Analyzation of "Earl of Tennessee" to "Sally"

"Earl of Tennessee"

This vignette is devoted to describing one of Esperanza's many neighbors, Earl. Earl is a peculiar man in Esperanza's eyes, and he provokes some curiosity within her. Esperanza puts him in a very solitary light, claiming that his blinds are always closed and that he doesn't talk much. This detailed description of Earl takes up four of the five paragraphs in this vignette. The last paragraph, however, is the most significant. It is implied that Earl, to put it in appropriate terms, spends a lot of time with prostitutes. Esperanza and Nenny do not understand this, providing an obvious display of their sheltered naivete. This is articulated in the lines, "Edna says she saw [Earl's wife] once....Mama says she is a skinny thing...And the boys across the street say she is a tall red-headed lady...We never agree on what she looks like, but we do know this. Whenever she arrives, he holds her tight by the crook of the arm. They walk fast into the apartment, lock the door behind them and never stay long." (Earl of Tennessee, 71)


"Sire"

This chapter is extremely important to the book, as it shows Esperanza's development as a young woman. She has noticed time and time again that a boy, Sire, has been looking at her every time she passes his house. This excites her, and the reader can tell she has happy, excited butterflies floating in her stomach. This is made quite obvious in the line, "It made your blood freeze to have somebody look at you like that. Somebody looked at me. Somebody looked." (Sire, 73) Esperanza likes Sire, yet she is scared of him and his friends because they are boys, and they are probably older than she is. This is articulated when she remarks, "They didn't scare me. They did, but I wouldn't let them know." (Sire, 72). In this situation, she forces herself to be brave, to look at Sire, to meet his stare. This is a great example of how Esperanza attempts to prove herself and prove that she is brave. She states, "I looked too long when he rode his bike past me. I looked because I wanted to be brave..." (Sire, 72). Her happiness quickly turns to jealousy, a trait we have not really seen before in Esperanza, when she discusses Sire's girlfriend, Lois. She describes Lois as a perfect, beautiful girl, someone she could never compare herself to. This diminishes her hopes of being with Sire. But, Esperanza claims she can tie her shoes while Lois cannot, and this makes her feel a little more worthy, a little better about herself. Then, quite quickly, this jealousy turns into longing. The last three paragraphs are extremely important, as she says "I want to sit out bad at night, a boy around my neck and the wind under my skirt...Not... leaning out the window, imagining what I can't see." (Sire, 73). Esperanza wishes to truly live, to have new, mature experiences with boys and freedom. She wishes to be with Sire, to have a boy hold her in her arms. One cannot help but feel sympathy toward Esperanza when she says this, as she may not ever get the opportunity to truly live and truly be free.

"Four Skinny Trees"

In "Four Skinny Trees", Esperanza is inspired by four particular trees on her street. She appreciates their strength, power, and fighting spirit. In a peculiar way, she empathizes with the trees, stating "I am the only one who understands them...Four [trees] who do not belong here but are her." (Four Skinny Trees, 74). These beautiful trees do not belong in this city, confined by concrete, forced to keep going, to keep being. Esperanza understands this. She understands that these strong trees have to fight, and they teach her to keep being. They inspire her, at this sad time in her teenage life, to "keep, keep, keep" (Four Skinny Trees, 75)

"No Speak English"

The prominent theme in this chapter is the longing for home, which corresponds perfectly with Esperanza's constant search for a real home and a house of her own. Mamacita does not like America, this is evident from the beginning of the chapter. She misses her true home, the place where she can feel comfortable and happy. This is articulated in the lines, "She still sighs for her pink house, and then I think she cries. I would." (No Speak English, 77). She is proud of her homeland, much like Esperanza's family. Mamacita is so proud of and so tied to her Spanish home, in fact, that she becomes tremendously upset when the 'baby boy' whom she brought to America with her begins to sing a song from a television commercial in English. "No speak English, she says to the child who is singing in the language that sounds like tin. No speak English...and bubbles into tears. No, no, no, as if she can't believe her ears." (No Speak English, 78). This chapter speaks to the love of home and the fear of change and the unknown.

"Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays"

Living your life, having freedom, dancing the night away, drinking the sweetest drinks. These are the things people must do before they are too old. Rafaela, yet another one of Esperanza's neighbors, is not able to live her life. She is "getting old from leaning out the window so much, gets locked indoors because her husband is afraid Rafaela will run away since she is too beautiful to look at." (Rafaela, 79). She is suffering, condemned to a window and a wish, a wish to "dance before she gets old." (Rafaela, 79). Rafaela should serve as a lesson to young Esperanza to go out, be free, and live before she is shut off from the world by an overprotective husband. Esperanza already wishes for freedom, but her observation of this poor woman will most likely push her desire and motivation to be free even further. Rafaela also knows that life has so much more, that there are "sweeter drinks", and, unfortunately, her drink, her life, is bitter "like an empty room" (Rafaela, 80).

"Sally"

"Sally" is very powerful. First, it is interesting to notice that though the chapter starts speaking in third person, it switches to the second person after the second paragraph and remains in the second person throughout the remainder of the chapter. Sally is what Esperanza wishes to be, utterly beautiful. What you must notice, however, is Esperanza's desperate questions to Sally. These questions are actually Esperanza's feelings, her thoughts, her questions to herself. She is asking these questions because, maybe if she asks someone else, hopes someone else is asking the same questions, she won't feel bad, she won't feel crazy, she won't feel like she does not belong. Esperanza does not know Sally, she has crafted this person that she sees, that she looks up to for some reason, into herself, into someone she can share her deepest thoughts with. This is shown when she asks "Sally do you sometimes wish you didn't have to go home? Do you wish your feet would one day keep walking...and maybe your feet would stop in front of a house, a nice one with flowers and big windows...(Sally, 82). This is exactly what Esperanza longs for and dreams about. She, as a teenager, is misunderstood and alone in this world, and she feels and hopes that Sally feels the same and can possibly be a kindred spirit to Esperanza. The chapter finishes with a startling paragraph that articulates just how misunderstood Esperanza truly is. This quote is Esperanza putting her thoughts, wishes, and woes into writing, this is her cry for help. "And you could laugh, Sally...You could close your eyes and you wouldn't have to worry what people said because you never belonged here anyway and nobody could make you sad and nobody would think you're strange because you like to dream and dream. And no one could yell at you...when all you wanted, Sally, was to love and to love and to love...and no one could call that crazy." (Sally, 83)

Vignette Analyzation

The Earl of Tennessee 

The Earl of Tennessee sets a mood of suspicion. The children don't know whats going on in his life, or in his house. “Earl works nights. His blinds are always closed during the day. Sometimes he comes out and tells us to be quiet.” (p.70) This quote shows how Earl is most likely a busy man, or doesn't want to be affiliated with the children. Earl is portrayed as a man who doesn't have time for anything but his wife who he sees very little of, his dogs that go with him everywhere and his hard work. He is considered a normal man. There is a lot of suspicion about Earl’s wife, because nobody can get a good look at her. The children can “never agree on what she looks like”, causing the suspicion of his marriage. The language used tries to make the children seem innocent and immature by them not knowing what goes on with Earl and his personal life. It seems as if Earl and his wife do not have a steady relationship, or there i not one, but many wives reentering the apartment. 

Sire

The vignette “Sire” follows the motif of growing up and maturing. It uses extreme imagery to describe Esperanza’s feelings and thoughts for the boy she is suddenly noticing. Esperanza has never truly had any experiences with boys, and she is just realizing boys looking at her, signifying her growth and maturity. This vignette displays the way people start to realize their interests in boys or girls as they grow older. She is young, and therefore very naive and vulnerable, but also willing to do things that might not be at her best interest. Sire is known as a “punk” from her Mama and Papa, but she doesn't care. He has a girlfriend, and Esperanza watches the way he holds her hand, and ties her shoes. She knows how to tie her shoes. Esperanza sees the different ways they are growing up and wants to be involved in these activities she is witnessing. “I want to be all new and shiny. i want to sit out bad at night, a boy around my neck and the wind under my skirt.”(p.73) This quote shows how much Esperanza just wants to be grown up and mature enough to try different things and not be afraid of boys and the real world. It shows her character developing throughout the story. Going from a young, “stupid” and innocent little girl, to a mature and growing young lady. 

Four skinny Trees 

The vignette “Four Skinny Trees” portrays Esperanza’s feeling of displacement in the world. She uses the Four Skinny Trees to relate to herself and her affect on the community. The mood is very dull and dreary, because of the way Esperanza sees herself. The trees are supposedly the last thing that you can possibly look at on the street, because of their droopiness and their skinny necks and pointy elbows like hers. But they have strong roots and are the only thing that understand Esperanza. “Four who don’t belong here but are here.” (p.74) This quote shows how unimportant Esperanza feels to the world, and how she doesn't seem to fit like everybody else does. This vignette leaves me appreciate the community I live in, and it makes me feel sorry for Esperanza and how she feels like a “raggedy excuse” just planted in the city, not making an impact. 

No Speak English 

This vignette accurately portrays the feelings of Mamacita and how she doesn't want to be living anywhere but her hometown. She refuses to speak english, signifying that she hates the language and culture. Esperanza talks about how the children haven’t seen Mamacita since they brought the baby home, and that she never comes down the stairs. The children joke around saying that she wont come down the stairs because of her weight, but Esperanza believes its because of her homesickness and denial towards the american culture. “She sits all day by the window and plays the Spanish radio show and sings all the homesick songs about her country in a voice that sounds like a seagull.” (p.77) This quote shows how much Mamacita is homesick and would much rather be raising her child and have a family where she was originally from. This vignette continues the theme of having a specific heritage that she loves and wants to be a part of. As Mamacita shows, it is hard to give up and leave something she loved so dearly even if it is better for her family and her husband’s job. 

Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays 

This vignette shows how different cultures and heritages have different rules that men and women must follow. Shown in this vignette, the beautiful Rafaela is disciplined for being beautiful and for flaunting her beauty out the window. Her husband is afraid that Rafael with have a sudden realization of her beauty and want to run away from him. Rafaela is sick of being held back and just wishes to be free and dance. With asking the kids to buy her coconut and papaya juice, it is her way of appreciating what she can do with such little options. “And always there is someone offering sweeter drinks, someone promising to keep them on a siler string.” (p.80) This quote lets us know how there is always going to be someone to offer her more and more things other than just coconut and papaya juice, and she should appreciate what she has even if it isn't particularly what she would want. 

Sally

The imagery in this vignette is incredible. Just like in “Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays”, this vignette shows the differences in heritage and culture. It talks about Sally’s fathers religion and how it is very strict and doesn't allow flaunted beauty or dancing. “They are not supposed to dance. He remembers his sisters and is sad. Then she cant go out. Sally I mean” (p.81) This quote leaves suspicion for what happened with her father’s sisters. I think his sisters were considered “bad” and left a reputation on his family, or they did not turn out successful. I think Esperanza looks up to Sally and her morals because of the way she presents herself. She can relate to Sally and not being able to do the things she wants to, because she is too young and not experienced enough. It is different with Sally however, because Sally access to doing the things she wants to is completely blocked, because of her fathers strict religion. Esperanza uses this vignette to indirectly as Sally questions if she wishes she could do the things she is not allowed to. Esperanza understands how often Sally is pinpointed for her actions, and how she is often accused of being bad, which is mostly why her father doesn't let her do most things.

The House on Mango Street- James Bagnell

The Earl of Tennessee shows great examples of imagery. The lines, "is a tall red-headed lady who wears tight pink pants and green glasses." This shows Esperanza's child hood In her. Because she does not understand that they are just sexual relations, when ever the women comes over to his house.

Sire shows Esperanza growing up, she thinks about this "bad boy" and the "bad boy" stares at her in a flirty way. Also it shows that usually girls are afraid of the boy because Esperanza says, "I had to prove to me I wasn't scared of nobody's eyes, not even his." This shows Esperanza is taking over her life and becoming a woman.

Four Skinny Trees shows Esperanza's thoughts of life and the earth and how important everything around us is. This vignette shows exquisite imagery by saying, "They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violet teeth and never quit their anger." This is a very intense line from Esperanza, and it really shows her emotion. 

No Speak English shows how new people come into her neighborhood. Esperanza finds out their is an old fat Spanish lady who does not know a single word of English but she still goes on with life. Esperanza takes note on this and heats her curse in Spanish and also listen to Mexico songs that she believes help with her home sickness. 

Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays shows how Rafaela is kept inside like Repunzel's I say this because it says, "Rafaela leans out the window and leans on her elbow and dreams her hair is like Repunzel's." This show how just because she is beautiful her husband locks her up inside all day so that she does not run away because she is to pretty. I find this chapter very interesting and I question myself why is the husband so worried and weird, maybe a past experience?

Sally is a very different vignette I like how Esperanza describes the girl Sally. When she says, "Sally is the girl with eyes like Egypt and nylons the color of smoke." I wonder why she has to go home after school and what made her change so much of a short period of time. 

vignette analyzation

Vignette Analyzation


The Earl of Tennessee

Earl, who lives next door in Edna’s basement, is a tenant next door to Esperanza on Mango Street. Earl works night shifts, so he is always inside during the day resting. Earl is an independent person who has a wife that everyone on Mango Street. This wife, described by Esperanza seems to be a mysterious woman because overtime they see her she looks differently. Sometimes she is blonde and “pale like salamanders that have never seen the sun” (The Earl of Tennessee 71.) But other times, some of the residents on Mango Street saw that she had red hair. “Whenever she arrives, he holds her tight by the crook of the arm. They walk fast into the apartment, lock the door behind them and never stay long.” (The Earl of Tennessee 71.) The way Earl is described by Esperanza makes him seem like a mysterious person; especially since there are different women coming into his house. Sandra Cisneros uses a reoccurring olfactory imagery by saying that his house smells of dampness and mold. She uses this imagery twice when describing his apartment. She uses this smell another time when she is describing the endless amounts of records he has and comparing their smell to the smell of his apartment. The mood for this chapter for me was set from the smell of dampness and mold to create an overall gloomy feeling. Although this was the mood I took away, Earl’s sense of simplicity cast a less negative mood on the chapter because he listened to his records and enjoyed the music the records played while he relaxed before his job a night. 

Sire

In this chapter, Sire, a boy who lives in Esperanza’s neighborhood attempts to frighten and intimidate Esperanza as she walks by him and his friends.”They didn’t scare me. They did, but I wouldn’t let them know” (Sire 72.) Esperanza is pretending to not be frightened by the way Sire stares at her. Esperanza is taking this and trying to prove to herself that she isn’t scared by any boy’s stare. Sandra Cisneros describes these eyes that Earl has using visual imagery such as “straight into the dusty cat fur of his eyes” (Sire 72) and “It made your blood freeze to have somebody stare at you like that” (Sire 73.) Esperanza begins thinking so much into these encounters with the boy because she becomes excited with the thought of a boy staring at her. Esperanza’s parents warn her about this boy. Her mom tells her not to talk to him; her father calls him a punk. Sire’s girlfriend is a strong example of feminism. Sandra Cisneros describes Lois as being a tiny girl who is very pretty. Esperanza looks up to Lois and sees how perfect she is. The way Esperanza describes Lois makes Esperanza seem as if she wants to be her. “She’s got big girl hands, and her bones are long like ladies’ bones, and she wears makeup too” (Sire 73.)  Lois is also unable to tie her shoes as Cisneros describes through Esperanza. This shows a symbol of sexuality where women weren't able to do the things that men can do. This shows the insecurity and powerlessness that Lois has. Esperanza wants to be in Lois' place but she proves to be too strong and independent to do so.

Four Skinny Trees

Esperanza begins this chapter by saying that the four trees in the front of her yard are the only things that understand her. She thinks that these trees do not belong in her front yard but they were placed there and they cannot move. Although Esperanza thinks that these trees don't belong, she finds inner beauty in them and the things around her. She begins to accept things for what they are and starts to appreciate them. "Their strength is secret. They send ferocious roots beneath the ground" (Four Skinny Trees 74.) Esperanza is suggesting that although the tress seem skinny, they have hidden glory and beauty inside them. This chapter has a mood of maturity because she uses these skinny trees as inspiration. "They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quite their anger" (Four Skinny Trees 74.) Sandra Cisneros uses personification with the four skinny trees to relay the message that they empower the earth although they may seem to be just plants. Esperanza continues to become stronger and these trees are an example of her becoming wiser as a person.

No Speak English

Mamacita, a lady that is married to a neighbor of Esperanza on Mango Street, is a huge woman who spends most of her days inside her apartment. Some of the neighbors on Mango Street believe that the reason she never leaves her apartment is because she is too fat to get down the stairs. Esperanza on the other hand has a different opinion on it. She thinks that Mamacita is afraid of English and the people who speak it. Mamacita is afraid that English has empowered Mango Street. Because Esperanza realizes that Mamacita feels so trapped by her lack of English she realizes the importance of words and how someone can feel so lost with a lack of them. Mamacita spends her days listening to Spanish radio and thinking about her little pink house she left behind in Mexico. Sometimes when Mamacita thinks about living in her pink house her husband gets angry at her. Esperanza and Mamacita are both longing for a home to feel like they belong to. "she still sings for her pink house, and then I think she cries. I would" (No Speak English 77.) Although both Esperanza and Mamacita long for a home to feel like they belong to, they want to work towards their dreams. In this chapter, Esperanza speaks to fear of change and the hopelessness felt by those who feel as if they don't belong.

Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays

In this chapter, Rafaela serves a purpose of being another woman who is trapped. She is being controlled by her husband and when he goes out, she gets locked in the house so she can't run away. Rafaela dreams she is Rapunzel and her house is a tower she is locked up in and she wishes she could escape. When she asks Esperanza to go to the store to get her coconut and papaya, the juice makes her think of islands filled with freedom and sweetness. Rafaela thinks of her house as bitter and boring and longs for getting away from her husband. Rafaela wishes to "dance before she gets old" (Rafaela 79.) Rafaela doesn't as for much, she wishes to do the things she should have the freedom to do. This quote from the chapter articulates that desire well because she spends so much time locked up in her house she isn't able to do the things a normal person should be able to do. Esperanza see Rafaela as a path that she doesn't want to go down. Esperanza has realized that Rafaela gave up her freedom by giving into the desire to be loved. Rafaela has lost all of her confidence and independency  after her husband took control of her and Esperanza knows that if she goes out to the bar she wants to go, she'll fall into the trap of another man who is controlling. Esperanza's own voice becomes clearer to her because she realizes that many of the women on Mango Street feel like they don't belong.

Sally

Sally sets an example for Esperanza in a new way that she is intrigued by. Sally represents maturity in a sexual way and Esperanza has great respect for the way she has confidence and individuality. Sally supports herself being independent and free from control. Esperanza notices this quality in Sally and yet Sally is still desirable to boys. Esperanza wants to become friends with Sally because she likes the way she presents herself as having self-worth and dignity. Sally doesn't allow boys to have control over her like we see in the case of Rafaela. In this chapter we also see the reoccurring symbol which are the shoes. Before, in "Sire", Lois wasn't wearing any shoes representing the way women were. Men didn't want women to be able to do things that they can do. But Sally on the other hand wears these black suede shoes that Esperanza notices. These shoes represents sexuality because Esperanza wants to wear the shoes that Sally has. "Sally do you sometimes wish you didn't have to go home? Do you wish your feet would one day keep walking and take you away from Mango Street..." (Sally 82.) This quote shows that Esperanza is intrigued by the way Sally presents herself. She asks Sally if she ever gets the feeling that she wants to get away from Mango Street and go somewhere better. This chapter is written in a childlike tone. This is articulated through the way Esperanza has the desire to be just like Sally; almost like a child wanting to be like an adult. Sally shows to have maturity and Esperanza is trying to gain that but she doesn't understand how complicated that maturity can be.

Class Tuesday

Today you will be reading and analyzing each chapter from "The Earl of Tennesee" to "Sally." I would like you to analyze each vignette just as we have been doing all along: think about the tone and mood of each chapter, what feelings are you left with? How are characters portrayed and developed? What themes are explored? What types of figurative language does Cisneros use to bring each vignette to life? You should also include your thoughts, feelings, and opinions about each vignette.

I will hopefully see you on Wed. Thanks for all of your great work- keep it up.

Math is Hard

I think that math is pretty hard, but people seem to like it. Sometimes I don't understand the material, and this means that I don't do too well. Whenever I don't understand things, all of my classmates try and help me get it. "We're a team," says my teacher. So we work together, and eventually I get it. When we're in another class, one that I understand, I'll help out my classmates. We're at team, and we're in this together.

(Mr. Dilworth, if you're reading this, my I posted my poem on the wrong blog last night thinking it was this one, so I copied it in here).

Sisters

The are always there for me. During my high and low points in life.

I’m always there for them. During their high and low points in life.

I’m thankful to have two and not just one. They are a big part of what made me myself today. I’m lucky to have my older sister who had taught me from what is right to wrong. My youngest sister who gave me the chance to be an older sister. Even though she is only a minute younger. I could not imagine not having them in my life. I would do anything for them. I love how I can talk to them about anything and they will never judge me. They will always be honest in any situation and give me the best advice.They will be my true best friends for my whole entire life. I can not thank them enough for being the two best sisters on this whole wide world.