The House on Mango Street, is written by Sandra Cisneros. Sandra Cisneros was born and raised in Chicago. She was raised by her mother and father, both of Mexican descent. She grew up in a relatively large family; she was the third child of seven children. Cisneros' childhood consisted of growing up in one of Chicago's Puerto Rican neighborhoods. As a child, she traveled back and forth to Mexico with her family. Understanding Cisneros' background is important to understanding the novel because the main character of the novel, Esperanza, shares many similarities and almost resembles Cisneros. The House on Mango Street consists of many chapters; these chapters are written as short descriptions that have been described as both poems and short stories. Within these short chapters and story pieces, Cisneros offers the reader several different topics and plots. For example, the reader is introduced to many characters, some of whom are only talked about during a single chapter. Being introduced to so many characters represents and allows the reader to assume that the neighborhood where Esperanza lives is small enough, small enough that she knows all of her neighbors and their history. The stories of Esperanza's neighbors, their struggles, personal battles, along with the conflicts faced by Esperanza always seem to fail to be resolved in the novel. Often the reader is left to guess what the outcome was. The House on Mango Street as a whole, with all the short chapters and stories added together, covers a year of Esperanza's life. Esperanza is about twelve years old in the novel and just like Cisneros she is a Mexican-American girl. The novel begins with Esperanza moving with fa...... middle of paper ...... of her neighbors, if she doesn't leave Mango Street. Secondly, even though Esperanza has a strong desire to leave, she will never truly leave Mango Street, because she will always try to help others in similar situations to leave. Lastly, being a woman on Mango Street is depressing. Esperanza does not want to become like the women on Mango Street, because they are trapped in their homes looking out the windows or trapped by the abuse of their husbands, fathers, sons, or their own feelings of inadequacy. Works Cited Cisneros, Sandra. "Cathy, the queen of cats." The house on Mango Street. New York: Vintage, 1991. 13. Print.Cisneros, Sandra. "The house on Mango Street." The house on Mango Street. New York: Vintage, 1991. 4. Print.Cisneros, Sandra. "The house on Mango Street." The house on Mango Street. New York: Vintage, 1991. 3. Print.