The character that is introduced in this vignette, Earl, is a jukebox repairman from the south who lives next door in Edna's basement. Both Earl and his home are described using expressive imagery, as well as literary devices like similes and metaphors. "...Moldy and damp like the smell that comes out of his apartment whenever he opens the door." (The Earl of Tennessee, pg 71) This line occurs three times throughout the vignette emphasizing the gloominess of his apartment. The imagery adds to the scene that Cisneros has conjured in the reader's mind, making it all the more detailed. She adds things like the "scrape of concrete" or the "excited tinkling of dog tags" to describe the routine that Earl always follows. "They don't walk like ordinary dogs, but leap and somersault like an apostrophe and a comma." (The Earl of Tennessee, pg 71) By comparing the dogs to literary terms, she shows she is growing as a poet, as this line in somewhat poetic. Like we saw in the earlier chapter when her aunt tells her to keep writing because it will keep her free, Esperanza grows stronger at making connections and seeing beauty in everything. This vignette illustrates Esperanza's naive nature at describing Earl's wife as always looking differently when he is actually having prostitutes over. The reader is left with a feeling of sympathy for Earl. He works the night shift somewhere, which is a hard thing to do, and lives in a closed, damp space which doesn't emit any feel of being homey or comfortable. This vignette makes the reader of aware of the struggle that many people endure and push through.
Sire
The vignette "Sire" is about Esperanza's growing awareness in boys and signifies her beginning to come of age. Sire symbolizes the option of pursuing a crush rather than following her dreams and becoming a defined individual. "They didn't scare me. They did, but I wouldn't let them know." (Sire, pg 72) Esperanza is nervous about how she now sees boys and how they see her. Though she is somewhat uncomfortable with the boy's stare, she enjoys the attention. Esperanza feels like Marin and how the boy stared at her that night under the lamp post. She begins to understand as she matures and this vignette is one of the key points in her maturity. Lois, Sire's girlfriend, is a symbol of the cliched idea of feminism as seen by describing her as "tiny", "pretty", and "smelling like a baby's skin." Cisneros criticizes the idea of a helpless women in the way she talks about Lois being unable to tie her own shoes. She is helped by Sire, supposedly the man and strong one in the relationship because most of her beauty lies in her weak, dependent nature unlike Esperanza who is stronger than that. Going back to the previous vignette, Earl of Tennessee, who's sexual activity isn't questioned and is accepted which contrasts to Lois, who Esperanza's mom criticizes. This symbolizes the gender stereotype because for men it is fine, but women are considered not proper and low. Imagery like "the long like ladies' bones" (Sire, pg 73) help add the image of how a female should look in order to better fit her role as support to the male.
Four skinny trees
By developing an awareness of the beauty around her, Esperanza finds confidence and strength. Though the trees aren't beautiful and are "raggedy excuses", they remind her of herself with their "skinny necks and point elbows." (Four skinny trees, pg. 74) The trees help Esperanza remember she is strong and one day she will do great things. "Their strength is secret. They send ferocious roots beneath the ground. They grow up and they grow down...This is how they keep." (Four Skinny Trees, pg. 74) When she feels small and insignificant, the trees remind her she can do anything she sets her mind to. Despite the harsh city environment and the concrete paved streets, the trees still sprouted and grew strong. Imagery such as "between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth..." provoke images of determination and ferociousness as well as personifying the trees to be humanlike.
No Speak English
In this vignette, again the theme of seeing beauty everywhere is brought up. "Huge, enormous, beautiful to look at..." (No Speak English, 77) Esperanza is noticing the beauty in everything, from the scraggly trees to the overweight woman. The community of Mango Street wasn't very welcoming to Mamasita, especially seeing that she doesn't speak the same language. Though Esperanza doesn't seem to notice it, Mamasita and herself are many ways. Mamasita longs for her mom because it is the only place she knows and feels comfortable in while Esperanza longs for a house of her own, somewhere she is proud to call home. "She still sighs for her pink house, and then I think she cries. I would." (No Speak English, 77) Mamasita's husband isn't sympathetic towards her which negatively impacts her transition from her old life. Though Esperanza barely knows the women, she sympathizes with her expressing her understanding and maturity which has grown throughout the book. At the very end, we see how torn up Mamasita is that her little son is learning English as his first language. She believes that his heritage and upbringing is no longer in her own hands because her native tongue is not being taught to her son.
Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays
Rafaela, a beautiful young girl being kept in an apartment due to her husband's lack of faith in her, falls into a depression as she imagines she was allowed outside. Her confinement is something that Esperanza wants to avoid. Esperanza wants to be someone, an individual, which is why she refuses to give into her love of attention and stays away from boys who find her desirable. Rafaela dreams about freedom and what she would do to get it back, but it is too late. All she has are the occasional drinks that Esperanza and the kids buy for her when she gives them money. "And always there is someone offering sweeter drinks, someone promising to keep them on a silver string." (Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut and Papaya Juice on Tuesdays, pg 80) The sweeter drinks symbolize better, but empty promises that girls can be tempted with and the enjoyment that Rafaela can not ever fully enjoy. This vignette brings up a feeling of longing and yearning to be free, something that Esperanza plans to steer clear of.
Sally
Sally is an important person in Esperanza's life because she is someone Esperanza aspires to be, someone who makes heads turn. She is another example of the idea of feminism. Though Esperanza thinks she has it all, Sally's father doesn't approve of this beauty and abuses her. "They are very strict in his religion." (Sally, pg 81) Her beauty brings up memories of his sisters's which makes him sad. Something happened to them, not explained in the book, that made Sally's father despise beauty so much. Espernaza's naive nature is also pictured in this vignette. She doesn't understand that Sally has problems at home, she just sees it as a random change in personality. "You become a different Sally. You pull your skirt straight, you rub the blue off your eyelids. You don't laugh, Sally." (Sally, pg 82) The theme of there is more than meets the eye comes up in this vignette when we find that though Sally is gorgeous, popular, and seemingly happy, her home isn't filled with love and doesn't approve of her. She escapes her abusive father in her dreams where she can make up anything she likes and she can love and be loved.
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