The title of the book "The House on Mango Street" raises expectations and creates questions of its content and intent. Will it be the story of a family in the south, where Mangos grow? Will we meet different characters who inhabit the same house one after another? Or will the house be one-of-its-kind on this special street? In actuality, Sandra Cisneros tells the story of a girl, Esperanza, who lives in a house, set on Mango Street, in a fictional part of Chicago.
The 44 vignettes have their roots in stories Cisneros heard, saw, or experienced in real life. The singular in the title should therefore be a plural, because a great number of houses feature in the book. Esperanza visits family and friends while searching for her own future. The House on Mango Street is a growing-up story, yet buildings do not grow into anything. They are falling into disrepair more often than not. So why does a house feature so prominently in the title of a book on growing up? I will argue, that the house in this book can be read as the female body in a patriarchal society. Its immobile state an accusation in the face of a need for change.
In 1984 Sandra Cisneros published The House on Mango Street and became one of the first widely read writers of the Chicana movement. A movement that filled the void left for women of Mexican heritage by the U.S. feminist movement on the one hand, and the Chicano movement on the other hand. White middle class women fought for political equality, women’s suffrage, and reproduction rights; Latino males fought for equal opportunity with and recognition from the dominant white U.S. American culture. The Chicana had very little interest in political rights, since she was usually concerned with questions of laundry and cooking. She didn’t want to fight for recognition from dominant culture, because she was still dominated by males of her own culture.
While the Chicana movement achieved recognition and won many battles since then, the current climate in U.S. politics, the fear of immigrants, the disregard for women’s rights to their bodies, shows that there is much to be done. The House on Mango Street remains a book of utmost consequence to feminism, immigration and integration. What Sandra Cisneros captured, and I will try to show, is how the way we think about women influences the way we act toward them and how the same thoughts act on our self-perception.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Metaphors
- Invisibility and Objectification
- Fathers
- History
- Past
- Present
- Future
- Works Cited
Objectives and Key Themes
This analysis aims to explore the representation of the female body in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street, arguing that the house serves as a potent metaphor for the female experience within a patriarchal society. The analysis will examine how the novel utilizes metaphors, particularly the "house as body" metaphor, to depict the complexities of female identity, societal expectations, and the search for self-discovery.
- The house as a metaphor for the female body in a patriarchal society.
- The use of metaphors in shaping perceptions of women and their experiences.
- The themes of invisibility and objectification of women.
- Esperanza's journey of self-discovery and search for identity.
- The socio-political context of Chicana identity and experiences.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: The introduction establishes the central argument that the house in Cisneros' novel functions as a metaphor for the female body within a patriarchal context. It introduces Esperanza, the protagonist, and highlights the book's structure, emphasizing the multiple houses and women's lives it portrays. The introduction sets the stage for exploring how the seemingly simple concept of a house becomes a complex symbol reflecting societal constraints and individual aspirations.
Metaphors: This chapter delves into the crucial role of metaphor in understanding the novel. It explains how metaphors are not mere figures of speech but shape our thoughts and perceptions. The chapter analyzes the central metaphor of "women as buildings," arguing that it directly links women's bodies to their social standing and experiences. It contrasts conventional metaphors with novel ones, demonstrating how Cisneros utilizes both to illuminate the complexities of female identity and challenge established norms. The chapter's significance lies in providing a framework for interpreting the symbolic language of the novel.
Invisibility and Objectification: This chapter explores the oscillation between the objectification and invisibility of female bodies in the novel. It discusses how the narrative initially introduces women through their houses, emphasizing their physical spaces before their individual personalities. This subtly underscores how women's identities are often defined by their physicality and domestic roles within a patriarchal society. The chapter references relevant scholarship to contextualize this portrayal, highlighting the enduring challenges faced by women in achieving agency and recognition.
Keywords
Chicana literature, Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, metaphor, female body, patriarchal society, invisibility, objectification, identity, self-discovery, Chicana feminism, house as metaphor.
Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street: A Thematic Analysis - FAQ
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis explores the representation of the female body in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street, arguing that the house serves as a potent metaphor for the female experience within a patriarchal society. It examines how metaphors, especially the "house as body" metaphor, depict the complexities of female identity, societal expectations, and the search for self-discovery.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the house as a metaphor for the female body in a patriarchal society; the use of metaphors in shaping perceptions of women; the invisibility and objectification of women; Esperanza's journey of self-discovery; and the socio-political context of Chicana identity and experiences.
What is the significance of the "house as a metaphor" in the novel?
The "house as a metaphor" is central to the analysis. It argues that the house directly links women's bodies to their social standing and experiences, reflecting societal constraints and individual aspirations. The analysis explores how this metaphor, along with others, shapes our understanding of female identity and challenges established norms.
How does the analysis address the invisibility and objectification of women?
The analysis examines how the novel initially portrays women through their houses, emphasizing their physical spaces before their individual personalities. This highlights how women's identities are often defined by their physicality and domestic roles within a patriarchal society. The analysis uses relevant scholarship to contextualize this portrayal and the enduring challenges faced by women in achieving agency and recognition.
What is the role of metaphors in the novel, according to the analysis?
The analysis emphasizes that metaphors are not mere figures of speech, but shape our thoughts and perceptions. It explores how Cisneros utilizes both conventional and novel metaphors to illuminate the complexities of female identity and challenge established norms, providing a framework for interpreting the symbolic language of the novel.
What are the chapter summaries included in this preview?
The preview includes chapter summaries covering the Introduction (establishing the central argument and introducing Esperanza), Metaphors (exploring their crucial role in understanding the novel), and Invisibility and Objectification (analyzing the oscillation between objectification and invisibility of female bodies).
What is the overall structure of the provided preview?
The preview provides a comprehensive overview, including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. This structure allows for a structured and professional analysis of the themes present in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Chicana literature, Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, metaphor, female body, patriarchal society, invisibility, objectification, identity, self-discovery, Chicana feminism, and house as metaphor.
- Quote paper
- Anja Mittelstedt (Author), 2018, The House as the Female Body in "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/439378
