Which vignette from “The House on Mango Street” surprised you in some way, and why?
“The Family of Little Feet” was the vignette that surprised me because the young girls seem to be very confident and brave at the same time but are also vulnerable. These girls wore high-heeled shoes around the neighborhood and seemed like attention seekers, but they knew the danger that came with it. Even the old man, Mr. Benny, was concerned, asking the girls if their mother knew they got shoes like that; he made it clear to the girls that those shoes were dangerous. What was more shocking was when Rachael asked the bum man if he liked their shoes, which led to him offering Racheal a dollar for a kiss, disguising. Thankful Lucy was there to let her know they had to go. Just a naïve young girl like Connie.
Which vignette intrigued you and why?
“No Speak English” was the vignette that intrigued me because migrating from your country of birth to a new life is sometimes hard to adjust to, especially if your family is left behind. As for Mamacita, not knowing English makes it more difficult for her, which can lead her to depression. I’m speaking from experience because I migrated from Jamaica to America at a young age. Because of my “patios,” my accent was intense, and people weren’t understanding me, which caused some frustration. On top of that, I left my mom and grandmother behind, so I used to cry myself to sleep until I found a job and worked hard to have my mom in America with me. So, I could relate to Mamacita missing home.
Which vignette puzzled you and why?
The vignette that puzzled me was “Marin.” Marin has a boyfriend in Puerto Rico who will supposedly marry her when she returns to Puerto Rico. But Marin seems naïve because of how she dresses; it looks like she’s seeking attention from other boys. She wears short shirts, which draws attention, but when the boys say, “Those two green apples you call eyes, give them to me, why don’t you.” She got serious, looking at them. Sometimes young girls put themselves in some predicament for attention, and when it comes to the person who tries to give them what they are looking for, they sing a different melody. I think if Marin didn’t carry herself the way she did, the attention wouldn’t be on her, and what attention she needs when
One thought on “Ann-Marie Higgins Discussion 16”
Ann-Marie, thanks for the good responses. It’s so great that everyone so far has been surprised, intrigued, and puzzled by different stories. I love your mention of Connie here. I love when students are able to discuss comparative literature. “The Family of Little Feet” is one of my favorite vignettes. It’s the whole idea of flirting with the first knowledge of sexual power. I like how the experience exhausts the girls and they decide to return to childhood for a while.