Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why?
This time, the scene that surprised me the most in “The House on Mango Street” was “Boys & Girls”! Personally, I find this story impressive and perspective-taking in many ways. In it, this scene shows the protagonist’s sense of responsibility and the division that inherently exists between the worlds of boys and girls, even within the same family. This sense of resignation to social and familial roles is a common theme in Sandra Cisneros’s work, so it was surprising to me because it speaks to a broader theme of limitations imposed on individuals by their environment; I felt a little like empathy.
Which vignette intrigued you and why?
The one I was most interested in was “Our Good Day.” Personally, I felt deep empathy and nostalgia for the book’s focus on emotions and memories, and its focus on themes such as friendship, identity, and the simple joys of childhood. The protagonist’s willingness to spend his savings to join a bike share, and the idea of temporary friendships bought and lost, are reminiscent of the innocence of childhood relationships.
Which vignette puzzled you and why?
The story that confused me the most is “Laughter” in the book, which describes the relationship between the narrator and her sister Nenny, and explains how they have different appearances but similar laughter. It somehow reminds them of houses in Mexico.My personal philosophy is that the relationship between laughter and visual imagery has an abstract nature, so I feel a little confused about this scene.
One thought on “Discussion board 14 Yuki Ichiki”
Yuki, these are all good overviews of the vignettes. But do you ever tell why you, Yuki, are surprised, intrigued, or confused by the stories? For example, you say that “Laughter” confused you, but do you tell why it confused you?