The Impact of Improper Environment on Esperanza in The House on Mango Street

“How can you be inspired if you do not surround yourself with the things that inspire you?” stated E.A. Bucchianeri. To live a fulfilling life it is necessary to be surrounded by a positive and safe environment that allows an individual to grow and mature in. Unfortunately many times this is not the case. Often the exact opposite occurs, where the environment does not allow for proper growth and maturity. One example that showcases the impact of an improper environment, is in Sandra Cisneros’ novel The House on Mango Street. The House on Mango Street is a series of vignettes that describe the life of a teenage girl named Esperanza, and her experiences that take place during a one year span while she lives on Mango Street. The book highlights the effects of being a hispanic girl living in poverty surrounded by other people who financially are in the same situation. Looking at the novel we can conclude that Esperanza’s environment negatively shaped her identity because of her unfortunate circumstances, it made her hate herself, and have a pessimistic view of the people and world around her. 

In the novel Esperanza is adolescence and early on she encounters many experiences and moments that force her to grow up faster than most teenagers. Her need to rapidly grow and mature is not only based on her experiences with her environment, but her circumstance as well. Her circumstances play an important role in shaping her thought process and maturity. One example of her unfortunate circumstance is the age disparity between her and her younger sister Nenny. Esperanza says, “Nenny is too young to be my friend. She's just my sister and that was not my fault. You don't pick your sisters, you just get them and sometimes they come like Nenny. She can't play with those Vargas kids or she'll turn out just like them. And since she comes right after me, she is my responsibility”. Esperanza just like any other child her age desires to be free and play with the girls her age. Instead she is relegated to taking care of her younger sister and never quite gets to experience what it is like to be a kid. With her need to grow and mature quickly her childhood innocence is taken away from her at an early age. Esperanza need to quickly grow and mature can also be attributed to her family’s socio-economic status. In need for money to attend Catholic high school Esperanza is in desperate for a job. With the help of her aunt she gets a job at a print company, but she must lie about her age and claim she is one year older than she actually is. This proves to be a mistake as her young age and inexperience in a work environment negatively affect her confidence. She struggles with some social aspects of the job and she doesn’t know whether to stand up or sit down while working. She eats her lunch in the bathroom and takes her break in the coatroom. Esperanza’s poor experience with her job is only exemplified with her encounters with her coworkers. Esperanza states, “he said it was his birthday and would I please give him a birthday kiss. I thought I would because he was so old and just as I was about to put my lips on his cheek, he grabs my face with both hands and kisses me hard on the mouth and doesn't let go”. Esperanza is at a transition period in her life where she is exploring her sexuality and coming into her own. A simple and friendly kiss, becomes violent and forced. Rather than her slowly finding herself, she is rushed into an appalling experience. Esperanza’s negative environment and circumstance led her to grow up faster than she should have and ultimately negatively shaped her identity. 

Esperanza associates herself with her culture and socioeconomic status and this proves to be a problem, it only serves to bring self hatred and judgement upon herself. One example of this would be Esperanza’s unwillingness to work with her father anymore because she feels ashamed to work in a place that can’t have. In the vignette “Bums in the Attic” Esperanza states, “I don't anymore ... I don't tell them I am ashamed-all of us staring out the window like the hungry. I am tired of looking at what we can't have”. Rather than being proud about supporting her family and embracing the culture of hard work she is driven away by shame and fear. She is aware of the financial situation her family is in and thinks that it reflects their worth which leads her to think negatively of herself. Esperanza self hatred can also be seen in her need to rebel against the expected and standard. Feeling the urge not to be tame Esperanza says “I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate” . Esperanza is well aware of the role and limitations women have based on what she has seen from the women around her. The need to be different and rebel isn’t exclusive to Esperanza often it occurs with many teenagers. However, the problem is that it directly relates to her culture and position as a hispanic woman. As seen Esperanza’s environment has a negative effect on her on her identity because it made her dislike who she is.

Esperanza’s experience with the people in her environment led her to have a pessimistic view of the people and world around her. One incident would be when she was left alone by her friend and then she was sexually assaulted by other boys. In the vigente “Red Clowns” Esperanza states, “Sally, make him stop. I couldn't make them go away. I couldn't do anything but cry. I don't remember. It was dark. I don't remember. I don't remember. Please don't make me tell it all.” Esperanza feels betrayed by her friend and her trust in many ways is broken. Esperanza begins to feel hatred and dislike to Mango Street and the people within it. Her frustrations with her surrounding eventually leads to her desire to leave Mango Street. Thi evident when visiting a palm reader Esperanza states, “They must've known, the sisters. They had the power and could sense what was what … You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango Street. You can't erase what you know. You can't forget who you are.” Esperanza has not yet left Mango Street physically, but she is gone mentally. The palm reader senses and encourage her to learn from her past experiences that have made her who she is and sympathetic to those who lack her opportunities to escape like she does. Overall Esperanza’s identity is negatively shaped because she has a pessimistic view of the people and world around her.