Mango Street

One of the vignettes I chose was "My Name" because I can totally relate to that. When I was little, I would have my friends call me other things, anything except my real name. This was mostly because everywhere I went, someone else had my name, and it would be too confusing. I also like "Hips" because Nenny makes me laugh. Even though the other girls are making up their own rhymes, she just sticks to the old ones. I like when Cisneros writes, "Nenny, I say, but she doesn't hear me. She is too many light-years away. She is in a world we don't belong to anymore. Nenny. Going. Going" (52). I love seeing little kids that are in their own worlds. I think it is interesting and most times, hilarious. I also liked "Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark" because it was a change in mood. Although it is a sad change, Esperanza shows a lot of maturity in how she puts herself in her dad's shoes, and holds him. "Bums in the Attic" was also one of my favorites because it shows how compassionate Esperanza is. I like the part at the end when it says, "Rats? They'll ask. Bums, I'll say, and I'll be happy" (87). I enjoyed how Esperanza had her own names for things in the neighborhood, and how she knows everything. "Meme Ortiz is an example." I liked this section because of the end when Cisneros writes, "This is the tee we chose for the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest. Meme won. And broke both arms" (22). My favorite part is when she adds "and broke both arms" at the end. Cisnero's writing helps identify who she is because she gives her opinions on a lot of things, and one can tell by the way she reacts to certain things, her attitude and outlook on life. Her writing identifies how she is situated within her cultural heritage in the way that she makes several references to the Spanish culture. For instance, in the name section, she includes a lot of Spanish based names. Then there's Alice from Guadalajara, the red clowns section where the boy says, "I love you Spanish girl," and there's even some spanish language within the text. I'm not really sure how I identify myself with my culture. When I was younger my mom would get me involved in the Korean heritage through a lot of different things. It had seemed at times I enjoyed all of the things, but deep down, I hated it. I think it's because even though I knew I was adopted and Korean throughout my entire life, I still identified myself being American because that's what my whole family is, and all of my close friends too. I think cultural identity is what you think of yourself, in concern to your background.