Prep for Thursday's discussion.- Answer the questions below in your notebook. To do so:
- Consider the following “lenses:” name, gender, age, ethnicity, social/class circumstances, “place,” and use of language.
- Go beyond the surface. It is okay to start on the surface—even if it might be obvious—but then penetrate the surface and go deeper by considering the larger implications of what the surface means.
- Include page number citations.
- What is Esperanza’s identity? (What constitutes her perspective?)
- How is it defined? Who defines it?
- How does her identity affect her reality? her “dreams”? (What tension exists between the two?)
- Does her perspective change from the beginning to the end? How?
- Post your answer to the question below. Give page number references.
- What is distinctly "American" about House on Mango Street? (Why is it an American Lit text?)
* Remember to include your name at the top of your post.
13 comments:
An example from the book that displays why it is a strictly American text can be found on page26. Marin's boyfriend lives in Puerto Rico. she says that when she returns to puerto rico she will marry him there, implying that she is from PR. This kind of mixed culture is something found throughout america.
TYLER STORLIE
Taylor Reed
October 24,07
"And our house would have running water and pipes that worked. And inside it would have real stairs, not the hallways stairs, but stairs inside like the house on T.V." pg 4
What people see on T.V in other countries is usually what they think of America or Americans. The media is a HUGE influence on the perspective of many people in and out the country because it is intersecting seeing something that you want to be apart of, wish you had or if its just better than what you have at the time.
-The book was set in America (Chicago, Illinois specifically)which enforces the idea that the book is in the category of "American Literature" because it takes place in the United States.
"We didn't always live on Mango Street. Before that we lived on Loomis...before that we lived on Keller. Before Keller it was Paulina..." (page 3). All of these street names are from Illinois.
-Rachel and Lucy, Esperanza and Nenny's friends are from Texas, though they currently live in Illinois. Both states are located in America, and can relate to the theme of being "American" because many view the United States as "a melting pot." People from different countries, families, states and religions come together to live near one another, despite their differences. Right away, Esperanza notices that the two girls (Rachel and Lucy) were different from Nenny and herself.
"...they smell like a broom. But I like them. Their clothes are crooked and old. They are wearing shiny Sunday shoes without socks" (page 14).
-The idea of immigration and change is a familiar theme of American Literature because that is what founded our country. The United States doesn't have one set religion or established skin color and many Americans speak more than one language.
"...[Alicia] gave me a leather purse with the word GUADALAJARA stitched on it, which is home for Alicia, and one day she will go back there" (page 106).
-Shaina!
Esperanza is always hoping. It is American because she is from Mexican Heritage and they came here to chase the American Dream. The parents always dream about winning the lottery and obtaining a big house. It is also distinctly American because of the Attitude of others toward Esperanza's neighborhood. The non latinos are moving out while Esperanza and Co. are moving in. That is how specific neighborhoods are created.
John Stromme
Esperanza’s identity…
-American “We didn’t always live on Mango Street. Before that we lived on Loomis…and before that we lived on Keeler it was Paulina” (page 3). This gives the sense of moving/adapting as well as the possibility of being an immigrant from another country because her house is in a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois.
-Dreamer/Hopeful/Insecure/Searching (Not Content) “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees” (page 11). “You live right here, 400 Mango, Alicia says and points to the house I am ashamed of. No, this isn’t my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I’ve lived here. I don’t belong. I don’t ever want to come from here” (page 106). Esperanza doesn’t feel like her name suits her, or her home is an accurate representation of where she belongs. Esperanza is desperate to escape her identity and people’s perceptions of her so badly! She feels insecure and wants her life to change for the better; a new name, a new home, a fresh start. Like most people, Esperanza doesn’t want people to form opinions of her or set standards for her based on where she lives or came from.
-Latina (Mexican) “In English my name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters…it was my [Mexican] great-grandmother’s name and now it is mine” (page 10). This passage reveals the origin of her name and the heritage of her family.
-Working Class “The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don’t have to pay rent to anybody…[On Loomis] the water pipes broke and the landlord wouldn’t fix them…that’s why we Mama and Papa looked for a house, and that’s why we moved into the house on Mango Street…this was the house Papa talked about when he held a lottery ticket and this was the house Mama dreamed up in the stories she told us before we went to bed” (page 3-4). This quote shows that Esperanza’s family is not of the upper class, nor the lower class, but the middle. Her family overcomes hardships and trials, as well as living life to the fullest and making the best of a situation. This is what the middle class is all about.
-Christian/Catholic “I needed money. The Catholic high school cost a lot, and Papa said…” (page 53).
Her Identity?
It is defined by Esperanza herself in these passages (above).
How Her Identity Affects Her Dreams/Reality?
-Friendships (with Lucy and Rachel)- “If you give me five dollars, I will be your friend forever…I have two new friends” (page 14-15).
-Needs a job, becomes harassed/assaulted at work “I needed money. The Catholic high school cost a lot, and Papa said…” (page 53).
-Speaks both English and Spanish
-Goes to a Catholic School- “…a nun from my school passed by and saw me playing out front…” (page 4).
-Ashamed of her house and family “I lived there. I nodded. I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn’t it. The house on Mango Street isn’t it” (page 5).
-Cultural experiences are strong, roots…never forget where you came from “Like it or not you are Mango Street and one day you’ll come back too” (page 107). “One day I will pack my bags…[and] I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong to keep me here forever. One day I will go away…They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out” (page 110).
Perspective Change? Yes.
-Accepts her heritage “One day I will pack my bags…[and] I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong to keep me here forever. One day I will go away…They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out” (page 110).
-Accepts her home “…but what I remember most is Mango Street, sad red house, the house I belong but do not belong to” (page 109-110).
-Doesn’t have such a strong desire to leave Mango Street “I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much. I write it down and Mango says goodbye sometimes. She does not hold me with both arms. She sets me free” (page 110).
-Content with her surroundings/home/self “I make a story for my life…I like to tell stories. I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn’t want to belong…” (page 109).
...Oofda.
Another example of this being America, is the fact that she needed to lie, on pg 54, about her age in order to get a job. Only some Western Countries even have this type of law in effect, and of the ones that not only have a major Latino influence, but also speak in manor ism like "Take that crazy baby out of here and drink your Kool-Aid in the living room." are fairly distinctly American.
-Christopher
America is often thought of as a place for new beginings. Many people come to America in hopes of getting to start again. Some people also come to escape something bad or something that they don't like. Esperanza wants to change her name (pg. 11), to something different than her latina name. Renaming herself is a new begining, people will see her differently and that might be what she wants.
-Becca
House On Mango Street is distinctly American in the sense that all of Esperanza's hopes and dreams for the future involve her living the prototypical "American Dream;" big house, safe neighborhood, good marriage, etc (4). Her dreams are shaped by what she sees on American television and absorbs through the American media. The core story of House On Mango Street is that of an outsider to American culture (a female of Hispanic descent growing up in a Hispanic family) trying to escape the restrictions and limitations placed on her by American society in order to achieve the ideal American lifestyle. That is what makes House On Mango Street a novel befitting an American Literature class.
JACK PATTEE
The first time that we are shown why this is an American Literature book is on pg 4 "and our house would have...growing without a fence." This is the American dream. To be self sufficient and to own a house without a fence, which means they can feel safe in their house. There also appears to be an air of suburban type of living in the description of the dream house. This is another aspect of American Culture, which is to move away from the cities.
"The man saved his money...every day" (76 No Speak English) This represents the belief of the American Melting pot, however, later in that chapter there is also the American way of differentiating yourself from the melting pot. Of retaining your culture.
Scott Erickson
Erik Germundsen
HOMS is distinctly American for a few reasons. She takes very much pride in material possessions, like the bike and the shoes. Not that liking material possessions is only American, but it is very prevalent in our society. It is also American because it shows very much cultural mixture. She encounters people of lots of races, ages, and social statuses throughout the book, something America takes pride in. so, that's why it's an American Lit book.
One example of why HOMS is American Literature is on page (77). When Esperanza's Dad talks about when he came to the USA he ate "hamandeggs" for everymeal everyday for three months. This is an example of how hard it is for new people to come to the country and find a job and have enough money for different meals. Ham and Eggs are a very basic american food, and therefore he was bale to afford them.
Maddie Sankaran
Andi-
House on Mango Street is distinctly "American" because most of the contents are things that actually happen in America for example a lot of people come to America from other countries looking for a better life.
Sorry its so short and so close to class time but my internet was down all night.
House on Mango Street is very clearly American. In the chapter, Bums in the Attic, Pg. 86-87. In this chapter, she talks about the houses that she sees on the hills with the wood floors and fireplaces. This is the sort of typical upper middle class that you would see in a wealthy neighborhood.
- Carly Reicho
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