
Who is Sally in the house on Mango Street?
Perhaps no one in The House on Mango Street more fully embodies the "cruel incarnation of the feminine condition" than Esperanza's friend, Sally. At different times in the book, Sally can be aligned with both la Malinche and la Virgen de Guadalupe, and her story reveals both the objectification and confinement associated with each archetype.
What are the neighbors gossiping about Earl's wife?
While Ruthie innocently waits for her husband to return for her, neighbors gossip about a wife Earl abandoned. He brings home many women, and different people believe different women might be his wife, though these women are most likely prostitutes.
Does Earl have a wife?
Earl supposedly has a wife, and many of the neighbors claim to have seen her, but everyone describes her differently. Earl clearly has a series of women whom he brings to his apartment for quick visits every now and then.
Who are the characters in the house on Mango Street?
A list of all the characters in The House on Mango Street. Characters include:Esperanza,Rachel and Lucy,Sally,Nenny,Marin and more Want study tips sent straight to your inbox?

Where is Earl from house on Mango Street?
Earl is another of Esperanza's neighbors. He lives in Edna's basement and works at night as a jukebox repairman. The children only see him when he comes out during the day to tell them to be quiet.
Who is Earl and where does he live?
Earl Hickey is a small-time thief, living in the fictional rural town of Camden, who loses his winning $100,000 lottery ticket after being hit by a car while he celebrates his good fortune. Lying in a hospital bed, he learns about karma during an episode of the talk show Last Call with Carson Daly.
What is the theme of the Earl of Tennessee in the house on Mango Street?
This is about Esperanza's perspective on a man named Earl. Earl seems severe, very mysterious man with a lot going on, and Esperanza describes his behavior in some of the odd things he does. The theme for this chapter, and my presentation is gender roles and or inequality in this.
What is the gossip about Earl in the house on Mango Street?
Earl is a jukebox repairman from the South. Rumor has is that Earl is married and has a wife somewhere. Edna, Esperanza's mother, and the neighborhood kids all claim to have seen her, but they disagree as to what she looks like.
Why is Earl in jail?
Earl is now in prison after taking the heat for his ex-wife Joy stealing a truck, and it's at this point My Name Is Earl commits ultimate sitcom suicide.
Who is Earl?
An earl is a member of the British nobility. An earl is ranked above a viscount or a baron, in case you know those titles. Earl certainly carries more clout than "Mister"! One of the ceremonial titles given to noblemen in the United Kingdom is earl.
What words does Esperanza use to describe Earl?
What words does Esperanza use to describe Earl? Esperanza uses words like dusty, mold, and damp to describe Earl and his house.
Why would someone be named the Earl of Tennessee?
She has special needs. Why would anyone be named The Earl of Tennessee? Earl is called The Earl of Tennessee because everyone knows about him and how he is a mystery.
How does Earl interact with the kids in the neighborhood?
How does Earl interact with the kids in the neighborhood? Earl interacts with the kids in the neighborhood by coming out of his place of residence and telling them to keep quiet.
What do all of the children in the neighborhood disagree on regarding Earl?
In the vignette "The Earl of Tennessee" what do all of the children in the neighborhood disagree on regarding Earl? They don't agree about his age.
What broke Mamacita's heart?
The final blow for Mamacita is that her child, whom she has brought with her from Mexico, learns English. It breaks her heart that even he insists upon speaking this ugly language that she cannot understand.
What is wrong with Mamacita The House on Mango Street?
She is somewhat overweight, doesn't know much English, and stays mostly in her apartment for unknown reasons, singing songs from her native country and crying. Her husband fights with Mamacita, often over her desire to return, and her child is becoming assimilated into American society against her will.
What is the role of an earl?
Earls were governors or viceroys, ruling in the king's name, keeping the peace, dispensing justice, and raising armies. Like the earlier ealdormen, they received the third penny from their jurisdictions. There were, however, limitations on their authority.
Who is an earl in England?
EARL. Earl is the third rank of the Peerage, standing above the ranks of viscount and baron, but below duke and marquess. Before King Canute (c. 994-1035) an 'ealdorman' administered a shire or province for the king.
Do earls still exist?
How many earls currently exist? At the moment there are 191 earls, so you've got a chance of meeting one in the wild. This number does not include the most famous earl - the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward (the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip), as well as any courtesy earldoms.
What animal is an earl?
crabSpecials. Since Earl is a crab, he will walk faster sideways. Earl will use his claw to pull the opponent closer.
What does the name Esperanza mean in the house on mango street?
The House on Mango Street chronicles a year in her life as she matures emotionally and sexually. The name Esperanza means “hope” in Spanish. Read an in-depth analysis of Esperanza.
Who is Sally in Esperanza?
A young girl Esperanza befriends the same year she moves to Mango Street. Sally is the same age as Esperanza but is sexually bold and seems quite glamorous to Esperanza. She is not a good friend to Esperanza, abandoning her time and again to go off with boys. She has a physically abusive father and runs off before eighth grade to marry a man who won’t let her see her friends or leave the house. Esperanza feels protective of Sally.
Where does Esperanza meet Lucy and Rachel?
Old ladies Esperanza meets at Lucy and Rachel’s baby sister’s wake. The three sisters are mysterious and guess Esperanza’s hopes and dreams. They advise Esperanza always to return to Mango Street after she leaves it. Next section Esperanza.
Why is Mama lost on Esperanza?
All of her admirable attributes are lost on Esperanza because Mama has not escaped Mango Street to live somewhere nicer.
What does Tito do to Esperanza?
Tito flirts with Esperanza by pushing her in front of an open fire hydrant, and later he steals Sally’s keys in order to get her to kiss him and his friends.
Why does Rafaela lock her in her apartment?
A neighborhood woman whose husband locks her in their apartment because he is afraid she’ll run off. Rafaela sends money down on a clothesline to Esperanza and her friends so they can buy her sweet juices from the convenience store.
What is Meme's real name?
The new resident of Cathy’s house. Meme’s real name is Juan, and he has a dog with two names.
Who is Earl in Esperanza?
Earl, another of Esperanza’s neighbors, is a jukebox repairman who works nights and is seen only when he comes out to tell the children sitting in front of his door to keep quiet. He has two lively dogs, and occasionally he gives the children old jukebox records. Earl supposedly has a wife, and many of the neighbors claim to have seen her, but everyone describes her differently. Earl clearly has a series of women whom he brings to his apartment for quick visits every now and then.
Who is Ruthie in The Walrus and the Carpenter?
Ruthie is the grown-up daughter of Edna, a mean and exploitative landlord who owns the apartment building next door to Esperanza’s house. One day when Angel Vargas is teaching them to whistle, Ruthie comes up and whistles beautifully. She likes to play with the children because she has never grown up enough to handle the adult world. She doesn’t go into stores with the children, and one night when her mother’s friends invite her to play bingo, she is paralyzed at the thought of going out with them. Ruthie is talented, but when she was young she got married instead of taking a job. Now she lives with her mother, but she waits for her husband to come and take her home. Esperanza brings her books. One day, Esperanza memorizes and recites “The Walrus and the Carpenter” from Through the Looking Glass. The beauty of Esperanza’s recital moves Ruthie, but she cannot express herself. Instead, she tells Esperanza she has beautiful teeth.
What does the womanizing Earl reveal?
The womanizing Earl reveals the neighborhood’s vastly different standards for men and women regarding sex. Earl is one of the few grown men actually present in the barrio during the day. While Ruthie innocently waits for her husband to return for her, neighbors gossip about a wife Earl abandoned.
How does Esperanza compare herself to the trees outside her house?
Esperanza compares herself to the trees outside her house. She thinks that both she and the trees do not belong in the barrio, but are stuck there anyway. Both she and they have secret strength and anger. The trees teach her not to forget her reason for being. They inspire her because they have grown despite the concrete that tries to keep them in the ground.
Who is Esperanza's crush?
Sire is Esperanza’s first real crush. He is a neighborhood boy who sometimes stares at her. Esperanza always tries to stare straight ahead when she passes him and not to be afraid. Her parents tell her Sire is a punk and that she shouldn’t talk to him. Sire has a pretty, petite girlfriend, Lois, who doesn’t know how to tie her shoes. Esperanza watches Sire and Lois take walks, or Lois riding Sire ’s bike. Esperanza wonders what it would be like to be in Lois’s place, but her parents say that Lois is the kind of girl who goes into alleys. That doesn’t keep Esperanza from wishing she could sit up outside late at night on the steps with Sire , or from wondering what it feels like to be held by a boy, something she so far has felt only in her dreams.
What does Esperanza say about Ruthie?
One day, Esperanza memorizes and recites “The Walrus and the Carpenter” from Through the Looking Glass. The beauty of Esperanza’s recital moves Ruthie, but she cannot express herself. Instead, she tells Esperanza she has beautiful teeth.
What chapter is the house on mango street?
The House on Mango Street: Chapter 28. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The House on Mango Street, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Sire is a neighborhood boy who Esperanza develops a crush on.
Who is the sire in Esperanza?
Analysis. Sire is a neighborhood boy who Esperanza develops a crush on. She notices him looking at her as she walks by, and she tries to stare straight ahead and act unafraid. One day she looks back at him for too long, and she feels shaken by her emotions.
What does Esperanza's mother say about Lois?
Esperanza’s mother says that Lois is the kind of girl that goes “into alleys,” but Esperanza still wonders what it would be like to be Lois. Esperanza feels like “everything is holding its breath” inside of her, and she thinks about Sire, and a dream she had of being held by a boy.
What does Esperanza's parents say about Sire?
Esperanza’s parents say Sire is a “punk” and that she should avoid him. Esperanza continues to sexually mature, and the conflict grows between her desire to be loved by men and her goal of becoming independent and autonomous. Sire represents a possible path for Esperanza – giving up her freedom for an early crush.
Is Esperanza attractive to the men of Mango Street?
Esperanza dreams of being in Lois’s place, but it is clear that Lois’s attractiveness lies partly in her helplessness, and Esperanza is too strong to be attractive in that way to the men of Mango Street. Esperanza’s mother’s judgment of Lois’ sexual activity contrasts with Earl’s uncriticized promiscuity. Cosby, Matt.
Does Esperanza know how to tie her shoes?
She is small and pretty with little pink toenails like “seashells,” but she doesn’t know how to tie her own shoes. Esperanza watches Sire and Lois walking together around the neighborhood, and Lois riding Sire’s bike, and Sire tying Lois’s shoes. Esperanza’s mother says that Lois is the kind of girl that goes “into alleys,” ...
Esperanza
The novel’s heroine and narrator, an approximately twelve-year-old Chicana (Mexican-American girl). Esperanza is a budding writer who wishes for a home of her own. The House on Mango Street chronicles a year in her life as she matures emotionally and sexually. The name Esperanza means “hope” in Spanish.
Rachel and Lucy
Esperanza’s best friends. Rachel and Lucy are Mexican-American sisters who live across the street from Esperanza. Lucy, the older sister, was born in Texas, while Rachel, the younger, was born in Chicago. Esperanza eventually chooses a more sexually mature friend, Sally.
Sally
A young girl Esperanza befriends the same year she moves to Mango Street. Sally is the same age as Esperanza but is sexually bold and seems quite glamorous to Esperanza. She is not a good friend to Esperanza, abandoning her time and again to go off with boys.
Nenny
Esperanza’s little sister. Nenny, whose real name is Magdalena, is a pretty, dreamy little girl for whom Esperanza is often responsible. Since Nenny is immature, she is often a source of embarrassment for Esperanza when the two of them play with Rachel and Lucy.
Marin
A young woman from Puerto Rico who lives with her cousin’s family. Marin spends most of her time baby-sitting and so cannot leave the house. She sells makeup for Avon and teaches Esperanza and her friends about the world of boys.
Papa
Esperanza’s father. Originally from Mexico, Papa is less domineering than the other father figures in the neighborhood. He works most of the time and is rarely home.
Mama
Esperanza’s mother. Mama grew up in the United States. She is one of the strongest-willed and smartest women in the novel, yet she seems to influence Esperanza very little. She is sometimes a source of comfort for Esperanza. All of her admirable attributes are lost on Esperanza because Mama has not escaped Mango Street to live somewhere nicer.
What is the house on mango street about?
Cisneros is best known for her young adult prose volume The House on Mango Street (1984), a collection of vignettes based on her experiences growing up in a working-class Latin-American neighborhood in Chicago.
How old is Esperanza in The House on Mango Street?
Through the character of Esperanza, a twelve-year-old Chicana girl and the narrator of The House on Mango Street, Cisneros examines issues of Chicana identity in the bi-cultural context of the Latin-American community.
Why is Mango Street so accessible?
Besides signifying the popular appeal of her book, Cisneros's comments proffer possible explanations for why Mango Street seems so accessible. Among the reasons she gives are its nonintellectual themes and its rebellious, colloquial, even antiliterary tone. Concerning the novel's themes Cisneros admits to "'search [ing]' for the 'ugliest' subjects [she] could find, the most un-'poetic'—slang, monologues in which waitresses or kids talked their own lives." Cisneros's iconoclasm is further confirmed in the admission that she "was trying the best [she] could to write the kind of book [she] had never seen in a library or in a school, the kind of book not even professors could write" (Introduction xv). Central to this task, indicates Cisneros, was language itself. "It's in this rebellious realm of antipoetics," remarks Cisneros, "that I tried to create a poetic text with the most unofficial language I could find." She adds that " [t]he language in Mango Street is based on speech," and is "very much an antiacademic voice—a child's voice, a girl's voice, a poor girl's voice, a spoken voice, the voice of an American-Mexican" (Introduction xv). Hence, the colloquial tone and antiliterary inflection of her novel.
What is the third type of story telling in The House on Mango Street?
In The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros participates in the third type of story telling by combining myth (home) and irony (homelessness) in her depiction of life in the barrio as seen through the eyes of a girl.
What is Esperanza's narrative?
In doing so, she has created a narrative account of "a condition we all recognize "—a narrative, further, accessible to both the adult reader and the child reader. Esperanza wants to escape Mango Street, wants a house of her own, but unlike her male counterparts in other works she does not escape to the pastoral world.
When was Mango Street published?
1. Arte Público Press published the novel in 1984, 1985, and 1986. In 1989, Arte Público published a slightly altered edition of Mango Street. Subsequently, in 1991 Vintage Books, a division of Random House Publishers, published the revised 1989 edition of the book. Knopf followed suit in 1994.
What is the image of Ruthie in Esperanza?
Ruthie is only one of many symbols in The House on Mango Street of the trapped female. For Esperanza, there is something at once sad and beautiful about Ruthie.
