The House on Mango Street

Hairs – pg. 6

Everybody in Esperanza’s family has a different type of hair. Her papa’s hair sticks up like a broom. Her own hair is stubborn, rejecting barrettes. Her brother’s, Carlos, hair is thick and straight. Nenny’s hair is slippery and Kiki’s hair is like fur. However, no one in her family’s hair compares to that of her mother’s. Her mother’s hair is pretty and curly. The scent of her hair is comforting, for when she is holding her children, they feel safe.

This writing style of Cisneros gives vivid insight into the family of Esperanza, discussing their hair types. It shows that each member of the family is unique, just as everyone has different hair; they most likely have different interests and personalities, as well. The affection Esperanza has of her mother’s hair presents a close relationship between the mother and her children. Esperanza admires everything about her mother’s hair, especially that the smell of it gives her comfort and a sense of safety.

Meme Ortiz – pg. 21

Meme Ortiz’s real name is Juan. However, everyone calls him Meme, except for his mother. Meme has a big dog and lives in the house that Cathy’s dad built. His dog is big sheepdog with gray eyes. It has two names, a name in English and a name in Spanish. Meme’s house is wooden and slanted. The front contains twenty one steps, which are lopsided, as well. The backyard is mostly dirt and boards which used to be a garage. The tree is the most memorable part of the backyard, with large branches and plenty of squirrels. The dog barks at the bottom of the tree; the tree which is chosen for the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest.

The writing style here is very descriptive. A lot of detail is given in order for the reader to be able to visualize the house and dog of Meme Ortiz. The details move throughout the house, where it then leads to the backyard. There is no plot throughout this passage, just descriptions, until the very end. It is not until the last paragraph that we learn that in the backyard is the tree that the children chose for the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest. In the process of winning the Tarzan Jumping Contest, Meme broke both of his arms. Cisneros focuses on the vivid details of Meme, his house, and his dog in just about a page of text.

Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold – pg. 19

Esperanza and Nenny go to a junk store, owned by an old man. They do not have any money to buy anything. Therefore, they are to browse in the dark. In the store are tables, refrigerators, couches, and T.V.s, none of which are in great condition. It is easy to get lost in the store, for everything is stacked on top of one another. Nenny likes to ask the old black man questions. When they are in there, Nenny asks the man what some item is. He responds that it is a music box. The sound of a music box strikes Esperanza’s interest, but to her disappointment, it is only a wooden box, with nothing pretty about it. The owner starts up the music box and lots of things begin to happen. Unbeknown to Esperanza, she has to turn around and pretend that she does not care about the box. She does this so Nenny does not see how stupid she is, that she is so enthralled by the box. Nenny wants the box and asks how much it is, but the man replies that the box is not for sale.

This writing style is descriptive, as well. However, this story gives more than just descriptions of a person or thing. It visualizes a story for the reader. One can picture a dark store with an old man sitting at the counter. The two girls are looking around at all of the various items, knowing they cannot buy much.

Unlike many of the other vignettes, this one contains a plot, tells a story, and has some action. The action, while not very intense, is the process of the girls looking around the store, finding the music box, imagining their interest, and then being rejected of the box. Cisneros gives the reader information about the man, the store, and the two girls who are looking around.