The House on Mango Street

                When reading through Sandra Cisneros’ novel “The House on Mango Street”, I was struck by its broad appeal to many types of readers. Both an elementary school student and a college student would be able to read the novel and get something out of it. While the book may seem adolescent, due to its short chapters and relatively simple writing, the concepts that are underneath the surface of the writing are mature enough to draw an interest from more experienced readers. This notion that a seemingly simplistic novel has so much more to it under the surface is what struck me most about it.

                The chapters in the house on Mango Street seemed to reflect many of the short stories seen in Ernest Hemingway’s writings, due to the widespread use of the “Iceberg theory of writing. In fact, “The House on Mango Street” can even be seen as a modern day equivalent to the Nick Adams stories by Hemingway. In both of these sets of stories, the protagonist is an adolescent who is growing to adulthood from the experiences they are facing in they are facing in their lives.

                The theme of racism is apparent in both the short stories of Cisneros on Esperanza and those of Hemingway on Nick Adams.  In the Nick Adams stories, we see him experience racism in the stories “Indian Camp” and “Ten Indians”. Through these short stories we see Nick recognize the stereotypes His friends and family put on the Indian people such as Alcoholism. Similarly, see Esperanza experience stereotypes through the short stories “Cathy Queen of Cats” and “Those who don’t”. The only difference between Nick and Esperanza’s experiences on racism seems to be Esperanza is actually receiving it whereas, Nick is just an observer. We recognize this when Cathy tells Esperanza the neighborhood is getting bad after she moves in and, when Esperanza reflects on how people tend to stay away from her neighborhood or drive fast through it.

                In both sets of stories, we also see the characters attempt to age prematurely by trying to act older. In Nick Adams’ case, we see him and his friend trying to act like adults by drinking whiskey and talking about novels. However in the end, they revert to their childish nature by walking out into a storm with shotguns while significantly intoxicated. In Esperanza’s case, she and her friends try to become women by wearing seductive shoes. However when confronted by a bum who wants a kiss, they quickly hide the shoes and act as children again.

                Perhaps the most important parallel between the two sets of short stories is the responsibility they place on the reader. Both writers tell their stories as if you are present at the scene of the action. They give no underlying information or analysis of the situation. They simply tell it how it is. This makes us as readers responsible for dissecting the story and figuring out what is going on behind the scenes. For instance in the stories “Cathy Queen of Cats” and “Ten Indians”, we are never told that racism is underneath the surface of the stories. However, we are still able to pick up that racism is the theme because we are able to critically analyze the story.

                Clearly Sandra Cisneros modeled some of her writing in “The House on Mango Street” after Ernest Hemingway’s short stories, particularly the coming of age stories on Nick Adams. This is certainly evident in the “Iceberg” style of writing but, it is also clear that many of the same coming of themes, seen in Hemingway, are echoed in Cisneros’ novel.