There are three parts to this question. Please refer to three different vignettes from pages 3-79 in your answer. Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why? Which vignette intrigued you and why? Which vignette puzzled you and why? To submit your Week 14 post, follow the steps below. 1. Scroll up to the black strip at the top of the screen and click the black “plus” sign inside the white circle. It is located to the right of the course title. 2. In the box that reads “Add title,” type in a title that includes your first name, last name, and the words “Discussion 14” (example: John Hart Discussion 14). 3. Type your response in the text box. Remember that your first post must be at least 150 words in order to receive full credit. 4. Navigate to the right side of the screen and choose the Post Category “Week 14 Discussion” (or whichever week is current). Never choose anything in the box that reads “Category Sticky.” Click for screenshot. 5. To add media (optional), click the “add media“ button in between the title box and the text box. Do not add the image directly to the media library. To get the image to show in the tile preview, go to “featured image > add featured image, in the lower right-hand side.” Click for screenshot. 6. Publish the post by clicking the blue button on the right. 7. Please leave a thoughtful reply to the post of one other classmate. Remember that your comments to others should be at least 75 words in order to receive full credit.
Week 14 Discussion
“Born Bad” was the vignette that surprised me the most. It astounded me by contrasting childhood innocence with unintended cruelty. The children’s innocent game became insensitive as they imitated their sick Aunt Lupe. The unexpected shift from innocence to unintentional cruelty was shocking, highlighting the complexities of empathy and understanding in children. “A Smart Cookie” intrigued me deeply. It got me thinking about Esperanza’s mom and all the things she could’ve done. Her dreams and talents, they were something else. Yet, here she is, living a life that doesn’t quite match up to all she could be. But what struck me most was her encouragement for Esperanza. She’s pushing her daughter to learn, to write, maybe hoping she’ll get what she didn’t. That mix of her potential and the limitations she faces, it just made her feel so real, like someone with dreams left unexplored. The vignette that puzzled me was “Geraldo No Last Name.” What struck me was how nobody seemed to care. He’s just another immigrant, and society doesn’t even bat an eye. Marin, this girl who knew him from a dance, can’t even explain who he was. It’s like immigrants are invisible, facing this indifferent, cold world. Reading that, I couldn’t help but question how society treats people who aren’t seen as part of the ‘in’ crowd. It left me feeling pretty shaken up about how we value some lives over others.
The vignette that surprised me was “Boys & Girls” from “The House on Mango Street” because it has a great meaning that explains how both genders are defined and seen. Its seem as boys and girl live in separate worlds, where they both mind each other’s business. However, the vignette that intrigued me was “My Name” because it is a strong and interesting story behind her name. She defines herself as not liking her name after all it came from her grandma and remembers it as a special part of her. Lastly, “Our good day” has me puzzled because I’m not sure what the narrator is trying to say, is she saying that friends can be your friends if you pay them or more like they won’t last forever?
I was surprised to learn that the family moving into Mango Street was expecting to move into the perfect home of their dreams, based on the story of “The House on Mango Street.” However, they were not expecting a dream crusher when they arrived. I found it fascinating how the narrator delicately and forcefully addressed the problems associated with moving from one house to another, particularly in situations when neither property was solid, yet the family was forced to relocate at any opportunity. The narrator portrayed the harsh realities of life. The fact that the house on the other side of town was still not what they had anticipated was one of the things that puzzled me. Every house the narrator lived in left her unhappy since something was constantly breaking. This family experiences mental and physical chaos in addition to struggling to find a place to call home.
Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why? The vignette from “The House on Mango Street” that surprised me the most was Boys and Girls because it reminds me of the mindset that many people that I used to be friend’s with had. Which vignette intrigued you and why? The vignette that I found most intriguing is “The three sisters” Because it spoke of 3 sisters who grew up in a neighborhood and were able to obtain powers. Which vignette puzzled you and why? The vignette “And some more” puzzled me the most because I couldn’t comprehend the meaning. I only later understood what it meant.
Exploring the contrasts between boys and girls within a family, it diverges from Sandra Cisneros’ usual themes by delving into broader societal restrictions, eliciting a sense of empathy for the characters in the reader. The vignette “Hair” enraptured me, particularly because of my special interaction with it. I found it especially captivating as it resounded with my cherished recollections. I remember how much fun it was to style my mother’s hair and how the scent and softness made me always feel safe. Like the storyteller, I felt areas of strength for a to this encounter. The vignette “Chuckling” left me puzzled, as the storyteller communicated a hating for her different sisters because of seen contrasts in both actual appearance and outlook contrasted with herself and Nenny. She meticulously describes her sisters’ lips, recommending a potential inclination of jealousy towards their actual characteristics or the bonds they share.
The vignette that made me amazed is “The Family of Little Feet.” In the story, little Esperanza and her friends toyed around with high-heeled shoes, and what happened after can be really amazing. The surprise here, then, it emerges from the transformative power a simple pair of shoes around all social norms and expectations attached. The vignette “Alicia Who Sees Mice” is intriguing. It carries forward a character who is going through the tides of life and stashing away her education. When time gets real tough, the way in which she deals with reality is by seeing mice that aren’t there as the stress mechanism. “Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water” is a vignette that made me puzzled. This story portrays Esperanza as a young girl who comes to get her palm read by Elenita who a witch woman. Looking into this context the nature of Elenita’s predictions can be regarded as mysterious and magical that might lead readers forwards towards curiosity to think how come fate and destiny could be involved in Esperanza’s life.
Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why? The vignette that surprised me the most was Boys and Girls because boys have a different mindset when it comes to friends. When I was little, my brothers were my best friend. But I didn’t tell any of my old secrets to him or any of my friends, just the new secrets that I had while they were my friends, I told them. But in the case of the girls, they want a best friend to tell them all their secrets. Which vignette intrigued you and why? The vignette that intrigued me the most was Meme Ortiz because she described the Juan dogs that have two names but never mentioned the names. Which vignette puzzled you and why? The vignette that puzzled me the most was Laughter because she explained that she didn’t like her other sisters because they were different physically and mindset from her and Nenny. She explains in very detail her lips. I think maybe she was envious of their physical features or their bonds.
The vignette that surprised me the most was “The first job.” This surprises me because the narrator spoke about her first assault at her first job. The assault was very sudden and I felt for her because I know what it feels like to feel like you trusted the wrong person. The vignette “Hair” intrigued me the most. This vignette in particular had my attention because I related to it so much. I remember as a kid I used to love to do my moms hair because I liked to smell it and it was always so soft. The scent of her hair made me feel safe, so I related to the narrator. The vignette “And some more” puzzled me because I didn’t really understand the meaning. I understood they were naming clouds but I’m not sure how they ended up in a serious argument.
Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why? The differences between boys and girls within the same family. Unlike other works by Sandra Cisneros, it addresses the larger issue of societal restrictions and makes the reader feel a sense of empathy for the characters. Which vignette intrigued you and why? The Feelings, memories, companionship, and identity are among the subjects explored. The protagonist’s willingness to join a bike share and the fleeting connections evoke memories of carefree youth. Which vignette puzzled you and why? The “Laughter” narrative in the book, which explores the narrator’s relationship with her sister Nenny and their shared laughter, is perplexing due to the abstract connection between laughing and visual images.
Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why? The vignette from “The House on Mango Street” that surprised me the most is “Marin” where a teenage girl dreams of running away with her boyfriend from Puerto Rico. Marin’s longings can be surprising yet not unexpected. Which vignette intrigued you and why? The vignette that I found most intriguing is “The Three Sisters” as it talks about the three older sisters of her neighborhood who were befit to have magical powers. Which vignette puzzled you and why? “Those Who Don’t” is one of the vignette that puzzled me the most as the author talks about different people in her neighbor hood.
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.
Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why? The vignette that surprised me the most was My Name. In this short story the narrator Esperanza goes into depth on why she dislikes her name, the struggles that come with a Hispanic name in an primarily English speaking country, and the meanings behind it. I was surprised by this vignette because I was under the impression that this novel was a memoir. It wasn’t until I learned the main character’s name (differing from Sandra Cisnero’s own name) that I realized that this was a work of fiction. Sandra’s writings are personal and come from a deep place within herself, giving the sense that she’s writing about herself even when she isn’t. Which vignette intrigued you and why? Our Good Day was the vignette that intrigued me the most. I liked seeing the interaction between Esperanza and the other kids in her neighborhood. The short story made me feel nostalgic about being a child. And how easy it was to make friends back then. Back when I would just walk up to a kid on the playground and ask “Hey, Do you want to be friends?” Now, as an adult it is much harder to make friends. There is anxiety around being vulnerable and the possibility of being rejected. Which vignette puzzled you and why? The Vignette that puzzled me the most was Louie, His Cousin, And His Other Cousin. In this story Louie’s cousin picks Esperanza up for a ride along with a few other friends. I was puzzled by this novel because I could not understand why Louie was being chased by the police. After reading the story over again I realized Louie was probably driving a stolen Cadillac since the cousin never […]
