Throwback Thursday, where, essentially I post old writing samples, essays and short stories that I dig up from my pile of hoarded papers and school assignments or from the depths of my computer. So everyone can see how my writing has changed/improved over the years.
Roles of Women in Society in The House on Mango Street
In The House on Mango Street, women are not treated as equals to men. In the vignette “Marin”, Marin is only ever described as Louie’s cousin, not her own person. She is expected to work to send money home, She is expected to take care of the kids, not go out farther than the front yard, and believes that “what matters is for the boys to see us, and for us to see them”. The vignette speaks of how Marin is waiting for a man to change her life, how she wants to get married. Esperanza praises Marin for her bravery when faced with boys that find her beautiful, indicating that she thinks they are meant to be afraid. In “Alicia who sees Mice”, Alicia is the oldest daughter when her mother dies and thus “inherits her rolling pin and her sleepiness”. Alicia is expected to wake up early to make the lunches even though her father would be perfectly capable. This conveys that cooking is a women’s job. The father doesn’t believe her about the mice. And Alicia studies because she wants a better life, though Esperanza says it as if girls don’t usually go to college. She also says “Alicia who is scared of nothing. But four-legged fur. And fathers”, again indicating that the women fear the men.
RiverMoose-Reads 