Mango Street is in Society’s Backyard
     Society has always had wage gaps and discrimination and to this day it’s still present. According to infoplease.com, in 1975 Hispanic women have had 49.3% of a white man’s salary. In 2013 Hispanic women only had 54% of a white man’s salary. This shows that there is a big difference who is on top of the wage gap and who is on the bottom, which is all caused by race and gender. Some don’t even think of how it’s like to be in the lower class and how their actions of discrimination impact others. The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, reflects on how a society has an affect on an individual. This is shown through motifs like houses, windows, and trees.
     The house motif shows how Esperanza is in poverty because of society. Everyone tries to get of the “house” but very few do. “Temporary, says Papa, But I know how those things go,” (Cisneros 5).  This was when Esperanza’s dad was talking about how they would move out of the house supposedly soon. Esperanza knows that her parents are most likely stuck in the lower part of the wage gap and won’t be able to get out. Esperanza is trapped in poverty and knows it. No one wants to be living where she is and because of her race she is stuck there with very little opportunity to get out. “Bricks are crumbling in places, and the front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in,” (Cisneros 4).  This shows that there is still a chance for her to escape poverty and be able to take part of better jobs. As time moves on, more bricks will crumble and the door will get easier to open. Esperanza needs to keep pushing to go through “the brick wall’ or the wage gap. This could also mean to escape the judgment around her. Because of all the stereotypes and racism she is stuck in an undesirable situation.
     The windows in The House on Mango Street represent lack of freedom and opportunity. Most of the citizen on Mango Street had to look on as others succeeded because of they were of a different race and had more money. “She looked out the window her whole life… sit their sadness on an elbow…” (Cisneros 11).  This displays that people in her neighborhood were able to see others take job opportunities and that they were able to leave. The people on Mango Street were trapped there. The people of different races got occupations that were left over from the people that were supposedly better than them. The people of Mango Street were forced to sit by the window and watch others be free. Very few got through the window. “…Windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath,” (Cisneros 4). The window of opportunity is so small. Everyone Esperanza knew wasn’t able to be part of what they saw outside of the window. They were all trapped. Even so, when something breathes in it must breath out; when she grew up, Esperanza took advantage of exhaling and was able to get freedom. She was able to escape the window while the rest of Mango Street was stuck there. Most sit and think of what would life be for them if they were in a different situation. “… Every evening talking to the trees, leaning out my window, imagining what I can’t see,” (Cisneros 73).  When Esperanza was younger because her family was poor she couldn’t do as much as other kids who were wealthier or a different race. The other kids would have more time exploring outside the window while she had to look on. When she was younger instead of living in a world with more freedom and opportunities she would imagine what would happen if she did have equal rights. Just because America says that everyone is free and has opportunities, society blocks those things for some citizens.
     The tree motif proves that there is discrimination in society, which leads to a lower self-esteem and loneliness. Society that isn’t on Mango Street doesn’t try to understand what it’s like to be living in a poor city. No one understands them or tries to help. No one wants to make a difference. “They are the only ones who understand me,” (Cisneros 74). The trees that were in the lower class part of the city were supposed to represent Esperanza. They understand her because they were put in the same position as her. They are both full of inner beauty but have no support from others because of how they look. Esperanza doesn’t have real friends and the trees are the only ones in the city. They are both alone and deserve better treatment. “Four who do not belong here but are here. Four raggedy excuses planted by the city,” (Cisneros 74). This is presenting that they are like Esperanza because she does have potential to be influential and important in her future but she is forced to be in a poor neighborhood because of how society views her. She is stuck with a bad education and bad influences. If she did have a better education or lived in a nicer area she would be able to meet new people and not ones who are all putting her in danger. They also might not use her in any way and would be closer to her. This would cause her to not feel alone and not to be desperate for friends even if they impact her in atrocious ways.
     The House on Mango Street is proof that society has an effect on an individual. This does not only include a fictional character named Esperanza but people around the world. This is shown by the motifs of houses, representing poverty, windows, implying the lack of opportunity and freedom, and trees, meaning discrimination resulting in low self-esteem and loneliness. Although society thinks that there are good things impacting an individual, it always comes with bad side effects.