What is the theme of my name in The House on Mango Street?

Esperanza, the narrator, reveals her name for the first time. She explains that it means “hope” in English, but in Spanish it means “sadness” and “waiting.” She got the name from her great-grandmother, and they were both born in the Chinese year of the horse. This is supposed to be a sign of bad luck for women, but Esperanza refuses to believe this, because the horse is a strong animal and Esperanza says that the Chinese, like the Mexicans, want women to be weak.

Esperanza starts to discover the power of words through names here. Her name is symbolic of both her current state and the book itself – sad and longing to escape, but also hopeful and strong. Esperanza’s thought about weak women is surely repeated from someone else, but shows she has a keen understanding of gender issues in her community.

Esperanza describes what she knows of her great-grandmother – she was a “wild horse of a woman” who did not want to get married, but was eventually forced into it. She never forgave her husband and spent her whole life looking out the window. Esperanza states that she does not want to inherit her great-grandmother’s “place by the window” along with her name.

Women trapped and looking out the window will become a recurring motif in the novel. The original Esperanza is the first “trapped woman” of the story, and Esperanza already knows that she does not want to share her great-grandmother’s fate. She understands that being strong like a horse can be a good thing, but the phrase “wild horse of a woman” also shows how the community sees strong women as somehow non-feminine.

Esperanza describes how her name is pronounced differently in Spanish and in English and at school. She wants to change her name to something that shows her true, secret self. She decides that a name like “Zeze the X” would be good.

Esperanza’s desire to change her name shows both an understanding of the power of language and a desire for her own identity and agency.

Esperanza’s identity and Her Thoughts on Growing Up.
The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Cisneros. Sandra Cisneros tells a story about a girl named Esperanza, who is living her life on Mango Street, and the difficulties she faces about growing up and finding out who she is. In the beginning, Esperanza is not completely ready to grow up. She does not believe her name fits her, or the outcome of her destiny. Also, Esperanza believes she does not belong on Mango Street and is ashamed of living on Mango Street.
“My Name” is a vignette about Esperanza’s name. She believes her name does not match her personality, and she wishes to have a different name. Esperanza does not like her name, even though it was given to her by her own parents.…show more content…
There is only one thing that sets her free, and she now understands that she will always be Mango Street no matter what. Esperanza lived in many different places, but Mango Street is the only thing she will remember the most. “I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn’t want to belong. We didn’t always live on Mango Street. Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor, and before that we lived on Keeler. Before Keeler it was Paulina, but what I remember most is Mango Street, sad red house, the how I belong but do now belong to” (Cisneros 110). Esperanza now knows that she is a part of Mango Street even if she leaves. Esperanza will write down everything she has experienced on Mango Street. Now she knows her true home. Esperanza’s writing will express all of her emotions. Esperanza will one day leave Mango Street for a short time, however she will one day go back by writing about Mango Street. “I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much. I write down and Mango says goodbye sometimes. She does not hold me with both arms. She sets me free” (Cisneros 110). Esperanza tells the audience that writing sets her free. Her purpose was to become a writer, to give hope to others who are trapped on Mango Street. Esperanza is no longer depressed or confused of what place she belongs. Now she knows…show more content…
At first Esperanza believes her name expresses herself as a person, but she accepts it. Even though, Esperanza was ashamed of living on Mango Street that is the place she lived, and had many experiences. The vignettes that were described about Esperanza’s situation of identity and growing up is all a worry. In the end Esperanza’s writing will express her feeling from Mango Street, and she will come back to write about the house that she belongs but does not belong

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