The House on Mango Street: Setting 1 key example

Over the course of the story, readers meet a diverse cast of characters from the area, many of whom are Hispanic just like Esperanza and her family. In fact, the Mexican American experience centers the short stories that make up The House on Mango Street: in many ways, the juxtaposition between the setting and the characters' cultural history defines the story. Certain characters miss their home country, like Mamacita, or miss their partners, like Marin, highlighting the importance of the setting itself.

As one might expect from a novel named after a house, location and setting is of particular importance in Cisneros's story. The house for which the novel is named becomes a symbol of the family's wealth (or lack thereof), with other characters commenting on the house's appearance and location at points in the story. Esperanza, the novel's protagonist, begins the novel by juxtaposing the house on Mango Street with the house of her and her family's dreams. At other points Esperanza sees buildings that remind her of Mexico in her largely Hispanic neighborhood, but she is physically stuck in Chicago. Nevertheless, there is a wealth of joyful and imaginative spaces in the impoverished neighborhood that serve as backdrops for various vignettes, such as the magical Monkey Garden or the junk store Esperanza frequents.