The House on Mango Street

人生不过三万天

Content: 1. The house on the mango street: The protagonist, Esperanza, a girl of Mexican descent, recalls her family's many moves. In the past, her parents always promised a “real house,” but the previous accommodations were in poor condition (e.g., plumbing problems, apartments with no privacy). Now the family has moved to a small house on Mango Street, but it's still far from Esperanza's dream of an “ideal house”- it's dilapidated and cramped, with no patio or grand staircase. She's even ashamed when passers-by ask her where her home is.
2.Esperanza describes the different characteristics of her family's hair: her father's hair is short like a “broomstick”, her own hair is “lazy” and unkempt, her sister's hair is smooth, and her mother's hair is soft and fragrant like “rose petals”. The mother's hair is soft and fragrant like “rose petals”. The image of the mother is idealized through her hair - her hair not only gives off a warm fragrance, but also comforts Esperanza, when she is sick, her mother caresses her face with her hair).

Evaluation：In the opening two chapters of The Shack on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros portrays Esperanza's upbringing and inner world in simple but poetic language. The first chapter contrasts the “ideal home” with the reality of the dilapidated hut, vividly demonstrating the financial difficulties of the immigrant family and the child's sense of loss, in a subtle yet powerful way. The second chapter skillfully uses the everyday imagery of “hair” to link the personalities, emotions, and cultural identities of the family members, especially the description of the mother's hair, which is both warm and slightly sentimental, hinting at the role and influence of women in the family. The narrative style of these two chapters is unique, with childlike, naïve observations, but also implying deeper cultural and social issues. The author focuses more on atmosphere creation than event development. It is this fragmented narrative that attunes to Esperanza's fragmented memories and emotional flow as a child.

Reflection: What struck me most about these two chapters was Esperanza's ambivalence about “home” - she is ashamed of the simplicity of her house, but at the same time longs for a space that is truly her own. This emotion reminds me of many people in real life, especially children of immigrant or low-income families, who may also struggle between material conditions and spiritual belonging. This chapter also reminded me of Woolf's A Room of One's Own. The second chapter, “Hair,” made me think about how family bonds are transmitted through small things. Esperanza's attachment to her mother's hair is not only nostalgic, but perhaps also implies her complex attitudes toward traditional female roles. This delicate portrayal made me realize that identity in growing up often begins with observation and reflection on the details around us.