Cisnero's acclaimed work The House on Mango Street explores a variety of themes in his photographic stories that capture everything from a young child's seemingly mundane triumphs to tragedies suffered at the hands of cultural and social prescriptions and finally at the mature introspections of a confused but very talented young woman. The short novel is essentially a coming-of-age story, describing key events in Esperanza's life in the highly stylistic vignettes that form the novel, all while maintaining a regular chronology that divides her youthful and mature life into sections. Say no to plagiarism. . Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The story begins with a snapshot of Esperanza's house on Mango Street; the house seen under the critical gaze of the perceptive child who struggles with the house as a representation of numerous failures. The first is his parents' failure to provide the idyllic future they promised, the future that was to unfold in the suburban dream house with the white picket fence they described as moving from apartment to apartment. However, the house is more often seen as a symbol of the potential failure of never escaping Mango Street and not being able to realize the dream through one's own agency. If her parents' failure to fulfill the fantasy was disappointing, Esperanza understands the degree of disappointment that awaits her if she is to take responsibility for her own happiness and fall short. Thus begins the narrator's struggle to define herself and align her sense of self with the socially dictated identity that has been appropriated for her. Cisnero's choice to open with this piece effectively captures the moment of Esperanza's disillusionment and sets in motion the story of her understanding the problems and ultimately solving them. Esperanza's identity crisis has many facets, which makes it even more difficult for her to resolve her internal and external conflicts. One of the many faces of the crisis is the confusion surrounding her cultural role as a woman. It paints the image of the stereotypical Mexican woman as physically submissive but powerful psychically with patience and, above all, resilience. She tells, for example, the story of the grandparents' union in which the grandmother was literally dragged into the marriage and punished her husband by never adjusting to happiness in a marriage that was never based on egalitarian standards or even reciprocated affection. Esperanza learns the subtlety of a woman's strength and resolves not to repeat her grandmother's mistakes. Another episode that deals with this role is in his memories of Sally coming to school with faded purple and blue evidence of her father's physical abuse. The beatings of the girl are explained by the father's alleged concern and desire to protect the girl from danger and dishonor; however, they are the exact representation of the patriarchal realities prevalent in Esperanza culture. However, the tale is punctuated by an undercurrent of hope, if entirely symbolic: Sally's enduring beauty that is not hidden behind the marks of abuse. The role of the woman is further complicated as Esperanza becomes increasingly aware of female sexuality in her culture and the power dynamic that is embodied and perpetuated in sexual interactions. Again, the character of Sally best describes this notion, for example in the chapter where Esperanza describes the old lot that had been her childhood playground and the place of inspiration for her fantastical meditations. The afternoon in which Sally is forced to kiss all the boys to win back her possessions (without any).