Comparing Women in House on Mango Street and Woman...

Ethnic Identity of Women in House on Mango Street and Woman Hollering Creek The novels The House on Mango Street (Cisneros 1984) and Woman Hollering Creek (Cisneros 1992) relate the new American through the eyes of Cisneros. The women in both novels are caught in the middle of their ethnic identity and their American identity, thus creating the New American. Cisneros moved between Mexico and the United States often while growing up, thus making her feel homeless and displaced (Jones and Jorgenson 109). The House on Mango Street characterizes a community of girls and women restricted in their movements within the barrio. The roles of these girls and women are translated through the eyes of a child. When women in the†¦show more content†¦Similar to Esperanza’s grandmother in The House on Mango Street, Rafaela in the vignette, Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut and Papaya Juice on Tuesdays desires freedom outside the barrio. While her husband is out playing dominoes, she is locked inside. Her husband believes she is too beautiful and is fearful that she will run away. Rafaela dreams of being at the dance hall down the street enjoying life with the other women (Cisneros 79-80). Furthermore, the desire to explore their American identity for freedom outside the barrio is also expressed in various vignettes. In addition to Rafaela, Marin is a vignette about a girl with the same name who is about to be sent back to Puerto Rico because of her beauty. She is not allowed outside until her aunt is home and then she is only allowed in the front yard. Marin loves makeup and dressing nicely. She would like to work where she could dress professionally, perhaps downtown. If she could work downtown, her possibilities are greater that she would meet someone, marry, and move in a big house far away (Cisneros 26-27). Thus, she would be out of the barrio. An additional reason to escape the barrio is abuse. In the vignette What Sally Said, Sally is a young girl abused by her father. He is in fear that possibly she will run away and shame the family like his own sisters did. He could continue to carry on the anger of his ownShow MoreRelatedSandra Cisneros and Hughes Analysis1575 Words   |  7 Pagesstory, â€Å"Woman Hollering Creek†, and poem, â€Å"I, Too† all backed up and supported by research done about the author. Born in Chicago Illinois, into a family of seven children, being the only daughter Sandra Cisneros is a Mexican American novelist and feminist writer. She has been one of the first Mexican American women to receive recognitions for her writing and has sold to date million of copies of her well known book, The House on Mango Street. Sandra Cisneros is an inspirational woman who writes