Edwards1 Marcus Edwards Humanities-1/2 14 Oct 2013

Influence Mahatma Ghandi once said, We must be the change we wish to see in the world The meaning of this quote goes deep into the meaning of the girls that influence Esperanza. In the book The House on Mango Street a little girl named Esperanza goes through this novel meeting people influencing her in many ways going through life changing and forming her into the girl she is now. Esperanza is easily influenced by her surroundings and most especially by her friends Alicia, Marin, and Sally in both bad and good ways. Esperanza goes through life being influenced by her friends and Realizing that she wants leave Mango Street by her own means. She becomes a very strong and independent young women wanting to do everything by herself. Sally influences Esperanza throughout her journey on Mango Street. Sally shows Esperanza what life is like as a beautiful girl , and Esperanza realizes that she does really not like it. Sally, you lied. wasnt what you said at all. What he did. Where he touched me (Cisneros 99). Sally tells Esperanza that her first time is going to be amazing, but when it happens for Esperanza, she does not like it. The way her first time occurs is not the way she wants it to happen or the way Sally explains it. As a result, of this experience Esperanza wants to be her own person and not to let anybody tell her what to do. In addition, it is because of Sallys influence that Esperanza realizes she wants her life to be determined on her own terms. Sally wants to be saved by a man, and he determines what she does with her life. She says she is in love with him, but I think she did it to escape (Cisneros 101).That is only one of the ways Sally

influences Esperanza. Sally marries a man at a young age because she is looking to get away from an abusive father, but she just ends up back in an abusive relationship. Esperanza sees this as just

Edwards2 another reason to not let anyone, especially a husband determine what she does with her life. She wants to be free, and do what she wants with her life. Esperanza does not want a man to save her from Mango Street, she wants to save herself. Thus through Sallys influence, she takes matters into her own hands to escape Mango Street, on her own with no help from a man. Marin influences Esperanza by showing her what to do in order to be saved from Mango Street by a man. For example, What matters, Marin says, is for the boys to see us and for us to see them (Cisneros 27). Marin is sitting on the curb waiting for men to drive by and hopefully save her from continuing to live on Mango Street. Marin does not who comes she doesnt care how he looks all she cares about is that she gets saved from Mango Street and esperanza takes it as if it is one of the only ways to escape Mango Street. Marin is influencing her in a bad way because she is showing Esperanza that being saved by a man is the only way to escape Mango Street. Esperanza is young and does not really think of boys in this way yet. In the same manner Marin, wants to get a job downtown to increase her chances of finding a successful man. For instance Marin says if she stays her next year she is going to get a job downtown because thats where the best jobs are since you always get to look beautiful and get to wear nice close and meet someone in the subway who might marry you and take you to live in a big house far away (Cisneros 26). To sum up, Marin still wants to be saved by a man but now she also mentions that she wants to live in a big house. Esperanza takes this as a better option for her and is the best

way to escape Mango Street.Esperanza is influenced by Marin showing her that being saved by a man is the only way to escape life of poverty.

Edwards3 Alicia influences Esperanza in a positive way. For instance Alicia who inherited her mamas rolling pin and sleepiness, is young, and smart, and studies for the first time at the university (Cisneros 31). Alicia is showing Esperanza that there are other ways to escape Mango Street; by education. Esperanza decides to escape by furthering her education . Alicia also encourages Esperanza to realize that she can escape through her writing. She likes this method of escape than waiting to be saved by a man like Sally or Marin. This method has everything that esperanza lives for, being her own person, and being a strong independent women, and Alicia sees that. Alicia sees the all of the potential that Esperanza has. Is a good girl, my friend, studies all night and sees mice, the ones her father says dont exist is afraid of nothing except four-legged fur. And fathers (Cisneros 32). This shows how through her friendship with Alicia, Esperanza needs to be grateful for what she has, and not complain about it. Esperanza is influenced in the way that she has not been appreciating her family and she needs to change that because some people dont have the same situation. The influence of Alicia on Esperanza is life changing and it has a very big impact on Esperanza. Esperanza has has a life of influence and wants to escape by her own terms. Esperanza is very independent and very strong by the end of the book. She is strong and influenced by many. Marin, Sally and Alicia influence Esperanza in many ways some good some bad but, either way Esperanza is still a young strong independent women that can go far. This book shows that

Edwards4 women are strong and independent, and are capable to do anything a man can. Through everything Esperanza has been through it foms her into this great young women.

Edwards5 Work Cited Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. New York: Vintage Books, 1984.