is dependent. Her house doesn't fit her needs and this is why it forces her to feel this way.

In the book, there are many symbols that can be perceived in different ways. Red is one symbol that represents dependence and being forced to do something. Cisneros weaves this symbol in many time in The House On Mango Street.