Symbols: Shoes and Plants
In The House on Mango Street, there are many symbols. One symbol is shoes. Esperanza tries on a pair of high heels for the first time when her neighbor gives her and her friend Lucy a pair. The shoes in this book represent femininity and growing up. When they try on the shoes, the girls appear more lady-like and feminine. One can see the growth and development of Esperanza through her experiences with shoes.
Shoes not only symbolize femininity, but also escape. Shoes are used for walking or running, and running is what Esperanza wants to do. She wants to escape from life on Mango Street and discover who she truly is. At the end of the book, Esperanza talks about how she will leave Mango Street and go out on her own, which can be represented by shoes.
A second symbol in the book is plants; specifically trees. In one section of the book, Esperanza talks about going into an old yard that is filled with trees and moss and other plants. These plants represent growth and independence. Trees must grow up on their own, which is what Esperanza wants to do. She wants to leave Mango Street and experience life on her own.