Week 16 Discussion

One vignette from “The House on Mango Street” that surprised me was “First Job.” It was unexpected because Esperanza’s experience working at a photo development shop didn’t turn out as she had hoped. I was surprised to see that her job was ordinary and unfulfilling, challenging the idea that a first job always leads to personal growth. “The Family of Little Feet” intrigued me because it reminded me of my own experiences wearing dress shoes like cap-toe Oxford shoes. Like the girls in the story, putting on those shoes made me feel grown-up for a little while and empowerment. But just like them, I also faced discomfort and people judging me. It made me realize that wearing those shoes wasn’t as easy as I thought. This part of the story showed me how shoes can make you feel different, but also how they can bring challenges and make you think about who you are. “The Three Sisters” vignette in “The House on Mango Street” puzzled me because it introduced mysterious elements not found in other chapters. When Esperanza meets the three old aunts, their wish and confusing words about her name and a warning left me confused. I couldn’t understand the deeper meaning behind their predictions and the role of destiny compared to our own lives. It made me wonder about the supernatural and what it meant for the story.    

The vignette that surprised me was “The Family of Little Feet” because of the confidence of the girls in the story. Having the confidence to go out wearing high heels, knowing that as young ladies it draws men’s attention and the consequences that come with it but still choose to wear whatever they feel comfortable with. Their confidence really caught my attention because those moments are so awkward.  The one that intrigued me was “Red Clowns.” This is a really confusing vignette because of the symbolism used. We all clearly know what happened here, but why would “your friend” leave you to that? Why would someone close to you let this happen? A lot of questions come to my mind reading this narrative and I can feel this girl’s fear while I read it.

1.”The Family of Little Feet” is the vignette that took me off guard unexpectedly. Esperanza and her friends discover a pair of high-heeled shoes in the cellar in this particular episode. The stark contrast between the little girls’ innocent demeanor and the high heels, which stand for femininity and adulthood, astonished me. It made me rethink my own presumptions and challenged cultural conventions and expectations. 2. The vignette that intrigued me the most is “Red Clowns.” The moment Esperanza describes the arrival of two nuns in the neighborhood dressed in red dresses and wearing makeup, my curiosity was piqued. It challenged my preconceived notions of how nuns are typically portrayed, creating a stark contrast between their unconventional appearance and their religious role. This intriguing image leaves me pondering the nuns’ motives and the complexity of their identities. What led them to adopt such a playful and unconventional image? How do they reconcile their spiritual calling with their individuality? The vignette “Red Clowns” serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between spirituality and personal expression, and it continues to captivate my imagination. 3. The vignette that puzzled me is “The Three Sisters.” As Esperanza visits the three elderly sisters believed to possess magical abilities, I found myself grappling with the blurred line between reality and mysticism. The sisters’ prophetic words regarding Esperanza’s future, her departure from Mango Street but also her eventual return, left me puzzled. Are the sisters truly able to see into the future? Or do their prophecies represent symbolic aspirations and hopes for Esperanza’s future? This vignette raises questions about the nature of fate, destiny, and the power of belief. It both captivates and perplexes me, as I attempt to unravel the layers of meaning behind the sisters’ predictions.

The vignette from “The House on Mango Street” that surprised me was “The Family of Little Feet” because the girls’ experience with the shoes is both intriguing and difficult, highlighting the demands society places on young girls to live up to strict and sometimes unattainable aesthetic standards. One vignette that I found intriguing was “Alicia Who Sees Mice” because emphasizes the challenges that a lot of young women experience when trying to accomplish their objectives and pursuing their goals, particularly in areas where engrained stereotypes and gender norms still dominate. Esperanza talks about her neighbor Alicia, who despite being terrified of the rats that live infest her house, studies late into the night. Alicia’s willpower and fortitude in the face of her worries are remarkable, and her motivation to further her studies and better herself is motivating. One vignette that puzzled me was “Laughter” because when Esperanza recalls of a day when she and her brothers were enjoying themselves in a garden when they unexpectedly heard laughing coming from an upper floor window. The children began to laugh uncontrollably despite not understanding what was so amusing since the laughter was so contagious. Many questions remain unanswered by the vignette, including who was laughing, why they were laughing, and what the laughter may mean.

What was surprising about “The house on mango street” was the way in which it challenged traditional notions of gender and sexuality. Esperanza is a strong and independent female protagonist, and the novel offers a nuanced portrayal of the ways in which gender roles and expectations shape our experiences and perceptions of the world. The novel also explores themes of sexuality and sexual identity, with several vignettes exploring the ways in which women are objectified and oppressed by male-dominated societal norms. “The family of little feet” The image of the girls walking around in oversized high-heeled shoes is both humorous and poignant, and it speaks to larger themes of identity, self-expression, and the desire to break free from societal expectations and constraints. Through their shared experience of wearing the high-heeled shoes, the girls are able to bond with each other and explore their individual identities in a way that feels liberating and empowering. I was puzzled by Esperanza’s fascination with the trees and her insistence that they are somehow connected to her own identity and sense of self. However, as the vignette unfolds, it becomes clear that the trees are a powerful symbol of Esperanza’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

The vignette from “The House on Mango Street” that surprised me was the adaption quickly of a Kid who realizes the rough situation that they are in. The main character notices that they are in poverty moving from apartment-to-apartment longing for somewhere to truly call home. When they got to that point moving across the town to Mango Street it was nothing like they envisioned. One vignette that intrigued me was ” My Name” She looks back on her family history as she considers her name to be special being passed down from her grandmother. While breaking down the multiple meaning of her name she talks about she would like to change her name. It intrigued me as I wanted to change my name at point because it didn’t fit who I w

  What surprises me in this vignette ” Sire”is the fact that Esperanza witnesses a shocking event as she observes an older man forcibly dragging a young girl into his car. The element of surprise stems from the abrupt and unsettling nature of the incident, stark reminders of the perils and vulnerability experienced by young girls in the neighborhood. In the vignette titled “The Three Sisters”, we are introduced to a trio of elderly sisters who are credited with mystical abilities. Their enigmatic aura and the captivating stories associated with them ignite Esperanza’s imagination and spark readers’ curiosity, allowing for diverse interpretations and a sense of wonder. that’s what intrigues me The vignette titled “Four Skinny Trees”, Esperanza vividly depicts four skinny trees thriving in front of her house. it intrigued me in the sense that these trees serve as a symbol, representing the courage and tenacity of the women of the Esperanza neighborhood. Initially, some readers may find this connection confusing, as the correlation between trees and women may not be immediately obvious. Nevertheless, upon further reflection, the metaphor becomes increasingly transparent and meaningful.

The vignette from “The House On Mango Street” that surprised me the most was chanclas. In this vignette the author describes how the mother uses her shoes also known as chanclas as a form of punishment when her kids misbehave. Why this vignette surprised me is because of how normalized violence is in within families as a form of punishment. I grew up with a-lot of Dominicans and they will tell me all the time when they were kids and misbehaving their mothers would use “chanclas” specifically. The vignette that intrigued me the most was “those who dont”. its a very short vignette only composed of maybe 20 lines but  such a powerful message. its about how colored communities are almost always unable to fulfill their dreams because of poverty  discrimination and lack of education. How other people like white people were to go her neighborhood they would be scared and think they would be attacked. The vignette that puzzled me most was red clowns. As i was scrolling through the vignettes I came across red clowns and wanted to read it. it was very weird but I was just confused on how and when it happend. Its about a girls best friend named sally who was taken by clowns at the carnival who touched and sexually assaults her. then a clown grabs a hold of the narrator and starts sexually assaulting her as well.

I’ve read The House on Mango Street in high school (years ago, I am not “fresh out”, lol). Right after the nostalgia and memories of simpler days, reading the stories as an adult gives new insight.   The vignette that  puzzled me to some degree was “Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays.” I felt sorrow for Rafaela, I felt her longing to be outside. In honor of the live action Little Mermaid being released next week, wanting to be a part of that world, but locked up inside. To the point of the puzzling though, why IS she locked up? I understand the reasoning but what are the circumstances? Was this an arranged marriage and her husband possessive? Is he abusive? Was he suave and genteel to woo her and then changed? I mean, if he’s married to her, he did see her immense beauty from meeting; why is she locked up? There are so many unanswered questions that left me puzzled (and also intrigued but I had to use another vignette for that 🙂 ). I was somewhat surprised by “No Speak English.” Initially, I felt Mamacita wanted to leave home. I also understood her apprehension with interacting with others, the world is cruel and perhaps would mock her inability to speak “perfect” English. And then I thought, after the description of having to shove and pull to get her out of the taxi, that she may have not been too keen to walk up and down 3 flights of stairs at her size. I was surprised at her grief of the baby learning English and her protest to not speak English. She was more than homesick, she did not want to be “white-washed” or lose her culture. There were two vignettes I couldn’t decide between […]

The third vignette, “Boys & Girls,” intrigued me because it was interesting to read the narrator’s point of view. The idea that you don’t pick your family is very true, yet it doesn’t feel too great when you can’t rely on your siblings as your best friends because they’re so different from you or because they act a certain way. I, personally, am very close to my brother and my sister, but I can understand the narrator’s statement, “Carlos and Kiki are each other’s best friend… not ours.” I can understand this because while we are very close, there were times that I’ve felt as though they liked each other more or had a better bond because I came around a long while later. Family relationships can be funny that way. The first vignette, “The House on Mango Street,” surprised me because I can relate to the story in every way. I know how it feels to have to move all of the time because each time, things didn’t go as planned. I related to the narrator when the nun asked where the narrator lives, “You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I lived there. I nodded.” I can hear how the nun is pronouncing the word “there” with a tone of disbelief and I can feel the same level of embarrassment the narrator is feeling in this moment. Especially when the narrator goes on to say, “I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to.” The fourth vignette, “My Name,” puzzled me only because I am not sure if the narrator is literally saying that her great-grandmother’s husband really did throw a sack over her head and carry her away. I want to hope […]

The vignette that intrigued me was the first one, The House on Mango Street. It intrigued me because I can relate in a sense where a person can feel as if they have no place to truly call “home”. I can relate to wanting and dreaming of living in a better place and wanting more for yourself and your family, space for everyone individually and especially thinking and assuming that when you hear of a possibility that you are going to get what you wished for, it turns out to be a disappointment. The vignette that surprised me in some way was, Boys and Girls. It surprised me in some way because of how easily I could relate to how to she explained how she hoped to have a best friend, one that can understand her and who she can tell all her jokes too. I’ve said those exact same words at one point in my life and I became grateful when I did find that one good best friend. It surprised at how exact the words I was reading and the way it correlated with how I once felt when I was much younger. The vignette that puzzled me was, Louie, his cousin and his older cousin. The scenery reminds me of the neighborhood I used to live in, in Brooklyn when I was barely a little kid. The way those kids could’ve been in danger or in harms way and the way boys can act idiotic sometimes, can sometimes be triggering and makes me question.

Surprising Vignette: “There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn’t Know What to Do” Honestly, this part really threw me for a loop. Here, the author talks about Rosa Vargas and her kids who are just running wild because there’s just too many of them and not enough of her to go around. I found it to be rather unexpected that they acted so unrestrainedly, while the surrounding community appeared indifferent towards their behavior. As I mull over specific situations, it dawns on me that each person’s being is singular and exceptional in character. Furthermore, this pondering leads me to question how we interact with those who may experience hardship or adversity within their lives. Intriguing Vignette: “Geraldo No Last Name” This story really caught my attention. The focus lies on a guy named Geraldo who tragically loses his life in a hit-and-run incident, leaving him shrouded in mystery as information regarding his identity remains elusive. It made me curious about how many people out there are living lives like Geraldo’s, unknown and unacknowledged. It was a depressing reminder of how many tales, particularly those of immigrants, go unreported every day. Puzzling Vignette: “Sire” What puzzles me about this vignette is the contradictory feelings the girls experience. Despite knowing that Sire is seen as bad news by the adults, there’s this pull towards understanding him, an attraction towards the danger he represents. The curiosity towards Sire, imagining what it’s like to be in Lois’s shoes, was a bit surprising. It also made me reflect on how we sometimes gravitate towards the very things we are cautioned against.

The vignette that surprised me the most was “The First Job”. This vignette surprised me, and not in a good way, because the young girl was saving up to go to a Catholic high school which is why she started working. She had never worked before, so I’m sure she was nervous and the people at work around her were able to sense that. The shocking part was when she started talking the older man man who was clocking in for his shift. I’m pretty sure he lied about it being his birthday, and the fact that he grabbed her face to kiss her on the lips was shocking and disgusting because she is just a young girl. You truly cannot trust anyone, even if it’s someone you work with. The vignette that intrigued me was “Papa Who Wakes Up Tired In The Dark”. This vignette intrigued me because many of us don’t see our fathers’ emotional sides. Our fathers are always so strong, they go out and provide for us and when we finally see their emotional side, we don’t know how to take it in. I’m sure seeing her father going through these emotions, Esperanza realized that no matter what, after all, we are all human and feel things. The vignette that puzzled me was “Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays”. This vignette puzzled me because Rafaela’s husband keeps her locked inside because he’s afraid she’ll run away because she’s too beautiful to look at. When I read this particular sentence, it reminded me of how where I come from, there are really men who don’t let their wives out and in my opinion, it’s sad. Rafaela should be able to go out and enjoy her life with her husband as well.  

The vignette that surprised me was “Our Good Day”. After reading “Boys and Girls” and knowing Esperanza’s past, I assumed she would be a lot more reserved with the group of kids asking for money. Instead, she instantly grew a liking to them and considered them “friends” just from the first interaction.    The vignette that intrigued me was “My Name”. This specific short story caught my attention because It was relatable to me. I also grew up dealing with people having issues pronouncing my name. I always get ready to repeat my name about 3 or 4 times whenever I introduce myself to someone or when a professor calls out my name for attendance. I was also named after a grandparent that lived a rough life and I find myself comparing myself to them being grateful that my story is different. Just like the narrator I spent a lot of time thinking about names I’d change to if I was brave enough. The Vignette I was puzzled by was “The First Job”.This story kind of ended abruptly and I feel like there should have been more details on what happened after the strange moment of Esperanza being forcefully kissed by an older man. 

One vignette that surprised me was “Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark.” This vignette is about Esperanza’s father, who works hard all day and comes home late at night. Despite his exhaustion, he still wakes up early in the morning to write poetry. This vignette is surprising to me because it challenges the stereotype of a hard-working father who is only concerned with providing for his family. Instead, we see a father who is also a creative person and has his own dreams and aspirations. One vignette that intrigued me is “The Family of Little Feet.” This vignette is about a group of girls who put on high heels and walk around the neighborhood, feeling powerful and free. This vignette is intriguing because it shows how something as simple as wearing high heels can give a group of girls a sense of empowerment and confidence. One vignette that puzzled me was “Chanclas” In this vignette, Esperanza describes the relationship between her father and her younger sister, who he calls “his horse.” The vignette tells us about the father’s love for his daughter and his insistence that she wear a pair of his old chanclas. The part that puzzled me was why the father was motivating and insisting that his daughter wears the sandals.

The vignette that surprised me the most from “The House on Mango Street” was “My Name”. This vignette surprised me because the author showed a higher level of maturity and awareness of the life, she wanted to live away from Mexican culture stereotypes. For example, she was explaining how she got her name from her great grandmother but also explained the story of the original Esperanza. The author goes on to explain how her great grandmother lived a life of unhappiness after being forced to marry and she then says, “I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window” (Cisernos 11). This surprised me because the author is a child and has an understanding of gender roles and cultural stereotypes that most children don’t understand to that extent. The vignette that intrigued me was “Marin” because the author shows admiration for Marin, which is expected because she is a child and usually children idolize adults no matter how our lives are. It intrigued me because while reading the details of Marin, I took her to be a boy crazy kind of girl, but the author shows more empathy towards Marin. I was also intrigued because I wanted to know if she really got married or not, and then I was disappointed to find out she didn’t. The vignette that puzzled me was “Four Skinny Trees” because in the beginning of the story in “The House on Mango Street”, the author mentions the trees in a off-standish way because it wasn’t the extravagant backyard, she thought the family would have with the house. Now in “Four Skinny Trees”, she finds comfort in the existence of the trees in front of her house. It puzzled me because it shows her growth from when she moved […]

Surprised: The vignette “Born Bad” surprised me as it depicts a young boy who is mistreated and abused by his family due to his supposed “bad” nature. It was shocking to see how normalized this mistreatment was, and how quickly people were to judge and condemn this child. This vignette highlighted the damaging impact of societal labels and the need for compassion and understanding towards those who may be struggling. Intrigued: The vignette “Meme Ortiz” intrigued me as it depicts a boy who has a strange fascination with keys and eventually becomes known as “the key man.” This vignette spoke to the power of symbols and the ways in which they can shape our identities and perceptions of the world. It also highlighted the importance of finding meaning and purpose in our lives, no matter how unconventional it may seem to others.  Puzzled: The vignette titled “Four Skinny Trees” left me puzzled as it depicted Esperanza’s connection to a row of skinny trees outside her house. It was unclear what these trees symbolized or what significance they held for Esperanza. Perhaps they represented resilience in the face of adversity, or the longing for connection and community. This vignette highlighted the power of nature and the ways in which it can provide comfort and inspiration in times of struggle.

Surprise: One of the sketches in The Shack on Mango Street that surprised me was “The First Job”. In this sketch, Esperanza accepts a job as a nanny for a wealthy family. She soon realizes that the job isn’t what she thought it would be because she has to clean the whole house, in addition to watching the kids. This surprised me because it highlights the exploitation and injustice that many low-income workers face, and it was unexpected to explore this issue in a book aimed at a younger audience. Confused: The vignette that confused me was “The Hips”. In this vignette, Esperanza reflects on the ways in which women are objectified and sexualized in society. While I appreciated the message of the sketch, I was confused by Esperanza’s seeming implication that all women with curvy hips are somehow connected to their own objectification. This seems to reinforce harmful stereotypes and could be interpreted as victim-blaming.

When I hear or read the word vignette, I think of short stories that are not related to each other, like the vignettes in the movie “Paris, je t’aime” where the only thing tying the stories together is the city itself. Reading “The House on Mango Street” broadened my perception of vignettes. The ending to “The First Job” surprised me. How bold of that man to kiss Esperanza! That was the last thing I was expecting to read after she recounts her mediocre first day at a new job. I was intrigued by “Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water.” Elenita represents a very specific and mysterious aspect of Latino culture I have always been curious about- brujeria. I remember my religious Grandmother from Honduras walking very quickly past Botanicas because she deemed the products in those stores evil. I like how Cisneros portrays Elenita as a witch and a mother cleaning up after her child spills kool-aid, giving her realistic and mystical qualities simultaneously. I was initially puzzled by “Geraldo, No Last Name.” This story of a hit and run came unexpectedly and I found myself almost disoriented when I started to read it the first time. I had to go back in the story to remind myself who Marin is in order to make a connection between this story and Esperanza’s community. I am a bit perplexed as to why Cisneros uses racist terminology in this vignette, and it is written in the style of a rushed conversation. I wonder if this is coming from Esperanza’s perspective or someone else’s perspective.

“Darius & the Clouds” on page 34 was the vignette that surprised me the most. Darius seems like a bully but with a soft spot. He chases little girls around with a stick and thinks he’s tough, but one day he looks up and notices how beautiful the sky and clouds are. He points at one and says, “You all see that cloud, that fat one there?…See that. That’s God”. Even. though he seems like a kid with a tough exterior, this quote demonstrates he believes in God and that things that are beautiful are his or made from him. “The Family of Little Feet” on page 39 intrigued me the most. The girl’s all had a new found confidence with their “new look” when they had their heels on. But then, things took a turn. On page 41, the girl’s start to get nervous when a homeless man tries to kiss one of them and she doesn’t seem to see the danger in it. The girls all try to get away and instantly want to go back to their “old looks” because they don’t want to attract this type of attention anymore. “And Some More” puzzled me the most because Rachel, a little girl, starts to call Esperanza, the narrator, names for no reason. She calls her fat and ugly, and then talks about her mom. This seemed like she was projecting because she was making fun of Esperanza for no reason and she started it.

I was surprised by the girl’s perception of the surrounding reality, in many of the vignette. But a start was made in the vignette “My name” In particular, her perception of her grandmother, who was born in the year of the horse. Surprised beyond her years by adult awareness of the problem of a woman’s place in the world. And with a clear goal that she definitely does not want to inherit a window seat. It can be seen that from an early age, the protagonist of the story wants to become a strong woman with her own rights. Very strangely, I was intrigued by a moment not really related to the main actions, but with the music box in “Girl’s furniture bought and sold”. The place itself and the seller are described rather gloomy and mysterious. It’s a dark place, with one dirty window, where the owner won’t even turn on the lamp until he’s sure you have money. The place was like a labyrinth with narrow passages where it was easy to get lost. The seller was uncommunicative. And in the middle of all this, they find a strange object, the owner says that it is an old music box. The description of the music it plays also captivates my imagination as much as possible. In the end, the old man says that it is not for sale, making me fantasize about what kind of box it is and what kind of story it has. I was puzzled by vignette “Those who don’t” which tells us about the feelings of people from outside who got to the protagonist’s neighbourhood. They were afraid of it. But it’s not a surprise because I can imagine how does it look like, especially those times, and knowing the treatment to such kind […]

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 […]

Surprised, Intrigued, and puzzled. I was puzzled by “Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold” because reading this vignette, I was lead to believe that this item would have been bought and cherished by Esperanza or her sister. The way the story hones in on this one music box. The way the store was described was is if there was really nothing of much value in there. As the story came to a close, I realize there was much value in the music box as Gil say’s it’s not for sale I was intrigued by “Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark”. This man is obviously dedicated to his family, head of the household and the one everyone is relying on. So Esperanza has never seen him in this emotional state, as many times you don’t have the space to be emotional when you’re in those leadership roles. This vignette brought a human side to her father, and gave her view of his emotional moment. “The House on Mango Street” surprised me because even though it was an improvement from where this family lived prior, it was still not was Esperanza expected. The house still had flaws, and lacked adequate rooms and bathrooms. It just goes to point out the importance of being content. There will always be bigger better houses, but it’s a home when you live and create memories there, Which is exactly what happened in this house. Who knows what could’ve happened if they actually did hit the lottery.

“The Family of Little Feet” was the vignette that shocked me since it portrayed the girls in the story as both confident and vulnerable at the same time. The girls wore their high-heeled shoes and went out into the world in search of freedom and adventure, but they were also aware of the dangers that come with being a young lady. It amazed me how willing the girls were to take chances and have fun despite the possible consequences of their behavior. “Red Clowns” was the vignette that grabbed my interest since it had examples of symbolism that had me thinking about the story’s significance. The red clowns symbolized the demands put on women to be cheerful and entertaining, even when they may not feel that way. The clowns’ red paint also made me think about how society regards women’s feelings as too emotional or illogical. The story raised many issues for me regarding women’s roles in society and the expectations placed on them. “The Three Sisters” vignette caused me to be a little puzzled since it was loaded with metaphors and symbols that I didn’t completely comprehend. The three sisters symbolized different phases of life, but I wasn’t sure what the colors they wore or the goods they carried meant. The vignette left me confused and interested.